Movie #2110 ........................."Judas & the Black Messiah" (HBO max)

 Movie #2110 "Judas & the Black Messiah" (HBO max) I wasn't sure if I wanted to see a movie on the Black Panthers --- I thought I knew my position on them, but when most of this happened in the film, I was busy teaching and didn't keep up with the news as much as I have time to do now.  And boy, was I led to believe some untruths about the organization and the chairman Fred Hampton.  What a story!  I have to admit, I don't watch or understand the violent scenes in movies like this, but everything else was spot on, in my opinion.  I learned so much about what Hampton stood for, what the black panthers under his tutelage were trying to do, and how awful his assassination was by the FBI.  The equally important  part of the movie concerned Bill  O'Neal.  This seems to be very topical --- a justice department that goes too far with its power?  and the use and  misuse of whistleblowers... These  topics  have been in the forefront of our discussions in the news lately, so  it seems fitting to do a study of a complex/confused "stool pigeon"/'"whistleblower" who had a definite bearing on the activities of the organization through his actions guided by the abusive power of the FBI.  Knowing that Bill O'Neal killed himself shortly after a documentary was done on his "work" to bring down Fred Hampton, Bill himself would agree with the portrayal of himself in this film.  I thought Daniel Kaluuya, was dead on as Fred Hampton from what I have seen in footage of the real man, and he is very deserving, I thought, of the golden globe he won this past weekend.  Laketh Stanfield, on the other hand, had more of a problem getting Bill O'Neal 's motivation out to us --- maybe because the man himself (bill) was so conflicted --- I guess that was what ate at Bill O'Neal through the rest of his life.  I really appreciated the eye-opening experience of watching this story unfold.  But I never like the violence it had to use to get it across.  I'd give it 4 out of 5. (the middle was challenging to watch --- could have been a bit clearer in the direction it was going)

"JUDAS & THE BLACK MESSIAH"   2 hrs, 6 mins.     R-rated    2021

Bill O'Neal infiltrates the Black Panther Party per FBI Agent Mitchell and J. Edgar Hoover. As Party Chairman Fred Hampton ascends, falling for a fellow revolutionary en route, a battle wages for O'Neal's soul.

Director:

 Shaka King

Writers:

 Will Berson (story by), Shaka King (story by)  |

Stars:

 Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons