Few actors are actually working as excitingly as Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya. Their fortunes have been connected by their roles in Jordan Pearl’s Moving Out but Stanfield has been wowing the world in films like Destin Daniel Cretton’s Short Term 12, Boots Riley’s Sorry To Bother You, and others (not to mention his brilliant work on the series Atlanta). Each time they’re on the screen, they deliver something passionate, dynamic, and absorbing as the projects showcase their great talents.
In all this, Shaka King’s Judas and The Black Messiah sees the two stars at the peak of their careers so far. Telling an excellent true story, both timely and original, it shows a compelling tale of treason and persistence, anchored by its two phenomenal performances — the depiction of a political figure and the infamous double agent who encouraged his death. And while the structure of the movie has some missing chances, the power pack of Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya and the incredible realities of the film are indelible.
Judas And The Black Messiah Has a Solid Narrative that is Ideal for The Big Screen
It starts with a dumb crime. William O’Neal (Stanfield), waving a bogus FBI badge, approaches a bar and accuses someone of stealing a car (his purpose is to take the keys and run away in the vehicle). However his plan fails and he eventually finds himself faced with serious charges, including robbery and the impersonation of a lawman unless he gives the law a little support.
This is what brings William O’Neal to the Black Panther Party chapter in Illinois. In return for freedom and financial rewards, he decides to try to infiltrate the growing movement and spy on its President, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). When O’Neal realizes that the leader of the party cannot drive because he’s continually being pulled over by the police, he gets closer to his goal by becoming his driver and winning the confidence of the whole gang.
As FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) continues to put pressure on the agency, the spy continues to feed information to the Feds. Not only does he begin to understand the awful realities of what would happen to him if he is revealed to be a rat, he begins to absorb the message of the president and by the actions of the nation, as Fred Hampton reveals to be a visionary and a future arbiter of major change.
It’s a fantastic cinematic deal, considering its shortcomings. The movie is effective as an appalling history lesson and as a gripping suspense. It is a great chance for two of the industry’s greatest stars to bring everything on show. Judas And The Black Messiah is an outstanding tribute to a mighty man and potentially an enlightening experience to many.
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