Blindspotting (2018)

“Blindspotting” stars Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Ethan Embry, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Wayne Knight.  Released on July 20, 2018, the film has two childhood friends facing violence and racism in their hometown.

The film features the directorial debut of Carlos Lopez Estrada.  After dealing with the world of animated superheroes and spies, it’s time for me to dive back into the real world to talk about one of the most acclaimed films of the year.  The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in January and has been gathering huge amounts of praise for its themes and performances since then.  I was looking forward to this film for quite some time because with all the stupidity going on, we all needed a fresh reminder to make a change and think with our heads instead of our smelly butts.  Based on the trailer I saw, the film looks like it has accomplished its job at portraying its real-life issues, but the real question is, is it worth watching?

The story revolves around Collin (Diggs), a convicted felon who’s trying to leave his past behind by surviving the last few days of his year-long probation.  After witnessing a white police officer gun down a black civilian on his way home from work, his paranoia starts to get the best of him, which could affect his friendship with Miles (Casal) and his chance at freedom.  There have been a lot of films that dealt with stuff like this, such as racism and police violence, but this is something that’s just more than that.  Underneath its usual and timely social commentary is a special message that I believe people should understand, and with Carlos Lopez Estrada’s fresh style, it’s the type of message that must be remembered.  Along with its cast and a thoughtful screenplay by Diggs and Casal, the film provides a well-deserved and unique story that speaks from both the heart and the soul.  Daveed Diggs was absolutely fantastic in his role as Collin.  I’ve only heard of him in a couple of films I had seen, such as last year’s “Wonder”, and seeing him in this makes me want to rewatch those films again.  Like the film’s portrayal of real-life issues, Diggs’ performance was honest and irresistible, and his big moment at the end?  Wow.  It’s something that you need to see to believe.  Not only did the ending truly showcase his incredible talent as an actor, but it is also hard-hitting enough to become one of my favorite movie endings ever.  Rafael Casal was also great as Collin’s childhood friend, Miles, a short-tempered guy who has the tendency to pick a fight with the wrong crowd.  The chemistry between Diggs and Casal felt believable right from the start because of their characters’ personalities and the charisma towards one another.  Knowing the fact that these two are childhood friends in real life makes the chemistry even more special and real.

Overall, “Blindspotting” is another thought-provoking experience that brilliantly displays the incredible talents of first-time director Carlos Lopez Estrada, Daveed Diggs, and Rafael Casal.  Filled with strong performances, a well-written screenplay, and a fantastic ending, the film is successful enough to provide a voice that must be heard.  If it’s playing at a theater near you, go check it out.

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