"Judas And The Black Messiah": Movie Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
The creativity and ingenuity integrated into director/writer Shaka King's "Judas and the Black Messiah" excel in feeding into its exhilarating perspective on the Black Panthers and 1960s Chicago. Its gritty tone reveals the internal dynamics of the Panthers and generates complexities that deepen its characterizations. Additionally, the memorable music and predictably engaging cinematography by Sean Bobbitt ("12 Years A Slave", "Shame") is the icing on the cake for a film that is deserving of numerous nominations at the 2021 Academy Awards, including best picture.
An experienced criminal, Bill O'Neal (LaKeith Stanfield), gets arrested and used by the FBI to infiltrate the Black Panther group and their leader Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya).
Brilliant acting by Stanfield and Kaluuya are standouts, but the supporting roles by Jesse Plemons as FBI agent Roy Mitchell and Dominique Fishback as Kaluuya's partner are consistently involving and should not be ignored. Plemon's and Fishback's side characters add to the cohesion that is pieced together by its taught directing and editing. The film effectively avoids feeling manipulative in presenting ethical and moral questions regarding individual motivations. Other than Martin Sheen's quite over the top J. Edgar Hoover impersonation (with some terrible makeup to boot), there's rarely a down moment.
Understanding that the majority of the film's plot historically occurred, manufactures a greater appreciation for the story being presented. Learning about the Panther's attempt to create a rainbow coalition or further comprehending the multidimensional aspects of the internal conflicts that occurred in the Black Panther's organization was enlightening. Not only is the film an entertaining affair but it encourages a greater opportunity to learn about the hidden intricacies of American history.
King's second feature film is nothing short of a home run. Its layered commentary on race, politics, and group identity only scratch the surface of its many insightful sequences. There's a remarkable amount of nuance to dissect from "Judas and the Black Messiah" which provides a strong, lasting impression.
Comments
Post a Comment