| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Alec Baldwin | ... | Dr. Kennebrew Beauregard | |
| John David Washington | ... | Ron Stallworth | |
| Isiah Whitlock Jr. | ... | Mr. Turrentine | |
| Robert John Burke | ... | Chief Bridges | |
| Brian Tarantina | ... | Officer Clay Mulaney | |
| Arthur J. Nascarella | ... | Officer Wheaton (as Arthur Nascarella) | |
| Ken Garito | ... | Sergeant Trapp | |
| Frederick Weller | ... | Master Patrolman Andy Landers | |
| Adam Driver | ... | Flip Zimmerman | |
| Michael Buscemi | ... | Jimmy Creek (as Michael Joseph Buscemi) | |
| Laura Harrier | ... | Patrice Dumas | |
| Damaris Lewis | ... | Odetta | |
| Ato Blankson-Wood | ... | Hakeem | |
| Corey Hawkins | ... | Kwame Ture | |
| Dared Wright | ... | Officer Cincer | |
In the early 1970s, Ron Stallworth is hired as the first black officer in the Colorado Springs, Colorado police department. Stallworth is initially assigned to work in the records room, where he faces racial slurs from his coworkers. Stallworth requests a transfer to go undercover, and is assigned to infiltrate a local rally at which national civil rights leader Kwame Ture (birth name Stokely Carmichael) is to give a speech. At the rally, Stallworth meets Patrice Dumas, the president of the black student union at Colorado College. While taking Ture to his hotel, Patrice is stopped by patrolman Andy Landers, a corrupt, racist officer in Stallworth's precinct, who threatens Ture and sexually assaults Patrice..
Amazing true story of a small team of police infiltrating a local klan chapter to try to stop looming violence.
Driver is first class as the white undercover presence, with Washington himself oozing presence throughout as the black officer who conceives the plan, runs the show and in a number of hilarious high points gains the respect and trust of the big Klan chief over the phone.
Whilst there is arguably room for a little bit of trimming, this remains highly engaging throughout with a great script and fine performances. The amazing trick here is how Lee seems to very cleverly shift from laugh out loud comedy to troubling sometimes fairly intense scene and back without missing a beat.