Starring: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Robert John Burke, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace, Ryan Eggold, Paul Walter Hauser
Director: Spike Lee
Release date: 24th August 2018
It’s the late 70’s in Colorado Springs, USA, and racial/social unrest is rife. Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) wants to become the first African-American police officer in the State. Assigned to the records department, he feels that he wants to make a difference and so goes to his chief to ask if he can be an undercover detective. His request is initially laughed at but he’s sent to check out a controversial speaker at the local Student Union and to report back about any threats. Then transferred to ‘Intelligence’, Ron sees an ad in the local Gazette looking for new members for the KKK, and calls them, disguising his voice. He sees an opportunity to infiltrate the Organisation. Only problem is, is that he is obviously an African-American and so needs to find a ‘physical face’ that can be used for meetings with the Klan. Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) is assigned to the case and though frosty at first, their partnership soon begins to bear fruit….
Based on the book, ‘Black Klansman’ by Ron Stallworth, ‘BlacKkKlansman’ tells the incredible true story of a Colorado Springs Police Detective who saw an unbelievable opportunity to join and infiltrate one of America’s most notorious groups. First published back in 2014, this movie directed by Spike Lee, is once again reminding us of past ways of life.
We are reminded quite starkly at the end of the movie of the events in Charlottesville on 12th August 2017, where white supremacists and nationalists converged for a ‘Unite the Right’ rally and were met by counter-protesters, resulting in a horrific and violent clash. The event shocked the world, not least for the incident involving a 20 year old man from Ohio who drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one woman and injuring 19 others. Everyone was shocked that something so heinous could happen in 21st Century America. Donald Trump’s speech from after the incident is also shown..
I really enjoyed BlacKkKlansman, in fact a lot more than I thought I would. The fact that it is based on true events is quite shocking if you’re not already aware of the story from past news. The happenings in Charlottesville last year are still extremely fresh in people’s memories and the fact that news reels have been added to the end of the movie brings things home even more than if it was just a straight forward story.
If you’re looking for a movie that will educate as well as entertain, then definitely go and see ‘BlacKkKlansman’. A true story that will leave you shocked in places but also laughing, it’s one to watch on the big screen.
Overall: 8/10
