His spew of hatred delights the guy on the other end of the line, Walter Beachway (Ryan Eggold), who invites Stallworth to come on down to meet some of the guys. Stallworth is played by John David Washington, who makes it wholly believable that a black cop could randomly pick up a newspaper, see a recruitment ad for the KKK, and just decide to dial up the local chapter: He poses as a white guy, obviously, unleasing a tirade against black people (though he uses another word) and Jews. This is an angry film as well as a hugely entertaining one, and Lee has complete control over its shifting tone, minute by minute. BlacKkKlansman is both hilarious and exquisitely direct, and had it been made before November 2016, you might call Lee’s approach a little alarmist.
Lee recognizes the nutso potential of that premise and runs with it: Stallworth’s story is so wild you can barely believe it-but certainly not wilder than the virulent resurgence of white supremacy in this country, so extreme it goes beyond the reach of satire. He always has a lot to say, but he keeps growing as a craftsman, too.īlacKkKlansman is based on the true story of Ron Stallworth, a black Colorado Springs police officer who went undercover in the late 1970s to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. That fearlessness, as opposed to clinging to one definitive style or way of saying things, makes him one of America’s most valuable filmmakers. He’s prolific, and he’ll try something a little different every time. Lee has made great movies (25th Hour), bold, memorable, topical ones (Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X) and a few you’ve probably forgotten (Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, Miracle at St.
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2016 GAY MOVIES MOVIE
In the end, it might not be the movie that wins but it’s one that deserves to win. If you’re one of those Oscar prognosticator types, amateur or pro, I’m telling you right now to put a pin in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, playing here in competition.