Blindspotting 2018
I didn’t know anything about this movie, but it got great reviews and I was lucky to be given a digital copy. The movie stars Daveed Diggs, who starred in Hamilton prior to making this movie, for which he also wrote the screenplay in partnership with co-star and real life friend Rafael Casal. The movie is about two lifelong friends, now movers, in Oakland, one within days of finishing parole. The movie looks at gentrification, racism, and police brutality, but keeps a sense of humor for the most part. It is about these two friend dealing with life in different ways, almost a character study, but stuff starts to happen and build up. I wasn’t crazy about where it wound up, but there is some sharp writing and performances along the way. The gentrification stuff is almost cartoonish in some ways, but probably touches very close to home in Oakland. It raises a lot of issues and tries to maybe resolve a few. Although dealing with some serious soocial issues, it mostly avoids being heavy, really until the end, and paints an informed picture of Oakland by two natives.
Written: 20 Feb 2021
Owned on: Digital