2. Judas and the Black Messiah
Judas and the Black Messiah is directed and co-written by Shaka King. Set in the late 60’s, the film follows FBI informant William O’Neal as he infiltrates the Black Panther Party and feigns friendship with leader Fred Hampton.
Many of the events here overlap with The Trial of the Chicago 7, as they take place almost concurrently. Judas offers a more grounded, gritty approach opposed to Trial‘s more heightened take. Which one you prefer ultimately comes down to personal preference. At the very least however, there’s something to enjoy in both films.
Shaka King, (robbed of a Best Director nomination, come on Oscars), helms this historical drama with great flair. The camera feels subjective when it needs to be as we witness the inner workings of the party from the perspective of someone who wants to sabotage them.
That someone is William O’Neal, played here expertly by LaKeith Stanfield. Everytime we see Stanfield in a movie is a uniquely nuanced portrayal, and this is no exception. Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton might just steal the show however. His performance is electric and utterly fitting of the man we knew Hampton to be.
Powerful, visceral, and yet never without a beating heart, Judas and the Black Messiah is a film destined for the halls of iconography.
