You can kill a revolutionary but you can’t kill the revolution.|Feb. 12, 2021|USA|126 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;History;Thriller
Description: **Judas and the Black Messiah** (2021) is a film that delves into the life of Fred Hampton, whose exceptional ability to unite diverse groups made him a threat to the racist status quo in America. As a result, he became another target in the FBI’s efforts to eliminate influential Black leaders, earning the title “Black Messiah.” Hampton was assassinated on December 4, 1969, just 20 months after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A key figure in this tragedy was William O’Neal, who betrayed Hampton by providing crucial information to the FBI. The film’s title draws a parallel to the biblical story of Judas, emphasizing the themes of betrayal and trust.
While the story focuses on O’Neal’s role as an informant, his character lacks the depth and complexity of Hampton. Much of O’Neal’s screen time is spent in repetitive interactions with the FBI agent manipulating him, which fails to fully explore their fraught relationship. A pivotal scene where the agent invites O’Neal to his home and offers him expensive Scotch hints at the dynamics of trust and deception, but it falls short of delivering a meaningful exploration.
The film also dedicates significant time to the FBI’s perspective, which, despite strong cinematography and editing, is less engaging than the narrative surrounding the Black Panthers and their mission. As seen in other works like *MLK/FBI*, J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI actively worked to suppress Black movements striving for equality and justice. While *Judas and the Black Messiah* provides a compelling look at this history, it could have delved deeper into the characters and relationships that defined this pivotal moment.
Cast director: Shaka King
Cast actor: Lakeith Stanfield, Daniel Kaluuya, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, Algee Smith, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Lil Rel Howery, Dominique Thorne, Martin Sheen
Original name: Judas and the Black Messiah