Crazy Rich Asians
It's been 25 years since Hollywood has released a film with an all Asian cast and the significance of that has not been lost on me. I think it's absolutely wonderful that we are getting films with diverse representation across all races and people are proving that these types of films will make big money. That said, I must be objective in my review, and while there were things I did like about Crazy Rich Asians, I wouldn't say it holds up to all the hype.
What I did enjoy about this film, is how big and bold everything was. The production value, the sets, the music, the costumes, the settings, and colors. Everything looked absolutely gorgeous and dazzling. This film definetly has charm, mostly stemming from the performances of its dashing leads and the cultural references that Asian Americans will identify with.
It shoots for commericial appeal, which is good in the sense that a wider audience will find it enjoyable, but that also means usually (and in the case of this film) that it has to be dumbed down in order to be more palatable to your casual moviegoer.
While it does offer a unique perspective from your typical rom-com, it follows all of the same beats, just on a bigger drum. What it doesn't offer is a lot of depth in terms of character or subplot. In fact, there was only one subplot, which didn't really relate to plot A, and actually seemed like the more interesting story of the two. Because of this, the film suffers from feeling overlong. There were several scenes that could have been taken out and the story would have lost nothing, but they weren't. Another flaw was the comedy. While it hit on occasion, it mostly fell flat with me. This is obviously my personal preference as everyone will find different things humorous, but had this film been funnier it might've gotten a higher score.
Overall, Crazy Rich Asians is likeable and "cute", but it never quite reaches its full potential. That said, I hope it opens the door for better films with all Asian casts and that people will continue to support those when they come out. 6 out of 10 stars. (Worth Ticket Price)
Blackkklansman
Blackkklansman is a dramedy inspired by true events and directed by Spike Lee. It stars John David Washington (Denzel Washington's son) as Ron Stallworth, Colorado Spring's first African American detective. His first mission? Infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. He makes connections over the phone with the klan and uses his Jewish/white-passing colleague (Adam Driver) to meet with them in person.
Now this story sounds absolutely crazy for obvious reasons, which is why I'm surprised it is just now being told. Honestly though, the timing couldn't be more perfect. Blackkklansman isn't afraid to go for it, delivering on both big laughs and big discomfort. It never once polishes America's dirty history, nor does it detract from the seriousness of it, but what it does do is expose the absolute stupidity of racism in a comedic way. The black community has always coped with oppression through humor as a way of healing, and this film hits just the spot.
Harkoning back to the 2017 Charlottesville Unite the Right rally, Black Klansman asks, "How much has America really changed in the past few decades?". It's a question worth examining, especially when it comes in the form of this incredibly entertaining, absorbing, and intelligent film.
I give Blackkklansman a 10 out of 10 stars. (A Must See)
