BlacKkKlansman
An African-American police officer from Colorado teams up with a white counterpart in an audacious double-act to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. Writer-director Spike Lee picked up his first ever Oscar for his adapted screenplay based on a true story.
It’s the early 1970s, and Ron Stallworth (John David Washington, Love Beats Rhymes) is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth sets out to infiltrate and expose the local Ku Klux Klan. He soon recruits a more seasoned colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), into the undercover investigation of a lifetime as the pair join forces to impersonate a new KKK member. Topher Grace co-stars as KKK Grand Wizard David Duke, on a mission to present a friendly, corporate face to the violent, racist organisation.
- Director:
- Spike Lee ('Malcolm X', 'Jungle Fever', 'Do the Right Thing')
- Writer:
- Spike LeeDavid RabinowitzCharlie WachtelKevin Willmott
- Cast:
- John David WashingtonAdam DriverLaura HarrierTopher GraceRobert John BurkeCorey HawkinsPaul Walter HauserCraig muMs Grant
Reviews & comments
Vulture
pressLee never takes his eye off the connecting thread between the events of 1978 and the present. The result is one of his most flat-out entertaining films in years, and also one of his most uncompromising.
Variety
pressAs much a compelling black empowerment story as it is an electrifying commentary on the problems of African-American representation across more than a century of cinema.
Vanity Fair
pressBlacKkKlansman's joke is an indictment of complacency, particularly that of white liberals who'd rather not confront the distressing fact that not much has changed in 40 years, beyond a re-styling of old, old ideology.
The Guardian
pressSpike Lee hits his targets effectively enough - again and again. They keep popping back up like the targets in a fairground shooting gallery, and get shot back down again with a clang.
Stuff
pressAn engaging, hilarious, still topical-as-hell forty years later and ringingly smart film from the startlingly prolific and restless Lee.
New Zealand Herald
pressIt is all a funny, pointed experience until the spine-chillingly poetic coda, which hurls us into the modern-day and renders the officers' victories almost totally hollow, calling into question the ability to do good in a fundamentally flawed system.
Newshub
pressThe more I think about this film, the deeper it seeps into my consciousness. So simple, so clever, so entertaining as it delivers a king punch to the solar plexus.
Los Angeles Times
pressIf "BlacKkKlansman" is not above turning its characters into mouthpieces for its ideas, it wards off excessive didacticism by giving those ideas a heady flow and a sustained pulse. There's real, expressive joy in its anger.
Herald Sun
pressLee's most flat-out entertaining film in quite a long time, as well as his most commercial.
FilmInk
pressA straight up, fierce, political polemical from an acknowledged master of the form, who has not and will not run out of reasons to be justifiably angry.
Collider
pressA crusading Spike Lee is often the best Spike Lee. He's a powerful artist and when he has a lot to say, as in the case with BlacKkKlansman, he simply won't let you forget it.
I very much enjoyed this film and I haven't seen a Spike Lee film in ages. Its funny and entertaining but the underneath its just terrifying. There is nothing that angers me so quickly as white supremacy bul***** honestly I don't understand it and I take great offense to the N word and i'm not black. but I knew this film was going to be difficult personally...
I wasn't sure what to expect after seeing the trailer and knowing Spike Lee's reportoire - I was surprised, it was funny but still the serious element. You could have heard a pin drop with the ending. Recommended.
This film was a real surprise, easily the best film I have seen for a while and I highly recommend this film. The trailer makes this look like a 70's comedy and there are funny moments it is no comedy and the suspense near the end for the characters was very intense.
I don't remember being so tense throughout the entirety of a movie before - was super confronting and the ending was incredibly powerful. Very important film and worth any unease you might feel watching it.
Had no expectations but was entertained and challenged by the movie. Some classic Black humour great moods of the times and characters, but terrifying to realise that thinking is still radiating. Good night out
Spike Lee presents to the audience an enthralling story of politics, taboo, and race. I sat inside the cinema, absorbed in the film, feeling the past reflected in the present. Lee ends this unbelievable film, with clips of modern politics. As Tame Impala said, "It feels like we're going backwards".
Not a great fan of Spike Lee but I do like a black comedy (no pun intended. Well, maybe, a little;). A good film, a very timely reminder of what black people in America faced and still face. Just when we thought we had left all that racist crap behind in the last century up pops up the detestable KKK supporting and supported by the POTUS. Good film....
I expected to love this movie but I wasn't prepared for just how timely it was. The links to what's happening in America right now were incredibly powerful and hit the right note at every step. Not only is this movie fun and exciting it's also essential viewing for 2018 and I would encourage everyone to see it!
Vulture
pressLee never takes his eye off the connecting thread between the events of 1978 and the present. The result is one of his most flat-out entertaining films in years, and also one of his most uncompromising.
Variety
pressAs much a compelling black empowerment story as it is an electrifying commentary on the problems of African-American representation across more than a century of cinema.
Vanity Fair
pressBlacKkKlansman's joke is an indictment of complacency, particularly that of white liberals who'd rather not confront the distressing fact that not much has changed in 40 years, beyond a re-styling of old, old ideology.
The Guardian
pressSpike Lee hits his targets effectively enough - again and again. They keep popping back up like the targets in a fairground shooting gallery, and get shot back down again with a clang.
Stuff
pressAn engaging, hilarious, still topical-as-hell forty years later and ringingly smart film from the startlingly prolific and restless Lee.
New Zealand Herald
pressIt is all a funny, pointed experience until the spine-chillingly poetic coda, which hurls us into the modern-day and renders the officers' victories almost totally hollow, calling into question the ability to do good in a fundamentally flawed system.
Newshub
pressThe more I think about this film, the deeper it seeps into my consciousness. So simple, so clever, so entertaining as it delivers a king punch to the solar plexus.
Los Angeles Times
pressIf "BlacKkKlansman" is not above turning its characters into mouthpieces for its ideas, it wards off excessive didacticism by giving those ideas a heady flow and a sustained pulse. There's real, expressive joy in its anger.
Herald Sun
pressLee's most flat-out entertaining film in quite a long time, as well as his most commercial.
FilmInk
pressA straight up, fierce, political polemical from an acknowledged master of the form, who has not and will not run out of reasons to be justifiably angry.
Collider
pressA crusading Spike Lee is often the best Spike Lee. He's a powerful artist and when he has a lot to say, as in the case with BlacKkKlansman, he simply won't let you forget it.
I very much enjoyed this film and I haven't seen a Spike Lee film in ages. Its funny and entertaining but the underneath its just terrifying. There is nothing that angers me so quickly as white supremacy bul***** honestly I don't understand it and I take great offense to the N word and i'm not black. but I knew this film was going to be difficult...
I wasn't sure what to expect after seeing the trailer and knowing Spike Lee's reportoire - I was surprised, it was funny but still the serious element. You could have heard a pin drop with the ending. Recommended.
This film was a real surprise, easily the best film I have seen for a while and I highly recommend this film. The trailer makes this look like a 70's comedy and there are funny moments it is no comedy and the suspense near the end for the characters was very intense.
I don't remember being so tense throughout the entirety of a movie before - was super confronting and the ending was incredibly powerful. Very important film and worth any unease you might feel watching it.
Had no expectations but was entertained and challenged by the movie. Some classic Black humour great moods of the times and characters, but terrifying to realise that thinking is still radiating. Good night out
Spike Lee presents to the audience an enthralling story of politics, taboo, and race. I sat inside the cinema, absorbed in the film, feeling the past reflected in the present. Lee ends this unbelievable film, with clips of modern politics. As Tame Impala said, "It feels like we're going backwards".
Not a great fan of Spike Lee but I do like a black comedy (no pun intended. Well, maybe, a little;). A good film, a very timely reminder of what black people in America faced and still face. Just when we thought we had left all that racist crap behind in the last century up pops up the detestable KKK supporting and supported by the POTUS. Good film....
I expected to love this movie but I wasn't prepared for just how timely it was. The links to what's happening in America right now were incredibly powerful and hit the right note at every step. Not only is this movie fun and exciting it's also essential viewing for 2018 and I would encourage everyone to see it!
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