Directed by Shaka King
Starring Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Dominique Fishback and Jesse Plemons

It’s unsurprising and a great cause for concern that the true events and themes depicted in Judas and the Black Messiah take place fifty years ago, yet draw strikingly similar parallels and remain every bit as relevant to this day as they were then.

In 1968, FBI Special Agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons) arranges for Bill O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) to infiltrate the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party in order to get close to its leader, Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). The FBI, led by director J. Edgar Hoover (played by Martin Sheen), perceive the Black Panther Party to be nothing other than a threat to society and are resolute in their intent to get to their main man.

Over the course of several months, Fred’s following gains significant numbers and momentum all over America. Meanwhile, Bill also rises through the ranks at BPP headquarters, entrusted with the role of security captain. But every step closer Bill gets to the Black Panther’s members and movement, he also becomes increasingly vulnerable and possibly conflicted.

Lead actors Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield perform their roles at ages 31 and 29, respectively. The story that occurs in Judas and the Black Messiah was already fascinating at face value, but becomes rather extraordinary when you take into account that the real-life characters they’re portraying were 21 and 17 years of age at the time, respectively. Please, do factor this in mind when you watch the film.

Judas and the Black Messiah reminded me quite a lot of Blackkklansman in terms of both style of filmmaking and storytelling, and its infiltration plot similarities. This film, however, is decidedly more serious in tone than Blackkklansman and summons some tenser moments derived from the separate high-risk situations both protagonist and antagonist are in. From the beginning of the film, I felt that the screenplay was quite poetically worded and the direction inspired. There is no doubt that these facets of the film make it a holistically memorable experience. Performances are powerful all-round too. Though I sometimes found it difficult to distinguish the dialogue spoken, there is great energy and genuine passion in Daniel Kaluuya’s performance. LaKeith Stanfield isn’t attracting quite as much attention or accolades for his work here as his co-star, but is equally excellent.

Cinema is struggling all around the world at the moment and is very limited in the range of new releases it can currently offer to attract a larger audience. Judas and the Black Messiah is definitely one to get behind and support your local cinema. It’s entertaining, thought-provoking and creatively put together.

Judas and the Black Messiah is showing in cinemas across Australia from March 11.

Moviedoc thanks Universal Pictures for the invitation to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc
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