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David
Pure Phase
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am Posts: 34865 Location: Maryland
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BlacKkKlansman
Quote: BlacKkKlansman is a 2018 American biographical crime film co-written and directed by Spike Lee, based on the autobiographical book Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth.
_________________1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game
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Fri Aug 10, 2018 10:01 am |
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David
Pure Phase
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am Posts: 34865 Location: Maryland
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Re: BlacKkKlansman
Spike Lee's most polished and satisfying non-documentary since Inside Man. I have a few qualms: at times, it tends uncomfortably toward the didactic and heavy-handed in a way characteristic of Lee (I want to completely cut Alec Baldwin's indulgent opening cameo), and lead actor John David Washington (Denzel's son) is not the most dynamic screen presence. He is handsome and adequate, but not electrifying or notably charismatic. His character would instantly be more memorable if played by, say, O'Shea Jackson, Jr., Jason Mitchell, or Algee Smith. For significant portions of the film, Adam Driver ends up registering as the central character, and he is excellent, as is the rest of the ensemble cast. Lee's direction is assured and stylish, and he navigates ambitious tonal shifts—from farcical to sobering, from polemic to procedural—with surprising dexterity. And at its core, the true story being dramatized is simply a fascinating and timely one.
_________________1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game
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Fri Aug 10, 2018 10:02 am |
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thompsoncory
Rachel McAdams Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:13 am Posts: 14544 Location: LA / NYC
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Re: BlacKkKlansman
This was...decent? It's in no way some revelatory masterpiece and I did think Chi-Raq was a better film overall. It clearly wants to get a message across but the problem is that Spike Lee has no subtlety in this regard. The movie was almost exhausting by the end. And it's not funny - in no way is this a comedy. It's a hundred years too long and I could have done without the numerous extended sequences (Corey Hawkins's scene maybe fits, the latter speech and that extended dance scene at the beginning do not). I think John David Washington is great and he is really solid here (though his work in the forthcoming Monsters and Men is more powerful and gives echoes of his father), but Adam Driver steals the show. I thought Laura Harrier was terrible. Totally one-note performance. I don't know how I feel about this one really. It has an important message to share but the experience of it left me a bit hollow. B-
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Sun Aug 12, 2018 9:48 pm |
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Darth Indiana Bond
007
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:43 pm Posts: 11075 Location: Wouldn't you like to know
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Re: BlacKkKlansman
The writer of this movie was a former college professor of mine
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Wed Aug 15, 2018 10:06 am |
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Flava'd vs The World
The Kramer
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am Posts: 23921 Location: Classified
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Re: BlacKkKlansman
This is mostly good. A very interesting story told by a very interesting person. David is right that it gets far too heavy-handed at some points, distracting itself from the plot to point fingers. "America would never elect a president who is representative of the KKK!" And the scene contrasting white power and black power goes on forever.
The good- Denzel's son sounds just like him and is able to carry the movie when Spike goes Spike. Adam Driver is also good, to the surprise of no one. I also like how he shot some of the scenes with dramatic irony. Such as the big climax, which has so much tension for the characters involved, but we the audience know these idiot racists are about to blow themselves up. And any scene that has JDW talking with a Klan member on the phone is gold.
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Thu Aug 23, 2018 12:49 pm |
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Flava'd vs The World
The Kramer
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am Posts: 23921 Location: Classified
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Re: BlacKkKlansman
The best part was Isiah Whitlock. Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttt.
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Thu Aug 23, 2018 8:12 pm |
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Steve
Indiana Jones IV
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:09 pm Posts: 1815
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Re: BlacKkKlansman
It's fucking great. I was captivated from the get-go and the movie didn't falter (except for the actress who played Patrice... she was not good). It was entertaining and enRaging, hilarious and heavy. Great balancing act of tonalities.
I don't fault the director for making some of it so blatantly topical. That's the point. This is a story from, what, four decades ago? And this KKK shit not only still exists, it's rising to the surface and being legitimized by the "President" of the United States. The last couple minutes left me shaking and, yes, crying in the theater. I couldn't leave til after the credits finished.
I goddamn fuckin love movies that have something to say, and do it this well, so I'm left with a sense of deep substance but not like I was lectured for two hours.... I had a blast and the movie matters. I've seen a number of those this year... First Reformed, Eighth Grade, Sorry to Bother You, this.... I think there will be plenty more come fall / holiday period. Cheers to cinema!!
_________________ how am I not myself?
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Fri Aug 24, 2018 12:08 am |
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Algren
now we know
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:31 pm Posts: 67153
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Re: BlacKkKlansman
This was a fun and well-made film for the most part. It is book-ended by unnecessary Spike-isms, such as "A Spike Lee Joint", "...fo sho, fo sho", and a tacky black triumph to close, and his attempts to link it to modern day events is shallow (he's reaching for something that was out of reach). But, everything in-between is engaging and entertaining, even edge-of-your-seat at times, and Adam Driver and John David Washington are likable as leads. And I loved the recurring score. B+
Is it Oscar worthy? Um, I don't think it quite reaches those levels. Good effort, though. Spike just couldn't resist self indulgence.
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Tue Oct 02, 2018 1:55 pm |
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Dil
Forum General
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:48 pm Posts: 8942 Location: Houston, Texas
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Re: BlacKkKlansman
It won't be in my top 10 of the year, but I did enjoy this. Considering all the hype I was expecting it to disappoint, but it didn't. John David Washington is good here and while his character was likable I don't know if I was a big fan of how he was written. It's hard to explain, but something about him was really off to me. It's crazy how much Adam Driver and the actors who played the members of the KKK steal show the most at least IMO they did. The ending was a bit unnecessary as well, although I get what they were going for. It just didn't seem to fit the rest of the movie.
B+
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Sat Nov 03, 2018 11:24 am |
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i.hope
Defeats all expectations
Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 5:04 pm Posts: 6665
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Re: BlacKkKlansman
The movie emphasizes its strong social commentary over micro-character study. It makes observant points on how white domination of political and cultural institutions (due to slavery and segregation) had come to shape public perceptions about blacks, and how blacks and secular Jews adapted to white culture by "passing". Some scenes are particularly striking. The Kwame Ture speech coupled with the montage of facial reactions from the audience is some powerful imagery. The juxtaposition of the telling of the lynching of Jessie Washington with the Klans' viewing of "Birth of a Nation" at their initiation ritual is moving.
The comedic tone of the movie supersedes any opportunity of an in-depth character study. Ron Stallworth was the first and only black cop hired by the Colorado Springs Police Department at the time. I was expecting he and his white colleagues would initially share different attitudes towards the sting operation about the Klans. My guess was wrong. Their points of view are not sufficiently made known to the audience and they seem amicable and buddy-buddy all the time. The different perspectives by Stallworth and his Black Student Union President girlfriend in regards to black power and the police are also not thoroughly explored here (missed opportunity).
Despite its weakness in building strong characters, I am glad this is an informative film that is outside the realm of any genres.
75/100
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Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:37 pm |
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stuffp
Keeping it Light
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2015 8:06 am Posts: 11247 Location: Bright Falls
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Re: BlacKkKlansman
Good movie, nice cast and a interesting story, just also not really much more than that. It's light and enjoyable, but also a bit too long and the stakes don't feel high enough to make a dramatic impact.
B
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Sat Apr 08, 2023 2:18 pm |
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