Blindspotting Review
R: Language throughout, some brutal violence, sexual references and drug useSummit Entertainment, CodeBlack Films, Snoot Films1 Hr and 35 MinutesDir: Carlos López Estrada | Writers: Rafael Casal, Daveed DiggsCast: Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Ethan Embry, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Wayne KnightAs of recent, there have been a slew of heavy-handed films that take place in the city of Oakland, California. Oakland has been the base setting for some of either the boldest or most moving movies to have come out in the last five years. You have “Fruitvale Station”, “Dope”, the recently released “Sorry to Bother You”, and now “Blindspotting”, a movie that I’ll gladly say is possibly my favorite out of those listed.
Collin (Daveed Diggs) must make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning. He and his troublemaking childhood best friend, Miles (Rafael Casal), work as movers and are forced to watch their old neighborhood become a trendy spot in the rapidly gentrifying Bay Area. When a life-altering event causes Collin to miss his mandatory curfew, the two men struggle to maintain their friendship as the changing social landscape exposes their differences.THE GOODDaveed Diggs bursted onto the scene with “Hamilton” and Rafael Casal with his spoken word. What benefits this movie is how, for the most part, it plays as a showcase of both of their talents in Hollywood where Diggs has the acting range skills and Casal has the fast-speaking mouth of a poet. Diggs and Casal have an electric chemistry that is irresistible. In real life the two have been best friends and it shows on screen.
Collin tried to be a humble guy just getting by and serving the last several days left of his probation, but his friends aren’t the best people for they have bad habits that he should be avoiding. What really triggers Collin is witnessing an officer shoot down a Black man through his rearview window. Despite its dark opening, the film proceeds with a light tone driven by humor and charismatic performances by writers/lead actors Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal.The way the two interact with each other is reminiscent of the bond Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have in any given Edgar Wright film mixed with Ice Cube and Chris Tucker in the way they interact with their environment. Now, their characters of Collin and Miles remind me heavily of the animated series “Ed, Edd, and Eddy” except there is no Ed. Miles is like Eddy where he is a scheming con man who tries to get a quick buck throughout the day. Collin is very much Edd where he is logical and smart, but isn’t that outspoken so he ends up enabling Miles’ schemes.Just like the film “Friday”, this movie is composed of standard day-to-day situations and conversations, but oftentimes “Blindspotting” hits you with a line that gut punches you with truth that leaves you going:
If you hear anyone express how poetic this movie is, it's mostly because the movie is comprised of numerous of poems. While it might seem gimmicky if it were anyone else, it is rightfully welcomed mostly because of the writers’ career background. When certain spoken word sequences are performed, you can sense that some have been written long ago and man can those boys spit bars. When the film gets to its climax the final poem is so strong that it definitely should qualify Diggs/Casal’s script as a contender for best original screenplay nominations when award season hits.
Many will probably be thrown off by how the movie carries itself after it opens so violently and disturbing. As I said, it moves more like a comedy that is entertaining and is mostly structured off of Collin surviving his final days of probation. At one specific moment, in the second act, the film jumps off the diving board and into the pool of relevance and truth. Right when you write this off as a comedy, the movie stabs you through the chest with social commentary and executes it perfectly.The movie from that moment forward (by the 50 minute mark) gets heavy-handed with its social issues topics, from police brutality to the negatives of gentrification, through visuals and conversations that no other film has ever expressed before. It never lets up with powerful statements and pulse-pounding moments that have you gripped to your seat from the second half through the end of the movie. Immediately, “Blindspotting” became one of the most powerful and moving films I’ve seen this year.THE BADThe only issue I truly do have with this movie is a one-off cameo by Utkarsh Ambudkar who practically gives the audience exposition of Collin in the same vein Carlos from “Ant-Man” tells stories. While his scene is comedic and serves purpose to the characterization of Collin, it’s a one and done moment that is tonally imbalanced for he is telling a violent story through comedy. That entire sequence got a bit too “Family Guy” in the way how it aimed for shock value with its violence but says “but look how funny it is if you look at it from my perspective.” While it brings Collin guilt, and you feel his guilt as well, the way the story is told throws you off.LAST STATEMENTBolstered by powerful performances from writers/actors Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal in their feature debut with a thought-provoking and haunting message, “Blindspotting” is a boldly spitfire, outspoken film of the summer you don’t want to miss.Now if only someone would combine this movie, “Dope”, and “Sorry to Bother You” in a DVD box set and call it “The Oakland Classic Set”, I’ll gladly click preorder in a flash.Rating: 4.5/5 | 92%Super Scene: Collin’s confrontation
