BlacKkKlansman Review: 8 Ups & 1 Down

5. The Fantastic Supporting Cast

Blackkklansman Topher Grace
Focus Features

BlacKkKlansman boasts one of the strongest ensemble casts of the year without question, and in addition to Washington and Driver's performances, they ensure there's never a dull moment on screen.

Especially praise-worthy is Topher Grace as KKK leader David Duke: the actor hasn't been up to much in recent years, but here he gives a brilliantly-calibrated performance that avoids caricature while nodding towards the man's darker, scarcely restrained instincts.

Also worth singling out are Jasper Pääkkönen and Ryan Eggold as Klan members Felix and Walter, Corey Hawkins as civil rights activist Kwame Ture, Alec Baldwin (who has a brilliant cameo at the start of the movie) and legendary musician Harry Belafonte, whose single scene late in the movie is an emotional home-run.

Casting-wise, everything works, and not a single actor is phoning things in or merely giving an adequate performance. Everyone knows they're working on something special, and the results are splendid.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.