THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
When a historical biopic comes out every year, you assume that you know everything that’s ever happened. As the 2020s emerged, more stories of actual events keep coming but none have been as impactful as this.
PLOT
Judas and the Black Messiah takes place in late 1960s Chicago and follows William O’Neal. He is arrested for hijacking a car while impersonating a federal officer. While he should serve time for such crimes, he is offered the job of an informant by FBI Agent Roy Miller. The task is to infiltrate Fred Hampton, leader of the Black Panther Party’s Illinois chapter. In exchange, O’Neal will not only get compensation for relaying intel, but also his charges would be dropped. During this time, he sees firsthand that he is not a dangerous figure as the FBI describe him to be. Instead, the man had a peaceful presence as he formed the Rainbow Coalition with other multiracial parties, forming alliances with rival gangs. He also extended community outreach through a free ‘Breakfast for Children’ program. During this time, Hampton would fall in love with one of the members named Dolores Johnson, who would later be pregnant with their first child. O’Neal is on edge during his time because one of the members named George Sams (Terayle Hill) is also an informant, making his presence allow the bureau to obtain search warrants. When Hampton is arrested for being accused of stealing ice cream, he is promoted to security captain. He even avoids the police when a shootout occurs at the chapter office. Hampton would eventually be released when his charges would be appealed. But as he come back, another BPP member named Jimmy Palmer would he hospitalized after being shot by an officer and later killed when being transferred to another hospital. His close friend Jake Winters (Algee Smith) retaliates by trying to figure out who was responsible, but is fatally killed by the police after a shootout. When Mitchell discovers that Hampton’s appeal is rejected, it dissatisfies FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover as he demands the man to be permanently ‘neutralized’. He then forces O’Neal to share the layout of the leader’s house before plotting assassination, threatening that the party will retaliate if they find out who he is. After agreeing, he encounters another undercover FBI agent credited as Wayne (Lil Rel Howery) who gives him a vial of sedatives, ordering him to drug Hampton. One evening, O’Neal goes forward with it and drugs his drink. Shortly after he leaves, Hampton’s apartment is raided by non uniformed officers and agents, and he is shot to death along with member Mark Clark (Jermaine Fowler). O’Neal visits Mitchell and is given keys to a gas station that’ll now be owned by him. Despite wanting to quit, he keeps the keys and given money. The film ends with epilogue reading that he continued being an informant until the early 70s. In 1989, he confessed of his actions in the documentary Eyes on the Prize 2. After it aired, he would commit suicide. In 1970, Hampton and Clark’s family would file a lawsuit alleging a conspiracy among the FBI, Chicago Police Department and State’s Attorney’s Office to plot the assassination. The case would not be settled for another 12 years. Dolores would give birth to Fred Jr. only 25 days after the assassination. She remained an active member of the Black Panther Party until the Illinois chapter dissolved in 1978. However, Fred Jr. grew up and became chairman of the Black Panther Party Cubs, a revolutionary organization continuing the ongoing fight for the self-determination of Black People. He remains so to this day.
THOUGHTS
Stories like these always surprise me because despite graduating high school, there is so much history that I am never taught in class, making this another needed history lesson. The difference here is that once I finished watching this on (HBO)MAX during the month gap it was first released, I took a deep breath because this was a lot to take. Nobody knew the name of Director Shaka King, but they do now after making this phenomenal film. This is a film that many will remember because of the important message, a reminder on how America continues to be a foul country. We always talk about how we are a united nation and we fight for equality, well there are always obstacles in our way and it is those who believe in superiority over peace. This movie feels relevant because despite that it took place in a distant time period, we are still far from the union this country needs. No matter how much diversity is publicly promoted, which I for one am on board, because I love everyone no matter what they look like or what language they speak, it needs more than one small group that provides such support. I don't think I'll die peacefully if people are still hating each other after seeing this film. Many movies handle this message well when properly executed, but for this one, I don't think it would've been done best had we not have an incredible ensemble to carry this movie. First things first, Daniel Kaluuya took my breath away with his Oscar winning performance of Fred Hampton. He excellently took command with this role because he expressed everything the man was all about: Persuasive, selfless, kind, dedicated and courageous. I was 22 when seeing this film and knowing that he was only 21 before his passing and did so much in a short life blows my mind. He inspires me the way he inspired people in his generation because he showed that you can make a difference as long as you are self committed and you believe in yourself. Lakeith Stanfield probably gave his best performance here as William O'Neal. He is hard to like because of this selfish decision to infiltrate a nonviolent leader just to avoid prison. With that motive alone, you don't like him but in another perspective, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I don't support what he did but it does make you question if you would do something similar to avoid jail time. Our feelings for him change when he shows regret of his actions, due to actually believing in Fred's words the longer he stayed. I don't support him taking his own life, but I understand why he did it. He chose to do so because as Eyes on the Prize 2 shows, it seems that he grew a high amount of guilt that he is responsible for the death of a revolutionary. I want to be happy that he got an Oscar nomination for the role, but I find myself confused on how the Academy chose to do it. I don’t understand how both Stanfield & Kaluuya were nominated as a supporting actor, yet can’t figure out who was the lead. In all honesty, Stanfield was and it’s weird how he wasn’t seen that way. Having said that, I still respect that he and the overall film got recognition at the 2021 ceremony. I was really caught off guard with Dominique Fishback's performance of Dolores because this was a step up in comparison to 2020's Project Power. She is great here as well because she reflected how the woman was as firm as any other BPP member and her relationship with Fred only made her stronger. Jesse Plemons is just as hateful as Roy Mitchell as he was playing Todd in amc's Breaking Bad. The difference here is that Roy is way more selfish and doesn't have a lot to lose because he has informants do his biddings. When he needs more, he ensures he'll get it and won't hesitate on how he does it. So whenever he manipulates O'Neal, it gets easier to hate him. If you think this guy was terrible, you weren't paying attention J. Edgar Hoover being accurately depicted as the most despicable figure this country's government could ever have. There is no exaggeration to what Martin Sheen is showing. This guy's racial prejudice put him at such a paranoid state that he thought a peaceful African American activist was more dangerous than foreign countries with nuclear weapons. Hearing him say that about the BPP is the most irritating thing I could ever hear. Even when he smirked over a picture of a gagged Bobby Seale made me sick. I honestly prefer this over what we got with Leonardo DiCaprio in 2011 because although knowing the truth of this figure is uncomfortable, it is better than having a false depiction. In short, Judas and the Black Messiah is an exhilarating film and it cannot be ignored for what it's trying to share. If you need a history lesson, see this now.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
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