Blindspotting (2018)
Stars: Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar
Runtime: 95 minutes
Synopsis: A man living the last days of his probation period witnesses an incident that will change his views and reevaluate his life choices.
- Performances: 9/10
Why? Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal deliver what are in my opinion two of the best performances of the year. They managed to give their respective characters the emotional range needed to make them as grounded as possible all the while adding the necessary amount of humor that also made them relatable and likable. They somehow turned two characters that could've easily been seen as over the top and even caricatural into ones I deeply connected with and felt that I have known for years.
- Screenplay: 9/10
Why? If Shakespeare was alive today and wanted to write something that emphasized the problems our society was facing, I'm pretty certain that he would've written something similar to the script of that movie. "Blindspotting" isn't your typical Hollywood blockbuster filled with explosions and action scenes, but is rather a fascinating character study commentating on some of the biggest social issues our society is facing nowadays. It's funny, clever, intense, and flows naturally unlike some other similarly themed films that, instead, turn their focus on delivering their ideologies rather than actually making an interesting, character-driven film. Another thing that distinguishes "Blindspotting" from other movies in the same genre was the dialogue which, as hinted earlier, felt very Shakespearian but with a modern twist. The use of rap in some scenes perefctly highlights that analogy and gives the movie a very appropriate street feel.
- Costumes/Makeup: 7/10
Why? Nothing to say here. The costumes were great and fit well with the characters' personalities, but are ultimately basically just clothes.
- Editing: 10/10
Why? Because it's absolutely flawless. The transitions were smooth, the runtime appropriate, and the frequent split screen effect used didn't feel gimmicky. The editing played a big part in making the story as efficient as it is.
- Cinematography: 8/10
Why? "Blindspotting" isn't only well acted and beautifully written, it's also greatly shot. Cinematographer Robby Baumgartner did a wonderful job highlighting the street nature of the flick and his camera skills exceptionally fit with the tone of the movie.
- Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Why? Also amazingly fit with the tone of the film. I'd say that the soundtrack, which featured many rap and hip hop songs, was more memorable than the score, but both were effective and well introduced.
FINAL GRADE: 9/10
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