Blindspotting - Review

Blindspotting

Let me introduce you to two relatively unknowns. First there is Daveed Diggs. He is an American actor, rapper, singer and Brown University Graduate. He founded the experimental hip hop group “Clipping” and in 2015 originated the roles of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson for in the highly acclaimed musical “Hamilton” for which he won both a Grammy Award and a Tony Award. He left “Hamilton” in 2016 and now has a recurring role in the television series Black-ish.

Now let me introduce you to Rafael Casal is an American actor, recording artist, writer, poet and playwright whose work has been seen on MTV and HBO. He's also performed with a number of different artists including Mos Def, Kanye West and Legend Carol King. Both of these men are friends in real life and together Daveed and Rafael wrote and star in the much talk about entry to the 2018 Sundance film festival called “Blindspotting”.

Essentially the story revolves around a young man living in Oakland, CA named “Collin” (Daveed Diggs). In the first two minutes, dressed in an orange jump suit, we see “Collin” is a convicted felon being released early on probation. During his hearing the judge admonishes him that if he violates his probation he will be sent back to prison for his full multiyear sentence. Fast forward 11 months and 27 days later we find “Collin” vigilantly working hard to make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning. We also see his childhood friend is also his best friend, always by his side named “Miles” (Rafael Casal), who seemingly seems to either be always hustling discarded merchandise he finds or generally always making trouble everywhere he goes when the two friends try to hang out after work. Both men are employed as a tandem team of furniture movers for a company called “Commander Movers” which is managed by a young woman named “Val” played by actress Janina Gavankar.

One night when “Collin” is heading home to his half way house in the company truck he witnesses a police shooting that appears to be brazen murder. Reluctant to do or say anything “Collin” does tell his friend “Miles”. It’s the back drop of this one event and their life long friendship that the two men's friendship is thoroughly tested as they grapple with “Collin’s” identity being “Black:” and “Miles” identity being White and their overall realities of the rapidly-gentrifying neighborhood they grew up, combined with the larger political intersection of race and class issues in America set against the ever present backdrop of hip-hop culture in Oakland

REVIEW: ‘Blindspotting” is great. Not because it has some greater meaning of life story working for it. Rather for its superb direction that seems to thrust the viewing audience into a very smart and edgy fictional tale that feels like it’s bursting with authenticity in each and every moment of its 94 minute running time. And combined with a very smart kinetic screenplay the entire film has a uniquely infused gritty energy that is always present. It also has lots of style, tons of laugh out loud humor and equally real dramatic moments that will sometimes give you chilling goose bumps. Together these virtues are wrapped in a ebbing and flow dialogue that is part provocative theatric play to occasionally light hearted hip hop play on words, then back to dramatic theatric play again.

Directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada, “Blindspotting” at its core is a cathartic big screen, fast pace, meditative examination of the rapidly changing cultures in modern America. And examination not from a broad lens perspective but rather viewing it more from a perspective of everyday normal lives where people are trying just to survive by moving perilously on a narrow piece of thread where in one second you are having fun and enjoying life and one second later being shot and killed. And it’s in this perilous world of “Collin” and “Miles” where we see emotions that can lead not only to simple actions and reactions they also can have immediate life altering consequences encased in humor and drama.

Now there were a few scant times my old ears failed me in fully understanding and comprehending the specific meaning and relevance to some of the poetic hip hop utterances. But in the end my confusion didn’t matter as it was only a brief experience as the full measure of this surprisingly, highly entertaining film still grabbed my full attention with it wickedly delivered humor and wickedly delivered drama like very few low budget films rarely do. But the real strength of this film was the intensely charismatic chemistry projected between lead actors Diggs and Casal. I could be wrong but I believed we will be seeing a lot more of these two men for years to come as their acting energy genuinely project the raw range of emotions of two real lifelong friends that was just a true pleasure to experience.

“Blindspotting” is defined as a situation that can be interpreted in two different ways, but you can only see one of the interpretations. Then you have a “blindspot” to the second interpretation. Why this film will not be everyone’s cup of tea with its recurring rapid fire hip hop influences and with an ending that was more social commentary than typical film finale it still magically worked for me and my viewing pleasure.

Again, I must admit I am a bit naïve about how hip hop’s day to day vernacular and jargon seemingly sounds at time completely peculiar to me, especially with its impact on the lexicon on modern America. Still there is no mistaking my “blind spot” interpretation of its usage in the film itself as I found “Blindspotting”, part “Boyz in the Hood”, part “Straight Outta Compton” and part comedy hit “Friday“ one of the best films for 2018.

4.00 Stars