As award ceremonies and events extend the deadlines for submitted films until the end of February, some of these early 2021 releases are technically viewed as 2020 entries, mainly due to how they are delayed or released. If there was a film that would be a strong contender during the upcoming Oscar season, it would be this biopic feature. Based on true events, the film chronicles William O'Neal, a former car thief turned FBI informant who is tasked to be undercover in the Black Panther Party to take down Fred Hampton, the chairman of the Illinois branch who is proven to be an inspiration to the masses, which J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI is extremely on edge with. As William spends more time in the movement and even gets higher positions of respect and power, he starts to question whether or not he can go forth with the FBI's orders, a choice that comes down to life or death. The film deals with a lot of heavy themes and subject matter, particularly the corrupt nature of the government during the era and the racist agenda of Hoover who orders Hampton dead as he believes prison isn't good enough for him. Considering the time we live in where black people are still under threat of higher jurisdiction and police brutality, it's a very relevant film that should be watched to better understand the struggle these people have gone through. It's a bleak, almost depressing, movie at times, but it's meant to be for the overall story, background, and themes surrounding it.
Daniel Kaluuya is getting a lot of praise, nominations and even awards for his performance as Fred Hampton and it's clear as to why. Kaluuya gets both the physique and mannerisms of the late revolutionary who tends to choose words over violence in order to get people to join the cause. While Kaluuya gets the most attention from the critics, the rest of the cast is frankly on par with the actor's skills. Lakeith Stanfield as William O'Neal is excellent as he plays the part as the most honest and sympathetic for the tragic figure. Stanfield, through his effortless performance, shows that he believes in Hampton and the movement, but as his handler continues to threaten the young man with jail time and even death, he gets himself between a rock and a hard place. I also like the decision to not have Hampton and O'Neal be depicted as the best of friends or something along those lines. Not only is it not accurate to real-life, but it would have made the narrative a bit more manipulative and fabricated in nature.The side cast is also spot-on in their performances and portrayals of the real-world people and figures. Jesse Plemons as Roy Mitchell, O'Neal's handler, works so well in manipulating the mole and hiding his emotions regarding what he wants O'Neal to do, despite his disagreement in his superior's orders. Dominique Fishback as Deborah Johnson, Hampton's girlfriend, is very good in the dramatic and tender moments of the film, which is thanks to the real-life person helping Fishback with her performance. Martin Sheen as J. Edgar Hoover is so despicable and slimy with his deep hatred for the Black Panther Party that you want to see him get shot in the face. However, in the real world, some bad people can get away with their crimes. There are also a variety of side characters such as the various BPP members, police and FBI members, but there are too many to list along with the fact that they don't really interact with the overall narrative. Regardless, all of the cast do their best jobs with Kaluuya and Stanfield being the highlights of the otherwise excellent selection of actors.
Shaka King is a fairly new name in the industry with only a few credits in television shows, short films, and a previous directorial debut on an obscure stoner comedy. Despite this only being his second feature film amidst his limited career, King is on the path to be a great director. The recreation of a late 60's Illinois is great in regards to the setting and time. During the day, there's barely any sun or sense of hope as everything is cloudy or grey to emphasize the doomed nature of the story. The nighttime scenes are visually interesting with the uses of shadows and natural lighting, but it also carries a heavy amount of dread as the nighttime scenes tend to offer a higher chance of violence or misfortune. The cinematography by Sean Bobbitt is really good with the use of tracking shots, close-ups and long takes to ensure the biggest amount of visual suspense and drama. The only thing that's truly holding back Bobbitt's camerawork is that some of the tracking shots gets cut short. Even then, the editing by Kristan Sprague is fairy competent for the majority of the film and cut tracking shots might have to be due to pacing issues. The score by Mark Isham and Craig Harris is riveting to say the least with lots of jazz and instrumental inspirations that fit the 60's backdrop compared to an orchestra. This is also topped off by the various songs from the era and the various chants and poems that the party sings to speak their message and rights. Overall, there's nothing to point out about King's filmmaking other than that it's practically flawless.
"Judas and the Black Messiah" might be my favourite film of the 2020 award season contenders and is the one that I'm cheering on the most during the Academy Awards. From the excellent story behind the true events of Hampton's assassination, the gritty and bleak tone that mirrors the relevant themes and message, the entire cast of actors and actresses doing their all with Kaluuya and Stanfield being the best of the best, the nice efforts from Bobbitt's cinematography, Sprague's editing that matches the onscreen intensity, the musical collaborations by Isham and Harris alongside the existing songs and poems from the era, and King's directing not only captures the dreadful atmosphere of the era and setting, but screams tons of quality in every sequence and moment. There are practically no flaws, say for some tracking shots being cut short. It's a film that marks as important viewing for the time we live in post-2020 and I really hope more of you can get to watch it in theatres or on HBO Max.
Verdict: 10/10. A fantastic biopic that joins the ranks of the acclaimed titles of the genre. Here's hoping that it can sweep the Academy Awards next month.
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