[Screen It]

 

"BLACKkKLANSMAN"
(2018) (John David Washington, Adam Driver) (R)


At-A-Glace Content Summary

Alcohol/Drugs Moderate
Blood/Gross Stuff Moderate
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude Extreme
Frightening/Tense Scenes Heavy
Gun/Weapons Heavy
Imitative Behavior Extreme
Jump Scenes None
Music (Scary/Tense) None
Music (Inappropriate) None
Profanity Extreme
Sex/Nudity Moderate
Smoking Moderate
Tense Family Scenes Minor
Topics to Talk About Extreme
Violence Heavy


QUICK TAKE:
Dramedy: A 1970s era black cop and his white Jewish partner infiltrate the local chapter of the Colorado Springs Ku Klux Klan and eventually make their way up to the grand wizard of the national organization.
PLOT:
It's the late 1970s and Ron Stallworth (JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON) is applying to be the first black police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department. After passing a litany of questions from Chief Bridges (ROBERT JOHN BURKE), Ron lands the job but must contend with racist fellow cops such as Andy Landers (FREDERICK WELLER). His first out of the office assignment is to infiltrate a rally held by ex-Black Panther Stokely Carmichael, a.k.a. Kwame Ture (COREY HAWKINS). It's there that he meets Colorado State Black Student Union president Patrice Dumas (LAURA HARRIER) and is near instantly smitten with the radical young woman who doesn't realize he's a cop.

Reporting back that the group is angry but doesn't seem to pose a threat, Ron spots an ad about joining the Ku Klux Klan and -- using his "white voice" -- calls the number. He reaches local chapter president Walter Breachway (RYAN EGGOLD) and fools him into believing he's a white racist and ends up invited to come on down to meet him and the rest. Obviously realizing that won't work and after confiding with white cops Flip Zimmerman (ADAM DRIVER) and Jimmy (STEVE BUSCEMI), Ron decides that Flip -- a Jew -- should pose as him.

Given the go-ahead by their captain, Flip does just that and not only meets Walter, but also the suspicious Felix Kendrickson (JASPER PÄÄKKÖNEN), his equally racist wife, Connie (ASHLIE ATKINSON), and the bumbling but dangerous Ivanhoe (PAUL WALTER HAUSER). With Flip passing the litmus test of joining the group, and Ron continuing to make arrangements over the phone, their dual investigation of the KKK eventually puts them into contact with the grand wizard of the organization, David Duke (TOPHER GRACE).

As they continue with their undercover work, Ron and Patrice become romantically involved, all of which leaves him conflicted and concerned about how things are going to play out.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Older teens might, especially if they're fans of director Spike Lee, anyone in the cast, or provocative message-based films.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For language throughout, including racial epithets, and for disturbing/violent material and some sexual references.

Other new and recent reviews include:

[Around the World in 80 Days] [Family Camp] [Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness]

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.

All Rights Reserved,
©1996-2022 Screen It, Inc.