BlacKkKlansman

Name: BlacKkKlansman
Genre: Biography, Drama, Comedy, Crime
Released: August 10, 2018
Duration: 135 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Adam Driver, Alec Baldwin, Arthur J. Nascarella, Ashlie Atkinson, Brian Tarantina

2018

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 56 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 594 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 594 Ratings

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BlacKkKlansman

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: August 10, 2018 | R

Starring: Adam Driver, Alec Baldwin, Arthur J. Nascarella, Ashlie Atkinson, Brian Tarantina, Corey Hawkins, Harry Belafonte, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Jasper Pääkkönen, John David Washington, Ken Garito, Laura Harrier, Michael Buscemi, Paul Walter Hauser, Robert John Burke, Ryan Eggold, Topher Grace

Movie Facts:

Nominated for 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture. See additional awards and nominations.
BlacKkKlansman won the Grand Prix at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

Summary: It’s the early 1970s, and Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. The young detective soon recruits a more seasonedIt’s the early 1970s, and Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. The young detective soon recruits a more seasoned colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), into the undercover investigation of a lifetime. Together, they team up to take down the extremist hate group as the organization aims to sanitize its violent rhetoric to appeal to the mainstream.… Expand

Director: Spike Lee

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Comedy, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 135 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Alasdair Bayman

Aug 26, 2018

No film of Lee’s would be cut without portraits, cross cutting, dual images or his iconic double dolly shot. All featuring heavily, these practises of his style come to elevate the genre filmmaking to new heights. Read full review

100

Stephanie Zacharek

May 15, 2018

BlacKkKlansman is both hilarious and exquisitely direct, and had it been made before November 2016, you might call Lee’s approach a little alarmist. But if anything, he’s restrained. This is an angry film as well as a hugely entertaining one, and Lee has complete control over its shifting tone, minute by minute. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

May 16, 2018

It’s alternatingly comic, heroic, tragic, horrifying, ridiculous, dead serious, clear-eyed, and confused; it shifts into moments of documentary and even essay film, but it’s also one of Lee’s more entertaining and vibrantly constructed works. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a movie exploit its tonal mismatches so voraciously and purposefully. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

May 14, 2018

Hell, this thing is so mainstream it feels like the start of a franchise. And yet, that mass appeal is a huge part of what makes this funny and righteously furious American film so powerful. Read full review

David Sims

Aug 8, 2018

This is a film loaded with broad comedy, bold speechifying, blunt depictions of racism, and astonishing visual flair; it is a Spike Lee movie, made with the kind of artistic and political verve that recalls his best work. Read full review

Tim Grierson

May 14, 2018

It’s no surprise that director Spike Lee prefers a hammer to a scalpel for this real-life drama, but his righteous fury is supplemented with a mature thoughtfulness that gives the proceedings the grim weight of history. Read full review

Alissa Wilkinson

May 16, 2018

BlacKkKlansman isn’t wrong about the evils of white supremacy. But it’s pretty sure you, out in the audience, aren’t going to get it unless it spells out the message in blinking neon lights. And even then, the film seems to fear you might miss the point. Read full review

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User Reviews

DavidCall360

Aug 11, 2018

Fantastic movie with a fantastic cast. The story of the Stallworth Brothers is insane and the message that this movie is trying to make is a very important one right now. We all need to stop the hatred or stop feeding it. I hope everyone will give this movie a chance and listen to theFantastic movie with a fantastic cast. The story of the Stallworth Brothers is insane and the message that this movie is trying to make is a very important one right now. We all need to stop the hatred or stop feeding it. I hope everyone will give this movie a chance and listen to the message its trying to tell us.… Expand

18 of 34 users found this helpful1816

justwibi

Oct 29, 2018

take a current issues with a lot of fresh comedy and a lot of darkest history. what a great job Lee!

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

IsaacJ

Apr 17, 2019

Spike Lee has always been a refreshingly brazen filmmaker; with movies like Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, the director is not one to shy away from political statements all delivered with distinct style and zest. The same is true of Lee’s latest film, the creatively helmed BlacKkKlansman,Spike Lee has always been a refreshingly brazen filmmaker; with movies like Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, the director is not one to shy away from political statements all delivered with distinct style and zest. The same is true of Lee’s latest film, the creatively helmed BlacKkKlansman, a fictionalised telling of the memoir of black Colorado cop, Ron Stallworth and his risky infiltration of the Ku Klux Klan. Here, Spike Lee is at his best, painting an enticing tonal mix of humour and horror that feels all too topical.
Son of Denzel, John David Washington stars as Stallworth, the so-called “Jackie Robinson of the Colorado Springs Police Department” and the first black officer. Ron’s ethnic background makes him the man for an undercover mission spying on black activist Kwame Ture (Corey Hawkins), as he excites the city’s discontented African-American community. Soon enough, however, Ron is caught up at the other end of the racial spectrum as he and partner Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) attempt to infiltrate their local chapter of the KKK by posing as a budding white supremacist. It’s a life-risking double act as Flip becomes the “face” of Ron Stallworth, as the real Ron rises the ranks through incidental phone calls with KKK Grand Wizard David Duke (Topher Grace).
BlacKkKlansman is a film that presents racism in an interesting way, almost as a dichotomy between the ridiculous and threatening. The script is a genius work, jolting along with the speed of a bullet between moments of almost absurdist comedy to those of darker truth. A particularly good example is that of a racist couple cosying up to one another in bed, dreamily discussing their plans for homemade terrorism. This is a film where white supremacy is served with cheese and crackers and social commentary is accompanied by bizarre humour. Lee does a superb job of balancing these tones, catching the laughs in one’s throat within a net of horror. This clashing approach continues throughout the film, even into Terence Blanchard’s innovative score, which jumps from the safety of strings to impassioned guitar riffs.
Washington and Driver are two very-well cast leads; the former’s delightfully dry yet nuanced performance allows the film to stay grounded. Driver’s performance is equally captivating; in many ways, Flip has the scarier side of the job, having to meet the members of the Klan face to face hoping they believe the caricature and stay masked to his Jewish heritage. An opening cameo by Trump-impersonator himself, Alec Baldwin reminds one of the trenchant relevance of Lee’s film; the costume design and jukebox soundtrack lend it all the authenticity of a 70s period piece, but the inclusion of Trumpist slurs, ironic asides and a heart wrenching final sequence remind us that BlacKkKlansman is very much a film for today. There are points where the film seems a little too self-aware, but perhaps it is intended to be; from the profane tagline right to the end credits, Lee is truly in control of his craft and the message he wants to put forward. Performances by Washington and Driver are brilliant and credit is due to Get Out’s Jordan Peele for the pitch, but the real star here is Spike Lee. With BlacKkKlansman, the director returns to form with satire as it should be; sickeningly hilarious, yet equally as shocking and, most of all, with something important to say.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ukrScorpion

Dec 6, 2019

Good film!
Awesome soundtrack and camera work!
I would like a series in this format

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NG89

Sep 19, 2018

Sarcastic, funny, and important, BlaKkKlansman portrays a black cop's cognitive dissonance as he searches for balance between being true to his morals and being good at his job. Climax seemed to lack drama, and some way-too-tongue-in-cheek parallels to current government were provided, butSarcastic, funny, and important, BlaKkKlansman portrays a black cop's cognitive dissonance as he searches for balance between being true to his morals and being good at his job. Climax seemed to lack drama, and some way-too-tongue-in-cheek parallels to current government were provided, but real footage of harm that racism has done to this country leave the audience in a state of reflection and appreciation.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

HealingToolbox

Oct 17, 2018

The COURAGE it took to make and act in this film is wonderful to me. The film-making is more than adequate. Improving on it would be difficult except for shortening it. It's too emotionally resonant with black and underclass issues--however honestly and accurately--to be sufficientlyThe COURAGE it took to make and act in this film is wonderful to me. The film-making is more than adequate. Improving on it would be difficult except for shortening it. It's too emotionally resonant with black and underclass issues--however honestly and accurately--to be sufficiently entertaining. I celebrate the historical re-creation of a Stokely Charmichael speech of the day as perfect in all details including the after-remarks about the "revolution" being as much bluster as reality. If I had directed, I would have tried to increase the thriller genre aspect 10%. As is, it's pretensions to a thriller are obvious and under-cooked in the script and pacing.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Incredibilis

May 23, 2020

doesnt make sense doesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sensedoesnt make sense

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

SEE ALL 138 REVIEWS

51	#51 Best Movie of 2018
28	#28 Most Discussed Movie of 2018
50	#50 Most Shared Movie of 2018