After seeing the trailer for this one several times I was eagerly awaiting to see it. I was expecting an informative, humorous, and entertaining look at daring police work conducted in the seventies. That's not exactly what I got.
The story was compelling, linear, and well acted. Kudos to Driver for carrying the film with Washington giving a very humorous portrayal of a very humorless detective. The supporting cast was overall excellent with kudos going to Lara Harrier (Stallworth's romantic interest) and Jasper Paakkonen who played the slimiest, most suspicious, and potentially violent Klansman since my Uncle Zeke.
Unfortunately, the film was injected with political hate against the Tea Party and Trump which was odd because there were absolutely no vernacular at that time for "Great America" or the "Boston Tea Party". The Stokely Carmichael "pep talk" at the beginning of the film was fitting for the timeframe but the injections of Alec Baldwin giving a hate talk did not fit the timeframe. All the Klan "talk" was reduced to nonsense but the account told by Harry Belafonte (which happened in 1914) certainly did not help any attempts at healing.
I do not follow Spike's work and cannot even remember anything I've seen by him. All I can say from my point of view is this film's story was the flimsiest excuse to deliver shovel loads of divisive rhetoric on the audience. Yes, about midway through the film I began to feel animosity in the audience of which I was very much a minority. In a way, this film could have been fun and entertaining while getting a few points across without all the political invective Spike chose to deliver.
The Academy is going to worship this film.
3 wonks for Driver and Washington giving us entertaining performances
3 wanks for over-the-top political messaging
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Topic - 'BlackkKlansam': False Advertising - Billy Wonka 11:40:21 08/13/18 (43)
- When I saw that it was Spike Lee, I knew enough to stay out of the theater! - TWB 20:46:21 08/26/18 (0)
- RE: 'BlackkKlansam': False Advertising - fantja 22:47:35 08/18/18 (1)
- You saw it? (nt) - mkuller 14:37:12 08/24/18 (0)
- RE: 'BlackkKlansam': False Advertising - ASHRA 20:38:29 08/16/18 (0)
- RE: 'BlackkKlansam': False Advertising - Demo 13:59:44 08/15/18 (21)
- RE: 'BlackkKlansam': False Advertising - ASHRA 20:27:46 08/16/18 (0)
- Here's another excellent article... - mkuller 15:38:50 08/15/18 (19)
- Wake up America? - Billy Wonka 21:45:35 08/15/18 (18)
- LOL! Dream on... - mkuller 10:04:31 08/16/18 (14)
- LOL The rebellion to take the country back has barely begun.... - TWB 00:04:56 08/27/18 (0)
- We live in a two-party corporatocracy and you're getting excited that. . . - Chris from Lafayette 01:25:44 08/18/18 (9)
- "you're easily amused".. wrong! He's easily confused! (nt) - TWB 20:56:11 08/26/18 (0)
- We live in a two-party corporatocracy... - mkuller 09:50:22 08/18/18 (6)
- I don't deny that there are differences. . . - Chris from Lafayette 10:32:09 08/18/18 (5)
- I don't deny that there are differences. . . - mkuller 12:48:38 08/18/18 (4)
- So how has that been working out for you? You happy? [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 00:10:31 08/19/18 (3)
- You are right... - mkuller 11:05:17 08/19/18 (2)
- RE: You are right... - Crazy Dave 14:53:09 08/21/18 (0)
- Indeed! [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 11:50:43 08/19/18 (0)
- Easily amused?. . . - Steve O 05:12:11 08/18/18 (0)
- I hear your mom. Time to run upstairs. * - Billy Wonka 11:13:54 08/16/18 (2)
- ROTFLOL! (nt) - TWB 20:59:50 08/26/18 (0)
- RE: I hear your mom. Time to run upstairs. * - Crazy Dave 07:12:45 08/17/18 (0)
- RE: Wake up America? - Crazy Dave 07:46:27 08/16/18 (2)
- RE: Wake up America? - Billy Wonka 11:16:52 08/16/18 (1)
- RE: Wake up America? - Crazy Dave 07:04:58 08/17/18 (0)
- RE: 'BlackkKlansam': False Advertising - Mike B. 19:52:35 08/14/18 (1)
- RE: 'BlackkKlansam': False Advertising - Billy Wonka 06:52:45 08/17/18 (0)
- Is it a documentary?... - musetap 11:31:02 08/14/18 (2)
- Obviously, you haven't seen it or you have lost your mind. * - Billy Wonka 18:56:26 08/14/18 (1)
- RE: Obviously, you haven't seen it or you have lost your mind. * - Crazy Dave 15:13:05 08/15/18 (0)
- false Advertising is not your stated objection, why is that? - beach cruiser 22:08:42 08/13/18 (9)
- You are way out of bounds. Go see it. * - Billy Wonka 18:57:37 08/14/18 (0)
- Exactly... - mkuller 18:28:02 08/14/18 (7)
- It was an anti-racist film. Why did he feel uncomfortable? - Billy Wonka 18:59:31 08/14/18 (6)
- It's a racist film? What else do you expect from a racist like Spike Lee? nt - mbnx01 15:25:22 08/15/18 (1)
- A film about RACISTS...(nt) - mkuller 15:42:00 08/15/18 (0)
- It was a RACIST film, period... - mkuller 20:53:21 08/14/18 (3)
- You haven't described the film, yet. - Billy Wonka 07:12:14 08/15/18 (2)
- The film... - mkuller 10:47:30 08/15/18 (1)
- Enough of your adolescent sniping. Grow up and smell reality. * - Billy Wonka 12:36:41 08/15/18 (0)
- I am impressed... - mkuller 12:17:53 08/13/18 (0)
- RE: 'BlackkKlansam': False Advertising - Rod M 11:47:41 08/13/18 (0)