BlacKkKlansman - 8 stars out of 10

BlacKkKlansman - 8 stars out of 10

“BlacKkKlansman” is a biographical film about Ron Stallworth, an African American detective who infiltrated a Colorado Springs chapter of the KKK in the 1970’s.  The main role is expertly portrayed by John David Washington who captures the demeanor of a confident-but-persecuted African American from this era.  He definitely has a shot at following in his father’s footsteps with an Oscar nomination.  Washington is paired with Adam Driver, who also gives a noteworthy performance.  The acting is great but the film will be best remembered for director Spike Lee’s no-holds-barred style and its topical story of racism.  Any film that shows KKK members in their hoods will send chills up your spine and this film is full of powerful imagery.  I was most fascinated that this story goes beyond the rituals of the Klan and digs into the politics.  Topher Grace plays KKK Grand Wizard David Duke (who is still alive today) and helps us to see how he influenced the ideology of the group while maintaining a publicly clean image.  Lee did a great job of casting so that the KKK members are repulsive with varying levels of intellect while making sure that everyone else (except for the corrupt cop) is likable.  Overall, I found this to be a great story and entertaining film until the very end.  Spike Lee drives home the film’s message by closing the film with footage from the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville.  This powerful imagery is used to reflect the fact that modern racism is the same as the events of the film.  There is just one problem: the second half of this story is fabricated for dramatic effect.  In reality, the primary objective of the actual chapter that Stallworth infiltrated was to place its members into high-ranking military positions.  It feels a bit disingenuous to fabricate a terroristic plot that engages the audience’s emotions and then incorporate real footage to project those fictional ideals onto modern people.  I love the film’s themes on how racism tears us apart and how we need to do a better job of loving all humanity, but this connection between the fictional plot and Charlottesville seems irresponsible.  I would have preferred to see this story conclude with Stallworth delivering a Spike Lee-esque monologue about how this is a battle that we will still fight today, and then allow the audience to reflect as they walk out of the theater.  If anything, this ending cheapens the theme by making us wonder if the Charlottesville footage gives an inaccurate portrayal of history in the same way that the film gives an inaccurate portrayal of Stallworth’s story.  “BlacKkKlansman” tells an amazing story that I highly recommend for its important message about racism, but I believe that Spike Lee miscalculated the ending.

[Pictured: Spike Lee’s unique style blends with great acting to bring Ron Stallworth’s story to life]

Private Life (2018) - 6 stars out of 10

Private Life (2018) - 6 stars out of 10

"Private Life” uses a dark comedic tone to shed light on the struggles of couples with infertility issues.  The film would be too depressing to watch if it was a drama but the tone helps to get the point across while making the story watchable.  It is unique in that the relatable characters and coming-of-age subplot help to explore the difficult subject matter in an empathetic way while maintaining a sense of hope.  The performances of Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn feel candid and raw, most closely resembling Richard Linklater‘s stream-of-consciousness “Before Sunrise” series (with a very different theme).  Rather than falling in love, the lead characters have very little room for love in their marriage because their entire world is consumed by trying to have a child.  There are moments when you wonder why they would even want to have a child together because they don’t seem to even like each other.  Meanwhile, their niece Sadie (played by Kayli Carter) contrasts the loveless marriage by starting to find meaning in her life through a sense of family values.  Her performance feels authentic as she sees the struggle of others and learns to be selfless.  For me, she was the highlight of the film.  The story is further rounded out by Sadie’s parents, whose differing opinions on infertility, egg donation, and in vitro fertilization help to expose various public perceptions of this often taboo topic.  There isn’t a lot to be said about the production design or cinematography - this film is all about the script and acting.  “Private Life” isn’t entertaining per se, but it will cause you to contemplate the struggles of infertile couples and their determination to have a child, all while appreciating the realistic performances by its players.

[Pictured: The film's tone lies somewhere between depressing and hopeful]