Going into this film the only Spike Lee film I had seen was Do the Right Thing, which was enough for me to be very excited. This film despite being based on a true story seemed very unique, and open for some great comedy as well as strong social commentary. We got both of those and everything Spike put into this built up to one of the year's strongest films.
In this film we see Colorado Springs first black police officer, Ron Shuttleworth. His hard work and dedication gives him the opportunity to work in intelligence fairly quickly, and then leads an investigation into the KKK. He joins them over the phone using a "white voice" and then sends a closeted Jewish officer to meet the organization in person. Through this tag team investigation they infiltrate the KKK and learn on some potentially harmful ongoings.
Ron is played by John David Washington, son of frequent Spike Lee collaborator Denzel Washington. John is great in this, bringing the swagger of the 70s to life and balancing his police persona with social rights activism. If you pay close attention to his voice you can really hear Denzel in it, but alas this is just another top notch actor in the family blood line. He also did the "white voice" really well, which made for some pretty funny moments. Adam Driver plays Flip, the cop that acts as Ron in person. Driver is as always great, and the way he changes his personality while talking to klan members is interesting to watch. There are a lot of side characters as both cops and racists, but the one with perhaps the most notable role is Topher Grace as the grand wizard of the KKK. His performance has a simplicity in it that works really well, he comes across as one of those really successful people that like to live humbly, only instead of being a big celebrity he's a big racist. This performance also feels more like young Topher Grace from That 70s Show than his more recent work and I enjoyed that.
Spike Lee did some great work here. One thing that really impressed me was the pacing. The film is pretty long, and feels like it has many moments that should fall flat and lose the audiences interest, but Lee's script is constantly engaging, and filled to the brim with fantastically written dialogue. This film feels a bit more mainstream than his other work, but still has his trademarks such as dealing with important subjects, showcasing strong females, and of course the iconic double dolly shot. The one gorgeous double dolly shot aside, there is some solid cinematography throughout. One shot was a bit shaky, but other than that I was impressed. I also loved the use of music in this film, creating the setting and tone, and very seldomly overpowering. The editing was another element that worked really well with the rest of the film. I loved the entirety of this film, but the standout was the end. Spike ends the film by showing real footage from the riots in Charlottesville last August. These clips show not only that racism is still a large issue, but that it can still lead to disgusting violence. Most of the film is fun and enjoyable despite its subject matter, but these scenes flip the switch instantly. The theatre will be having a good time, then be silent for a few minutes into the credits, and I thought that transition was one of the most impressive moments in the film, getting Spike's message out more clearly than most films ever can.
This is a highlight of the year, and I think everyone should get out and see it.
Rating:4.5/5
Written by Matt McKenzie
In this film we see Colorado Springs first black police officer, Ron Shuttleworth. His hard work and dedication gives him the opportunity to work in intelligence fairly quickly, and then leads an investigation into the KKK. He joins them over the phone using a "white voice" and then sends a closeted Jewish officer to meet the organization in person. Through this tag team investigation they infiltrate the KKK and learn on some potentially harmful ongoings.
Ron is played by John David Washington, son of frequent Spike Lee collaborator Denzel Washington. John is great in this, bringing the swagger of the 70s to life and balancing his police persona with social rights activism. If you pay close attention to his voice you can really hear Denzel in it, but alas this is just another top notch actor in the family blood line. He also did the "white voice" really well, which made for some pretty funny moments. Adam Driver plays Flip, the cop that acts as Ron in person. Driver is as always great, and the way he changes his personality while talking to klan members is interesting to watch. There are a lot of side characters as both cops and racists, but the one with perhaps the most notable role is Topher Grace as the grand wizard of the KKK. His performance has a simplicity in it that works really well, he comes across as one of those really successful people that like to live humbly, only instead of being a big celebrity he's a big racist. This performance also feels more like young Topher Grace from That 70s Show than his more recent work and I enjoyed that.
Spike Lee did some great work here. One thing that really impressed me was the pacing. The film is pretty long, and feels like it has many moments that should fall flat and lose the audiences interest, but Lee's script is constantly engaging, and filled to the brim with fantastically written dialogue. This film feels a bit more mainstream than his other work, but still has his trademarks such as dealing with important subjects, showcasing strong females, and of course the iconic double dolly shot. The one gorgeous double dolly shot aside, there is some solid cinematography throughout. One shot was a bit shaky, but other than that I was impressed. I also loved the use of music in this film, creating the setting and tone, and very seldomly overpowering. The editing was another element that worked really well with the rest of the film. I loved the entirety of this film, but the standout was the end. Spike ends the film by showing real footage from the riots in Charlottesville last August. These clips show not only that racism is still a large issue, but that it can still lead to disgusting violence. Most of the film is fun and enjoyable despite its subject matter, but these scenes flip the switch instantly. The theatre will be having a good time, then be silent for a few minutes into the credits, and I thought that transition was one of the most impressive moments in the film, getting Spike's message out more clearly than most films ever can.
This is a highlight of the year, and I think everyone should get out and see it.
Rating:4.5/5
Written by Matt McKenzie
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