“I’m a revolutionary” – screams forcefully over and over, activist Fred Hampton in one of the most thrilling scenes of Judas and the Black Messiah, the new Warner Bros. movie premiering this week in theaters and simultaneously on the HBO Max platform.
This phrase became the rallying cry of the leader of the Chicago branch of the revolutionary organization “The Black Panthers”, which today advocates for the rights of the African American community in the United States. The powerful drama stars Daniel Kaluuya as Hampton (a Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominee for Best Supporting Actor for this performance) and LaKeith Stanfield, who plays William O’Neal, a criminal turned informant. The FBI ordered the organization led by the activist to dismantle it.
At the height of the civil rights struggle, this organization became the target of the FBI, particularly Hampton, whom they perceived as a threat to national security, and proceeded to prosecute him to murder him at the age of 21.
An exceptional film produced by Charles D. King (Fences, sorry to bother you) and Ryan Coogler (Creed, Black Panther) and directed by Shaka King (Young weeds), focuses on showcasing how the stories of these two characters intersect and the impact this has on the personal motivations of each.
King and Will Berson’s screenplay presents the stories of both characters and how the fixation of top FBI personnel turned this group off with the clear intent of dismantling it by highlighting the institutional corruption and racism that still resonate with force. The filmmaker immerses us in the historical context from the outset thanks to effective archival footage to give the project more truth, with footage of riots, the murder of Martin Luther King and an interview with O’Neal, giving rise to this shocking story that is set in the 1960s.
Judas and the Black Messiah joins a select few films released in recent months that explore the issues of inequality, injustice and oppression from a variety of perspectives, such as the big one. The Chicago Trial 7 Y Mangrove with similar emotional effects.
Besides a great direction that presents both stories with an equal balance, the artistic direction, the musical selection and a great cinematography; it’s the performances that fascinate, especially Kaluuya, who puts on a chilling performance combining Hampton’s passion and eloquence at public events, while looking more subdued in his private life, as in his relationship with Deborah Johnson, a militant who eventually you become a partner, a character who is the emotional center of the relationship; influence on Hampton’s public life, in a magnetic performance by Dominique Fishback (Project Power), a young actress with a promising future.
On the other hand, Stanfield (Get out, get your knives out, I’m sorry to bother you) continues to prove why he is one of the most complete young actors of this generation. The complex duality of O’Neal’s character, which, even within his coldness, shows hints of humanity when torn between loyalty to his people versus devotion to his superiors, ensures his achievements are recorded authentically and at the height of Kaluuya.
Watch the trailer: