With Ryan Coogler's massive success with Black Panther and high profile offerings on the way from Barry Jenkins and Steve McQueen, this should be a banner year for black film.
Riley, who is an unabashed radical, has however decided to take Lee's BlacKkKlansman to task in an essay ripping the film for glorifying the police at an inopportune time for people of color nationally. Lee pushed back, pointing out that he isn't interested in castigating all law enforcement but also correctly pointing out his track record of making films that are highly critical of the cops.
I can't believe I'm saying this, because I've definitely taken issue with a lot of Lee's statements over the years, but I am completely on this side in this fight. While I agree with Riley in theory -- that far too many films put police on a pedestal, and can reinforce problematic behavior of their part -- BlacKkKlansman is not that kind of movie and yes, Lee has proven time and time again that he is on the right side of fight against police brutality (both on and off-screen).
Contrary to Riley's critique, while BlacKkKlansman does not drill down deep on its hero's efforts to spy on and presumably cripple black activist organizations, it doesn't excise that part of his story at all. and it actually conveys his ambiguity about it. I think this makes his character more fully rounded and complex.
The movie never tries to make the case that he is a saint or that his every action is the right one. In fact it is one of the more detached Lee movies I've seen in years, which makes it far more engaging. He's simply presenting the events as they unfold in the script with a relative minimum of commentary, but only a fool would take away a message of 'cops are awesome' from this movie.
First of all, there is a significant subplot involving an abusive white officer who makes a point of harassing black motorists. Lee also portrays almost all of the main character's (played by John David Washington) white colleagues and superior officers as condescending or downright hostile.
The film isn't necessarily turning them into cookie-cutter heroes, but contrasted with the KKK, they'll do.
As far as the real Ron Stallworth's anti-radical activities, I'm definitely not a fan, but that doesn't mean his infiltration of the KKK isn't an incredibly fascination story. End of story.
Look at Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Clockers... I can go on and on, Spike's movies have been very tough on the police -- so I think he's earned the right to tell a story that is perhaps not a pure indictment.
If Riley wants to take Hollywood to task for not providing enough accuracy when it comes to portrayals of cops I couldn't more wholeheartedly agree with him. The industry has in many ways been a destructive force by perpetuating the myth that all police are noble servants of the public.
I just don't think Lee should be his punching bag.
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