Blindspotting 2018

“Welcome to Oakland”

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a cult classic on our hands, and people don’t even know it.

‘Blindspotting’ does an excellent job at avoiding the force preachy message about race and social issues a lot better than any Oscar bait movie that calls itself “important”. Despite occasionally falling into some cliches in certain areas, but that never interrupts the natural flow that made it feel so real and incredibly terrifying.

The themes of violence, race, cultural, fear and anger - linking in a tight knot that strings elements of modern society. At times it’s funny, like really funny, but can be unnerving when necessary. It’s got a lot to say and leaves room for discussion. All of this was beautifully presented through the writing/performances by Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal. Of course Carlos López Estrada, a fresh face filmmaker who’s best known for directing music videos brings that surreal and captivating eye to detail into the film.

It’s approach of applying rap in some scenes which I find to be a unique and interesting decision that pushed the message forward rather than let characters discuss about it, especially the last ten minutes that felt like a release of trauma and pain. It’s very poetic and almost Shakespearean. People have mix feelings of this approach, because it’s not often you see something like this done, and that isn’t a bad thing.

How people overlooked this movie is almost criminal. Now I’m guilty myself for missing this out, but with very little marketing and the lack of faith from the studios, who would have known this existed. I guess the best way to find gold is to dig through the dirt.

I wish we get more movies like it.

This film is almost like a modern Do The Right Thing, except I like this film so much more than that film by a long shot.

The story revolves around the character played by Daveed Diggs (Collin) on the last few days of his probation and the events that happen between that time, to keep this review short I have to say that this film is just so masterfully written and directed as it knows how to highlight relevant things we see in society today like Police Brutality, Gentrification and so many other things we face on a daily basis and this goes especially for people who are of an ethnic minority.

I can't praise the cast, directing and writing of this film enough as it manages to craft a film that this important in today's society but also do it in such a way that it is not being preachy and even sprinkles in some comedy in between the drama to make sure that the viewer doesn't feel horrible throughout the entire film, even though the film's message is actually really sad and I would say is important for both adults and young people alike to understand.

Both Daveed Diggs (Collin) and Rafael Casal (Miles) are perfect in this film, they have amazing chemistry and they bounce off of each other so perfectly but also do share those serious moments. Also, when a comedic moment happens it hits hard and I promise this film will have moments that make you laugh but also maybe even cry.

Unlike other films that tackle this matter like Detroit for example (which is a great film and I recommend for any and everyone to watch), this film has a lot of rewatch value for sure and also I recommend checking out the soundtrack if you are a hip hop head.

A promising setup that is ultimately let down by a clunky execution.

For the most part, the narrative is grounded in the realities of being a criminal and felon, and does a good job portraying the complexity of a nuanced issue. Characters are complex, relationships are complicated, and people make dumb choices for dumb reasons because sometimes that's just who they are. Collin and Miles are a great pairing, and serve as outstanding portraits of different parts of their community.

While the movie almost succeeds in walking the narrow line of being social commentary without becoming preachy, the (unnecessary) fourth act abandons any groundedness to deliver a melodramatic invective against police violence. It's a message I support, but its timing and method contrast heavily with the narrative elements that lead to it. Instead of feeling like a dramatic capstone to the events of the film, it comes across as a radical stylistic departure from everything we've seen until then.

Individual components of this movie are excellent, but in my opinion this somewhat misses the mark as a cohesive story. Given the subject matter and how much the movie does uniquely right. I wish I could give it a stronger recommendation; but the pieces don't fit together nearly enough for this to be a must-watch.

Blindspotting is a movers ballet because it dances a fine line outside of the box -- and will move the shite out of you, to boot.

This comedy/drama focuses on a young black man trying to finish his year's parole in a halfway house after serving time for a felony, but that's only the skin of the film for its beauty runs far deeper.

Blindspotting delves into racism, gentrification and violence but, above all, change. It confronts head on like a collision the question, "Can a man really change and, if so, will society let him?"

The story telling feels like a street rap concept album where each scene is a song that will make you laugh or make you cry or make you think and often all three at the same time.

This miracle is made possible thanks to Grammy and Tony winning singer / actor Daveed Diggs who wrote, produced and stars in the film, as well as co-star Rafael Casal, a gifted poet and rapper in his own right. Their portrayal of childhood friends faced with changing times is charged with freestyle jive and a brutal energy that will have you nodding your head to the beats and to the message.