Spike Lee's return: BlacKkKlansman, the review

BlacKkKlansman (2018) is an American biographical comedy-drama directed by Spike Lee and written by Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, and Lee himself,  based on the 2014 memoir Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth. The film stars John David Washington as Stallworth, Adam Driver as Flip Zimmerman, Laura Harrier, and Topher Grace. 

THE PLOT- Set in 1970s Colorado Springs, the plot follows the first African-American detective in the Colorado Springs police department, Ron Stallworth. Ron's first assignment is to infiltrate a local rally of the Black Power organization in order to keep an eye on the meeting. In fact, Kwame Ture, a famous speaker was that night's special guest. In this occasion, Ron meets Patrice Dumas, the head of the student's black party. While taking Ture to his hotel, Patrice is stopped by patrolman Andy Landers, a corrupt, racist officer in Stallworth's precinct, who threatens Ture and sexually assaults Patrice. 
The rally convince Ron to do something for his people: at the office, while reading the local paper he finds the ad of the Ku Klux Klan. Ron, with the help of the white and jew officer Filp,  decides to enter the Klan. Ron has an ability: he can imitate perfectly a white man's voice. So, Ron is the one who interacts with the Klan through the phone and organizes the plans, while Filp was Ron double when it comes to join the meeting in person. The two of them manage to contact the White Wizard and politician David Duke ...

THE ANALYSIS- BlacKkKlansman is a dense movie: Spike Lee puts in the pot many cinematic echos such as Gone with the Wind colors and, most of all, David W. Griffith's Born of a nation. Griffith's movie is harshly criticized with many original clips that appear in the key moments of the story. Lee's willing is to make us reflect about the contemporary situation, between the difference of the actual America and the dreamed one. Are the white Americans still pretending to be the head of the nation? Lee is subtly criticizing Donald Trumph's governance (with him appearing in the movie too), while showing the contrast between scenes of violence and the president's reassuring words. The fact that the K.K.K is criticizing not only the blacks, the yellows or whatsoever but even the white jew, as Filp is, puts in ridiculous the basis of the racial organization. Still, this organization, as the last scene show, is part of the US present. 

THE TONE- BlaKkKlansman alternates grotesque humorism with some serious moments of thought. Ron's dialogues with the head of the K.K.K David Duke are incredibly entertaining.

THE ACTORS- John David Washington is equilibrate in Ron's shoes, credible and natural while acting the mythical police officer. Adam Driver's contribution signs another great performance of the actor, who is living is best season in Hollywood's movie productions.


MOVIE JUDGEMENT- BlacKkKlansman has won the Grand Prix price at Cannes Film festival. The movie   is Spike Lee business card for the Oscars. VOTE: 5/5

Micol Sartori