Rating of
3/4
Open Your Eyes
Chris Kavan - wrote on 11/14/18
Blindspotting is a very contemporary film that touches on a lot of real, raw subjects but keeps things grounded by approaching the subjects through the eyes of Collin (Daveed Diggs), who is just coming off a two-month prison stint and is nearly done with his probation period. With just three days left to go, his world is thrown into turmoil when he witnesses and unprovoked police shooting by Officer Molina (Ethan Embry).
The world of Blindspotting takes place in Oakland, California and surrounding areas. Collin and his hot-headed friend Miles (Rafael Casal) work for a moving company where his one-time girlfriend, Val (Janina Gavankar) works reception. The film opens with Miles buying a gun for protection and trying to enjoy the grand re-opening of a local burger joint. From Collin's free-style rapping to Mile's annoyance at having to specifically request a "beef" burger, the characters are presented as regular and they have great chemistry together.
The whole veggie burger incident is a large setup for one of the big themes that runs throughout the film - the arrival of hipsters and the gentrification of the area. From $10 bottles of green juice, to large, impractical bicycles - the whole film is filled with reminders about how things are changing. The police shooting is also obviously one of the big parts of the movie, with Collin plagued with nightmares about what he should do - especially with his future on the line. But that's not all, we see how Miles decision to buy a gun plays out with his own family, as well as the story behind how Collin wound up in prison in the first place. There is a lot going on - but no matter how serious, it helps that the performances from Diggs, Casal and the rest of the cast feel so natural.
One of the most powerful scenes in the entire movie is just Collin walking away - when suddenly he finds himself under the spotlight of a police cruiser. Just his face - the utter fear - gives one pause and reminds you just how much tension and real-world consequences play out every day. Just like his relationship with Miles and Val - it all shows how this new reality affects every-day life. It's powerful and worth experiencing.
Blindspotting is truly a story for this modern age. It delivers its message both through humor and drama and it works well. I think that it seems like a game changer for both Diggs and Casal (and director Carlos López Estrada) and I'm looking forward to seeing where the respective journey takes each next.
