NeKk’s review published on Letterboxd:
To call something an instant classic seems to have lost all meaning these days as the bar for the standard gets damn lower and lower. Personally, absolutely not one to do that, but sometimes even I have to break that mould.
Everything that I thought and hoped the most popular racially thought-provoking film of the year, Blackkklansman should’ve been but wasn’t, Blindspotting takes this conversation to a more personal level and actually sees both sides interpreted in a fair and still mind-blowing manner. No period piece needed. No secluding one side from the other like all those films do. Just modern times and modern problems, shit you can see outside your window into the big screen, and it’s disgustingly beautiful.
For those not aware of Daveed Diggs, frontman of Hip Hop trio (not Death Grips), clipping. and one of the main cast of acclaimed world-renowned musical, Hamilton, dude is an all around talent. Being an insanely skilled rapper and apparently talented actor, he brings both sides into this film which I’ll consider his artistic magnum opus since he wrote the film with long-time collaborator, Rafael Casal who’s lesser known but equally as amazing. These 2 brought their A-Game and more and it is beyond mesmerizing. In fact, everyone on and outside of set brought their best material on deck and delivered the best of the best of THE BEST.
Despite being a modern film set in a modern setting, the film is amazingly constructed and shot, competing even with the best films of old. Think Do The Right Thing, but even more stylish yet less distracting. Seriously, there’s not one dull moment in the film due to some highly underrated and underappreciated group of people working behind the scenes.
The film being about racial highs and lows, hip-hop, the main attraction of our world today, is of course implemented highly here and it is some of the best I’ve ever heard. Some scenes and 2 particular ones to look out for in the film are just jaw-dropping, tear-inducing and awe-inspiring, all at once, just hitting you like a motherfucking train, mainly due to the intense and personal writing by the 2 leads. The film being as personal as it is, you know the words said are not only meticulous, but from the heart.
Being a fan of Hip-Hop and artistic films, this is one I’m going to idolize for years to come. Flaws are merely microscopic smudges in this 10-foot magnum opus that will both strike conversations and inspire future creators to come.
The world needs Blindspotting more than fucking ever. Hope this film blows people’s minds as much as it did mine.