Through some spectacular highs and lows, Spike Lee has always above else been a director with a point of view. A wild, passionate view of the world that demands attention with eccentricity and immediacy. BlacKKKlansman just may portray his message more effectively and more boldly than any film released this decade. Entertaining, encapsulating, and extraordinarily powerful. BlacKKKlansman is not only one of 2018’s most thought provoking films, but also one of it’s most necessary.
Lee cleverly frames his message in the partially true story of real life detective Ron Stallworth. By placing his film 40 years in the past, he’s able to draw present day comparisons that only serve to accentuate the need for the film. Early on I wondered if Lee’s dialogue was occasionally too on the nose in the modern parallels it draws. I think specifically to the scene where two characters discuss David Dukes political aspirations, but these are minor moments and as the film progressed they were swallowed up by smarter and more effective commentary.
The setting doesn’t just serve the films narrative, but also it’s visual style. A style that is immediately appealing. It’s grainy textures and vintage color pallet help to give things a unifying aesthetic. Not to mention the wonderful use of costumes and music to give the movie an immediately recognizable sense of place. Lee also keeps the film moving at a brisk pace with dynamic and well thought camera placements and editing choices. Even when the film slows down it’s always moving in a way that demands attention. This also helps to assist the movie effective drama. Lee does an absolutely masterful job of building tension and occasionally climbing into fiery climaxes that give the movie’s twist and turns an unpredictable edge to them.
Lee wasn’t the only person helping to make BlacKKKlansman the tense and entertaining film it is, as the movie is packed with intense performances, particularly from John David Washington and Adam Driver. Driver is fierce and a scene stealer every time he makes his way to the screen and the way he switches from menacing to sympathetic really bring the characters and situations to life. Washington is also energetic and a ton of fun to watch, opting for a delivery that’s just odd enough to really meld with Spike Lee’s directorial style.
All of these things combine to create a really well made, exciting movie. But what elevates BlacKKKlansman from good to great for me is it’s potent, haunting conclusion. The film ends with a ghostly, prophetic warning while simultaneously using real world footage to turn the mirror on modern day America, this is where Lee soars. Earlier I mentioned that possibly the dialogue was a little too on the nose. But I think what BlacKKKlansman showed me was that no matter what happens, no matter how much things seem different, they haven’t really changed. BlacKKKlansman needs to be on the nose because without a sharp and furious message, it will only get lost in the waves of extremism. Spike Lee realized that there was no room for subtly. He needed to create a blunt, harsh instrument to beat the message into his viewers, exactly what they are fighting for and why they need to keep fighting for it. BlacKKKlansman is one of the most powerful films of 2018 and without a doubt one that has promised to sear itself into my memory for years to come.