Premiering its first trailer ahead of its Cannes Film Festival debut, Spike Lee’s latest film BlacKkKlansman, which was produced by Jordan Peele, was received by a roaring 10-minute standing ovation after its premiere.
Spike Lee gets a standing ovation. #Cannes2018 #Blackkklansman pic.twitter.com/8511qmIpjN
— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) May 14, 2018
Here’s part of that standing ovation #BlackKklansman #Cannes2018 pic.twitter.com/lMtrP6Udrq
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) May 15, 2018
Here are some select reviews:
Lee never takes his eye off the connecting thread between the events of 1978 and the present. The result is one of his most flat-out entertaining films in years, and also one of his most uncompromising. – Vulture
Which is a hallmark of Lee’s filmmaking at its best, how his exuberant need to communicate, lecture, and prod births films erratic in tone but powerful in their clamor and strong sense of purpose. BlacKkKlansman is a less direct work than, say, Do the Right Thing, but probably necessarily so. This film speaks to a different era, one so lost in its cloud of social-media babble and skewed realities that may be hard, undermining satire like this is best equipped to address it. In his final-frames pivot from archness to poignant, rattling earnestness, Lee re-asserts himself once again as a vital, complex voice in cinema. Which is just the kind of thing we come to Cannes to contend with. – Vanity Fair
No matter, for with this film Lee has another way into the general discourse about race in America, using its populist media to speak truth to power. It’s a film that’s both timeless in its seeking of justice and still very much of the moment. Blackkklansman is an excoriating, unapologetic shit on the chest of Trumpians and their nativist agenda, and may well serve as one of the defining films of this era just as Birth of a Nation and Gone With The Wind did in theirs. – Dork Shelf
Here are initial reactions from Twitter:
Spike Lee has made a political and very entertaining joint with a bit of black history and a strong finale. “Blackkklansman” makes fun of Ku Klux Klan, gives Trump the middle finger & reminds us sadly how little has changed in America. #cannes2018
— Alexander Dunerfors @Cannes (@dunerfors) May 14, 2018
BLACKKKLANSMAN is a furious indictment of modern racism disguised as a dark comedy that’s uncomfortably funny until it’s not. Lee makes his case early on and drives his point home at the very end #Cannes2018
— Emma Stefansky (@stefabsky) May 14, 2018
BLACKKKLANSMAN: Spike is back, and you’re going to know about it soon enough. A raucous, witty, passionate and intelligent thriller that sticks its middle finger up to Trump’s America. Best of the fest so far #Cannes2018 @1RoomWithAView
— Tom Bond (@tom_bond) May 14, 2018
#BlacKkKlansman brought a theatre filled with hundreds of people to pindrop silence. There’s nothing else I could say that would do it justice – just watch it #Cannes2018
— Dina EK (@dinaistweeting) May 14, 2018
BLACKKKLANSMAN: draws on the past to talk about today, using laughter, action sequences, drama, shock, calls to action. Entertaining, with an ending that truly punches you in the gut. Holds up a mirror to the America that is tough (but important) to see #Cannes2018 pic.twitter.com/vOlYRv6yJl
— Alicia Malone (@aliciamalone) May 14, 2018
I did NOT expect to see a moving and thrilling montage set to Emerson, Lake & Palmer in BLACKKKLANSMAN and that is why Spike Lee is (and always has been) a genius. #cannes2018
— Jordan Hoffman (@jhoffman) May 14, 2018
Spike Lee’s #BlacKkKlansman is an utterly incendiary piece of Americana and the director’s best in over a decade. It’s vital and volatile and at times absolutely hilarious. #Cannes2018
— Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) May 14, 2018
“BlackKklansman” is funny, moving, vital, flawed, messy, ambitious. It ain’t perfect, but welcome back Spike, we missed ya. #Cannes2018
— Jordan Ruimy (@mrRuimy) May 14, 2018
Wow. BLACKKKLANSMAN just ripped the sky open at #Cannes2018. One of Spike Lee’s finest films. A major work.
— Matt Dentler (@MattDentler) May 14, 2018
BlacKkKlansman – Damn, Spike Lee is pissed. But the film is a super extra dark comedy about infiltrating the KKK and making fun of them as much possible, not to mention damning America and shaking the audience to wake us up to what’s going on. #cannes2018
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) May 14, 2018
Blackkklansman: Spike Lee’s new “fo’ real” joint is both hilarious and horrifying, and draws sobering parallels to Trump’s America. Heavy handed at points, but that’s always been Spike’s MO. The last 5 minutes are unbelievably powerful #Cannes2018
— Jordan Farley (@JordanFarley) May 14, 2018
Hot damn, #BlacKkKlansman is electric. It’s simultaneously Spike Lee’s most entertaining film since INSIDE MAN and a savvy indictment of Trump-era bigotry right down to the chilling real-life climax. #cannes18
— erickohn (@erickohn) May 14, 2018
BlacKkKlansman is Spike Lee’s best film in quite awhile even if it doesn’t always gel together. Powerful look at how little America has changed since early 70’s in race relations contrasting to today.
Also quite funny at times. #cannes2018
— Gregory Ellwood (@TheGregoryE) May 14, 2018
The film is the provocative story based on Ron Stallworth’s life as Colorado Springs’ first African-American police officer who went undercover to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. Unbelievably, Detective Stallworth (John David Washington) and his partner Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) penetrate the KKK at its highest levels to thwart its attempt to take over the city. Produced by the team behind the Academy-Award winning Get Out, Spike Lee uses his trademark take-no-prisoner style and humor to tell this story often missing from the history books.
The film will debut in theaters on August 10.
It stars John David Washington, Laura Harrier, Corey Hawkins, Adam Driver and Topher Grace.
Here’s the official teaser art:
