MovieChat Forums > BlacKkKlansman (2018) Discussion > Most important film of the year

Most important film of the year


So I just saw Blackkklansman. It was excellent! The film is sharply directed by Spike Lee and the screenplay is really well written. The entire cast did a great job, especially John David Washington (Denzel's son). The film is powerful, relevant, at times laugh out loud funny, other moments are chilling and disturbing. Blackkklansman is a must see film and deserves some serious Oscar nominations. I don't think it is the best film of the year, but I do think it is the most important film of 2018. I rate Blackkklansman a high 9/10.

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Same, although I think I would go 10/10. Felt the film had an important message about hate having no place in America and continuing to be vigilant against it. Cast was fantastic and the film is kind of a rare example of poignant and even funny. Spike did a great job here.


Have a short review of this movie if anyone is interested. If you feel there is something I could be doing better, I would definitely love to hear it. Review here- https://youtu.be/VTqWDN4mFrM

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Do Black People actually like these race baiting movies? Or is it white millennials that think so highly of them?

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I think a lot of people, of all races, are going to appreciate this film. I don't think it is accurate to label it as a "race baiting movie." It is a great film against prejudice and hatred.

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I just feel bad for non-whites because the only way for them to get work in Hollywood is to take roles like this that involve the color of their skin to tell a story.

It’s like “being black” or “being Asian” is the most important thing about them and it’s just sad. You don’t see white people paying attention to the color of their own skin 24/7 and they’re much happier for it, just my two cents.

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White people don't pay attention to the color of our skin because we don't have to. That's what white privilege is. We don't worry about putting the hood of our hoody up when it's cold or being followed around department stores because of the color of our skin because we rarely, if ever, are followed because of the color of our skin. It's not just a black American thing. Across the world, minorities are aware of what makes them different because they stand out.

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Oh, you were just begging for a standard "critical theory" lecture, weren't you?

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I was not. Thanks!

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But it was directed by someone who is racist/prejudice and full of hatred so it kind of ruins the whole movie.

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Nope. Spike Lee is not full of hatred.

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Yup. Spike Lee is one of the most ignorant racists on the planet.

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That's not my experience. I think about him summering on Martha's Vineyard, surrounded by white people, and reports of his being approachable, friendly, and ready to talk Sox-Yankees. Could you link some videos or texts supporting your claims?

This movie is also very fair and balanced. It stars one black hero, about a half dozen white ones, and then several white villains.

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Is that a joke? Look up any number of interviews, television appearances, etc. People who see everything through the lens of racism are, themselves, racist.

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To be clear, do you suggest that 46,000,000 black Americans should be unconcerned with racism and that any who suggest racism isn't over are themselves racist?

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Good question. Surprised there are people out there who actually enjoy this propaganda hit piece. Uhhh the evil whitey they go to bed singing how they gonna "kill the niggers". Yea totally believable guys, let me know when you stop trying to incite a race war.

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I have a couple of questions and I hope we can be civil because they come from a place of true curiosity.

1. Do you consider any of the following race baiting? 12 Years a Slave, Django Unchained, Schindler's List, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, In The Fade, The Color Purple, In the Heat of the Night, Boyz N The Hood, Fruitvale Station.
2. Generally, how do you define race baiting?
3. When you think about Millennials, are you thinking about high school and college students or 22-37 year-olds?

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I think the film fails to convincingly convey the authenticity of a period piece. It was embarrassingly obvious, like for example the token historic vehicles used in street scenes. I mean every vehicle was a historically preserved perfect shiny Ford Pinto or Chevy Nova, and it was obvious these were historic vehicles garage-kept and waxed regularly. That's not what they looked like in 1971. They were dirty just like everything else. And the props were obvious and blatant, like for example the "NIXON AGNEW' poster in the interior of a Klansman's home. Most important though was the sense of believability was vacant and missing, and yes I'm well aware it's "based on a true story." But that means nothing in the world of filmmaking. and Spike Lee, who was once a great filmmaker, knows that. The director needs to make magic. I just feel Lee didn't do that here, and in fact didn't come close. It's worth mentioning however, the lead actor John David Washington is fascinating. He has his own individual charisma and magnetism, which he clearly inherited from his father but it comes out in a new and unique way. Really the only saving grace fora real disappointment of a film.

The inner torment Adam Driver's character supposedly is going through over his Judaism was revolting and not at all believable. It was a reach for Adam Driver and even more of a reach for Spike Lee, who has a history of not understanding American Jews and caricaturing them in derogatory fashion in his films. It needs to be mentioned because in the film it is the lynchpin connecting the suffering of Blacks with Jews, which is, as the film tries, the supposedly common ground the two lead actors share. But it's just not believable. The struggle of Jewish people is utterly lost on Spike Lee, and this blind spot can be seen quite clearly & painfully in "BlacKkKlansman." It's bad acting and badly rendered. Only John David Washington made it bearable but even he could not prevent me from walking out early.



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You say that Spike Lee has a history of caricaturing Jews. Can you give me any examples? I don't recall there being any Jews in the five or six other Spike Lee movies I have seen.

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Also the soundtrack- was VERY VERY Tarantino with a capital TARANTINO. Without being redundant, it was embarrassingly derivative of Tarantino. The dancing scene with the Cornelius Brothers and the lead actress with her 1970 gold oval tinted glasses felt staged and unnatural. I'm a huge Cornelius Brothers fan and a huge Looking Glass fan too, so when "Brandy" played I felt it was gratuitous. Easy. And again, very Quentin Tarantino, and not in a kind of sort of complimentary influential way- I'm talking direct theft.

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I liked the movie too.

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I thought it was pretty good but expected better.

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Yeah since this film can't be criticised, the only thing you can do is out-praise other people when recommending/reviewing it.

If you dont ...

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Yeah since this film can't be criticised, the only thing you can do is out-praise other people when recommending/reviewing it.
Silliness and abject cravenness on your part. Of course the film can be criticized. Not only have people criticized the film but so too has the director been criticized. Who told you that this film can't be criticized and why did you believe them?

Have you provided your own criticism and did something happen?

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I love this tactic:

"How dare you call out our B.S.! It's clearly a delusion you're suffering. Don't ever question our B.S. again!"

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I would rate around 7.5 but I agree with you it is an important movie. Very relevant for today.

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I completely agree. Fantastic film. I hope it's nominated for the screenplay, its direction, Washington and Driver, the score, and the editing. I also think it's deserving of sound and costume nominations.

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