BlacKkKlansman | Teen Ink

BlacKkKlansman

May 26, 2019
By MovieReviewer_18 ELITE, Short Hills, New Jersey
MovieReviewer_18 ELITE, Short Hills, New Jersey
678 articles 0 photos 8 comments

 BlacKkKlansman is a dramatic crime thriller that combines together humor and true facts over the division of race in the United States to create a movie that brilliantly tells the true story of Ron Stallworth and his work for the United States of America. Taking place in the 1970s in the still racist Colorado Springs, Ron Stallworth is the first African-American detective to become a part of the Colorado Springs Police Force. Because of this, his role is slightly unprecedented, especially considering that he has the potential to infiltrate places that others can't, due to the color of his skin, and the fact that he gets treated differently, because some cops are just as racist and corrupt as the people they sought out to arrest. Determined to do something with his new role and truly make a difference, Ron eagerly seeks out more challenging work from the police force. Despite how at first they tell him that he's just a rookie, he soon proves his worth when he does a good job being undercover at a Black Student Union meeting at a local college. However, this leaves Ron wanting more. He soon decides to embark on a brave mission of successfully infiltrating and stopping the Ku Klux Klan from within after embracing contact with them over the phone after seeing a number for them in a local paper. Masking his voice to ensure that he doesn't stand out, Ron is able to establish contact with the organization and set up a future meeting with them. The young Stallworth then realizes that he can't do it alone, due to his skin color, and recruits an experienced peer in Flip Zimmerman. The duo decides that the real Ron Stallworth will continue to talk over the phone, but Flip will be the Ron Stallworth that the organization meets in person, since he is white. Together, Flip and Ron do their best to work as a team to take down the extremist group that seeks to purify the world through horrendous acts and bring their violent opinions to the public, but as they do this, both detectives discover that may be in way over their heads since this will truly be the mission of a lifetime. 
 BlacKkKlansman proves to be well-crafted in its entirety and is truly well done from start to finish. Staying mostly true to the real story that inspired it, this movie proves to be quite the inspiration and a feel good story that should be sure to touch a few hearts. Managing to connect back to some of the events that have occurred recently, like in 2017 at Charlottesville, not only does this movie showcase the raw extent of racism, but it also shows the absurdity surrounding it, due to the satirical features of the movie. Partially acting as a comedic satire, the movie occasionally takes the route of mocking some of its characters, including most, if not all, of the members of the Ku Klux Klan and rightfully so. 

 BlacKkKlansman has a superb concept fueling the plot that ensures that the movie is a success throughout. Never missing a beat, the movie has a rhythm and flows tremendously as the watcher gets sucked into the movie universe. Not only does the beginning of the movie manage to introduce audiences to the complex Ron Stallworth, but it is also has timely qualities and brings viewers back tot he 1970s, racism and all. The racial divisions quickly become clear and what's considered normal, so much so that there hasn't even been an African-American cop in the town yet. The middle of the movie probably isn't the strongest, but it still manages to include some insightful portions that introduce watchers to members of the Klan, as well as some of their backwards mindsets. Furthermore, it is during this part of the movie that it becomes quite clear of why both Flip Zimmerman and Ron Stallworth need to follow through with this mission: not for themselves but for everyone else. The duo soon discover that this isn't a matter of egos and reputations, but this is something that they are both affected by, since they are both two types of people that would be affected by the Klan's goals. Flip is Jewish, which the organization hates, and Ron Stallworth is African-American, which is obviously something that the Klan is against, due to their outrageous racism. The enticing ending of the movie manages to conclusively end the entire movie while also tying all loose knots to make the adventure come together cohesively. Additionally, this is mostly when the director, Spike Lee, decides to make his parallels from this movie to events occurring in the real world by demonstrating that racism is still an issue that is clearly still taking place. This isn't just an issue of the past, but an issue is still going on, even in this modern-day and age. For that, this movie's theme and goals are conveyed with ease from this scorchingly passionate movie. 

 BlacKkKlansman manages to benefit from a few perfectly-timed jokes that are dispersed throughout that help to ensure that some parts of the movie are high-spirited and fairly light, despite some of the dark topics being discussed. Furthermore, this humor probably wouldn't exist without a talented cast that manages to revel in their roles. John David Washington does a spectacular job of portraying Ron Stallworth and is able to bring out the multi-dimensional character to life, as well as his emotion, intensity, and motivation for trying to stop racism. As one of the most important characters in the entire movie, he manages to do the real Ron Stallworth justice as his biggest accomplishment is displayed on-screen. Adam Driver does a fairly great job of playing Flip Zimmerman, and his character is able to form an amazing acting duo with Washington to create two characters with unparalleled chemistry that clicks constantly. There are other crucial characters and other just pure enjoyable ones, like Michael Buscemi's role where he pours humor and laughter into the drama, that assist the movie in becoming the masterpiece that it is, but Washington's Ron Stallworth truly steals the spotlight. 

 BlacKkKlansman isn't only enjoyed by viewers, but critics also thought extremely highly of it. Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie an absolutely outstanding 96%, which is just such an impressive score, and a whopping 91% of Google users liked the movie, solidifying that just about anyone and everyone enjoyed the movie. The fact that both critics and viewers thought so splendidly of the movie should be enough to sway any potential viewers. 

 BlacKkKlansman is a dramatization of real events and manages to shine throughout. The movie explores what it truly means to be both an American and a hero, allowing the movie to shine like fireworks on the fourth of July. With elements of mystery and thrills delicately sprinkled throughout, this movie is certainly an adventurous roller coaster that everyone should want to be a part of. Its real themes are conjured effectively, causing this film to become one that has the potential to revolutionize how people view racism in the world. As a glaringly fantastic choice that will absolutely surpass any and all expectations, not only is this a must-see, but it also does the real Ron Stallworth justice. 


The author's comments:

"I just want to leave you, sisters and brothers, with these last words. If I am not for myself, who will be? If I am for myself alone, who am I? If not now, when? And if not you, who?" - Kwame Ture


Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 0 comments.