I saw two movies that got great reviews from the critics. Both were disappointing - Spike Lee’s BLACK KkKLANSMAN and Jon M. Chu’s CRAZY RICH ASIANS.
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| John David Washington as Ron Stallworth and Laura Harrier as Patrice |
Spike Lee did almost everything right in his latest movie, BLACK KkKLANSMAN and this could have been a great film; his baring of the scope of rampant racism and anti-semitism throughout history is on the mark, but there is often a shield of empty and tired dogma shrouding his characters. The power of fresh, convincing expression is rare and hard to come by; language that feels both natural and emotionally gripping is sacrificed to the altar of ideological protest-speak.
The visual imagery and Terry Blanchard’s music were gripping; if only his actors spoke to one another less self-consciously, not as scripted and predictably. When Lee inserts documentary footage, he does so brilliantly - taking clips from what many consider the classic racist 1915 film, Birth Of A Nation right up to the 2017 white supremacist's protests in Charlottesville Virginia. We see the same faces of hatred and contempt - not much has changed.
The visual imagery and Terry Blanchard’s music were gripping; if only his actors spoke to one another less self-consciously, not as scripted and predictably. When Lee inserts documentary footage, he does so brilliantly - taking clips from what many consider the classic racist 1915 film, Birth Of A Nation right up to the 2017 white supremacist's protests in Charlottesville Virginia. We see the same faces of hatred and contempt - not much has changed.
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| Topher Grace as David Duke |
I was once told that when it comes to racism and issues of poverty and hate, people have to be “hit over the head” continuously for them to see and talk with one another - perhaps that is what BLACK KkKLANSMAN is trying to do. Alas, my heart was not moved, though my intellect was ever-present.
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| Adam Driver and John David Washington |
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| Henry Golding and Constance Wu |
CRAZY RICH ASIANS is a stereotypical re-imaging of “generational divide’ taken straight out of Hollywood/Bollywood and moved to Singapore with exaggerated and at times outrageous characters, cavorting in glitzy, tacky celebrations of the seductiveness of wealth’s “glamor” with the starring couple’s disavowal of those “trite” values while embracing them.
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We see a well-meaning tale of love overcoming parental “class” disapproval performed by an all Asian cast. The movie included the run-of-the-mill parodies of a goofy family, a ridiculous gay man, and a bitchy ex-girlfriend; the tear-jerking Cinderella story was updated for our 21st-century era so that the leading lady is an educated, independent woman who is a Professor. Alas, this over-production lacked originality and charm which would have made CRAZY RICH ASIANS more bearable.
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| Constance Wu |
Grace I just saw BlackkKlansman and have to disagree with you. It held my attention throughout. I suspended any sense of disbelief and just enjoyed the pacing and the musical quality of the words, the gorgeous set design, everything really. Sure it hit the viewer over the head but so what. This time the hammer was made of velvet and it felt good. I suppose when I love a movie this much I can't be objective, don't wanna be either. What impressed me was Adam Dryer's performance. May have misspelled his name....Lee really reined him in. He's got this animal like way of moving and suppressed scary energy that was gentled somewhat in this role. I expected to be disappointed but intead was overwhelmed by this film. I needed about an hour to come down from it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your remarks. I really appreciate hearing other points of view. And you were close Adam Driver was excellent in the film.
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