By Emily Malia
Since its release in 2018, viewers have been left utterly mesmerised by the film’s gripping narrative, rocketing to an impressive 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes with raving fans calling it “perfection”. Yet there are only a few days remaining to catch this captivating biopic for free on BBC iPlayer.
BlacKkKlansman, an American film teeming with biographical, criminal and comical elements, takes us back to the 1970s Colorado scene. The uplifting movie paints the story of Ron Stallworth, the pioneering African-American detective, as he boldly sets out to dismantle and unmask the local Ku Klux Klan chapter from the inside.
Taking us through his real-life escapades in his 2014 memoir Black Klansman, which lays the foundation for the film, is none other than John David Washington. Portraying Stallworth, and following a past life in football, Washington stuns audiences in this role, earning him a Golden Globe nomination and leaving viewers in amazement at his transformation from the sports field to the big screen.
Spotlighting its contemporary relevance, one Rotten Tomatoes critic praised: “Made, not coincidentally, during the first Trump term, this movie really highlights the ridiculousness and danger of extremist racial politics. Spike Lee has done a good job of telling a compelling, frightening story in a serious but very watchable format.
“The acting is amazing in this movie from Adam Driver, Topher Grace, Laura Harrier, and John David Washington. The filmmaking, the costumes, the settings, and the cinematography are all worthy of the critical praise this movie received. The supporting cast is great. The lessons are so important.”
BlacKkKlansman was seen as a timely release at the time, coinciding with the appointment of a new president and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, earning itself critical acclaim. Lee’s direction of the film was particularly praised, resulting in six nominations at the 91st Academy Awards, reports the Express.
“This film was a joy to watch, and considering the subject matter, that’s a feat in and of itself,” one viewer shared. They went on to say: “It’s perfectly paced and delivers everything you would want from a filmmaker of this calibre. Then it does something that only Spike Lee can do; it ties it all to the modern age and shows you how relevant it is to current times.
“He’s just a great filmmaker, and this is just a great film. Fun, insightful, and impactful, and it leaves you feeling like you’ve done more than simply watch a movie; you experienced history. Perfection.”
The film charts an extraordinary journey as Stallworth embarks on a daring mission, risking his own life, to expose members of the infamous Ku Klux Klan, an American Christian extremist and white supremacist group. Alongside his colleague, Flip Zimmerman, portrayed by Adam Driver, they go undercover to probe the activities of this hate group and do everything in their power to dismantle them before they further penetrate the community.
Audiences have lauded the film for being both “moving” and “compelling”, with themes that, despite its 1970s backdrop, remain pertinent today.
One critique suggests that Lee’s work serves as “a chilling and inspiring thought piece on the modern and contemporary aspects of racism in America”.
For those keen to delve deeper into the unbelievable and inspirational tale of Ron Stallworth in the guise of an action comedy, time is running out. BlacKkKlansman is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer, but it will soon depart the streaming platform on July 8.