Renew Radar: BLINDSPOTTING
Renew Radar is a recurring feature that highlights some of the titles you may see on our screen in the coming months. We may not get to all of the featured films, but these are the movies on our radar.
One of the most timely and entertaining films out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival is the satirical drama BLINDSPOTTING. Co-written by lifelong friends Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, the film follows two friends navigating their rapidly gentrifying childhood neighborhood: Oakland. Diggs, who the lucky few may recognize from the original cast of Broadway’s Hamilton, plays Collin who was recently released from prison and is spending the last few days of probation trying not to mess up. His best friend is the unpredictable Miles who makes it very difficult to stay above the law.
On its surface, BLINDSPOTTING is a buddy comedy, but there are many layers to this complex exploration of racial tension, friendship, and gentrification. The film offers significant homage to the work of Spike Lee; films like Do The Right Thing and School Daze clearly informed this film’s color palette, sense of humor, and social critique.
BLINDSPOTTING’s political elements aren’t what make the film so engaging, however. The most compelling aspect of the film is the humorous and challenging relationship between its two lead actors. It is clear that the Diggs and Casal have been friends for years, because it translates to their vibrant and multifaceted characters.
