Judas and the Black Messiah

Name: Judas and the Black Messiah
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Released: February 12, 2021
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Algee Smith, Ashton Sanders, Daniel Kaluuya, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Dominique Fishback

2021

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 49 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 249 Ratings

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 249 Ratings

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Judas And The Black Messiah (Trailer 2)

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: February 12, 2021 | R

Starring: Algee Smith, Ashton Sanders, Daniel Kaluuya, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Dominique Fishback, Dominique Thorne, Jermaine Fowler, Jesse Plemons, Lakeith Stanfield, LilRel Howery, Martin Sheen, Robert Longstreet, Terayle Hill

Movie Facts:

Received six Academy Award nominations including best picture.

Summary: FBI informant William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). A career thief, O’Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons).FBI informant William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). A career thief, O’Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons). Hampton’s political prowess grows just as he’s falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback). Meanwhile, a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul. Will he align with the forces of good? Or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) commands?
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Director: Shaka King

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History

Rating: R

Runtime: 126 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Okla Jones

Feb 12, 2021

Filled with Oscar-worthy performances, Judas and the Black Messiah puts a nostalgic lens on a modern-day struggle. Read full review

100

David Rooney

Feb 1, 2021

Led by sensational performances from Daniel Kaluuya as Hampton and LaKeith Stanfield as William O'Neal, the FBI informant who infiltrated his inner circle, this is a scalding account of oppression and revolution, coercion and betrayal, rendered more shocking by the undiminished currency of its themes. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Feb 11, 2021

Judas and the Black Messiah represents a disciplined, impassioned effort to bring clarity to a volatile moment, to dispense with the sentimentality and revisionism that too often cloud movies about the ’60s and about the politics of race. It’s fascinating in its own right, and even more so when looked at alongside other recent movies. Read full review

Katie Rife

Feb 1, 2021

Although Stanfield and Kaluuya offer up two compelling—and contrasting—performances, Judas And The Black Messiah is an ensemble piece with no weak links, only secret weapons. Read full review

Kevin Harley

Feb 2, 2021

Between its genre know-how and furious anger, King’s biopic makes damn sure you feel the weight of Hampton’s loss – and the need for his legacy to be honoured. Read full review

Empire Jimi Famurewa

Feb 1, 2021

Buoyed by a trio of standout performances, this freshly resonant thriller brings urgent life to one of the Black Panther movement’s greatest tragedies. Read full review

Mae Abdulbaki

Feb 25, 2021

The film has its fair share of intoxicatingly gripping moments and watching Kaluuya as Hampton is visceral and empowering. Unfortunately, it never feels like the story gets out of its own way enough to flourish, nor does it explore the complexities needed to emphasize and humanize the characters in the way that it should. Read full review

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User Reviews

alejandro970

Aug 7, 2021

Based on a true story, seriously related to the fight for civil rights. The performances as well as the period adaptation are absorbing and make the viewer curious to know further. An example of how risky it is to make pacts with the Devil.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

RatedRex

Feb 12, 2021

Best film of the year. This is yet another example of how the American government kelp its knee on the throats of Black people. This is a great cinematic achievement.

Please note: Some of the folks who give this movie a negative rating are the usual bigots who go from movie site to movieBest film of the year. This is yet another example of how the American government kelp its knee on the throats of Black people. This is a great cinematic achievement.

Please note: Some of the folks who give this movie a negative rating are the usual bigots who go from movie site to movie site determined to undermine Black movies. In most cases, these bigots haven't even seen the movie and never will. This has been happening for about 8-10 years.… Expand

7 of 11 users found this helpful74

theredsky

Mar 9, 2021

A truly exceptional piece of filmmaking. I was surprised that this was Director Shaka King’s 2nd Feature Film and it was this good. Daniel Kaluuya is my lock in for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscar’s this year and he definitely deserves it. So far, Kaluuya’s performance is my favorite ofA truly exceptional piece of filmmaking. I was surprised that this was Director Shaka King’s 2nd Feature Film and it was this good. Daniel Kaluuya is my lock in for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscar’s this year and he definitely deserves it. So far, Kaluuya’s performance is my favorite of 2021 and it will probably be that way for a while. He brings a lot of emotion to this role that I haven’t seen him do in a long time. It’s obvious that he cares a lot about this project. Lakeith Stanfield also did an incredible job too. He’s outshined bu Kaluuya in some scenes but you can’t deny the powerhouse of emotion he brings to his scene. Jesse Plemons is an actor I’m definitely keeping my eye on as he seems to be the Philip Seymour Hoffman of his generation. From what I researched and listened to, this film is very historical accurate with maybe one or two exceptions here and there but it presents everything in an incredibly tense, outstanding, and emotional way. If you know the story of Fred Hampton then you know what happens to him and the way the film portrays this is anger inducing and incredibly emotional at the same time. This is all thanks to the writing and how the film is shot. The film looks great. The way some of the shots are set up is fantastic because of how much it shows and how much it doesn’t show. This is an emotional powerhouse of a film that I would definitely recommend even if you’re not fully engaged in this subject.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Feb 13, 2021

The kind of dramatic retelling of actual events that'll leave you thoroughly haunted as you stagger your broken ass out of the darkened theater, "Judas And The Black Messiah" looks to not only act as a coming out party for up-and-coming co-writer/director Shaka King, but as an artfulThe kind of dramatic retelling of actual events that'll leave you thoroughly haunted as you stagger your broken ass out of the darkened theater, "Judas And The Black Messiah" looks to not only act as a coming out party for up-and-coming co-writer/director Shaka King, but as an artful portrait of one of the twentieth century's greatest struggles. Completely excelling in either regard, "Messiah" uses an unequivocally talented hand to tell the story in question, sure, but it's not showy, constantly asking the audience to note the filmmaker who crafted each frame and camera movement. No, here, the filmmaking simply adds to the storytelling, only looking to act as an accompaniment to the film's heavier moments and as an incredible stage-setter for the the quieter ones. However, nothing quite frankly outdoes the work that Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya have put in here; Kaluuya, an utter dynamo of charisma; and Stanfield, a walking ball of anxiety who's honestly difficult to watch at times (and for the right reasons). Be sure not to miss this one, as its conclusion is a much needed gut punch that's rife with contemporaneous meaning. Meaning we all could use these days.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Stream2BigScree

Feb 14, 2021

Long awaited and long overdue, Stream To Big Screen finally gets a chance to watch Judas and the Black Messiah. When the trailer for Judas and the Black Messiah premiered last summer, the expectations from just those two minutes were set very high. Does the feature live up to the hypeLong awaited and long overdue, Stream To Big Screen finally gets a chance to watch Judas and the Black Messiah. When the trailer for Judas and the Black Messiah premiered last summer, the expectations from just those two minutes were set very high. Does the feature live up to the hype created by that dynamic trailer? Here's how it goes. The synopsis of the movie is as follows: Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), a young, charismatic activist, becomes Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party. Bill O'Neal (LaKeith Stanfield), a low-level car thief, gets caught impersonating an FBI agent and is used to infiltrate the Black Panthers. As Hampton's influence grows, pressure from the FBI overtakes O'Neal and leaves him to make some fateful decisions.

S2S: I mean wow. This is the film that was needed in 2020 and the one the people deserved to watch given the events of this past year (both culturally and politically). By that I mean, 2021 is starting off with a quality film; and just in time for the Academy Award season. Why do I say that? Sometimes to see where the country is going or needs to go, we have to remember where it has been. In the time of George Floyd and countless others, it's important to remember the US has always been in the business of killing black folks! "Good coloreds," "bad blacks" and "urban hoodlums" were all treated the same by our government. They have not been for us. So let's start there because acknowledging the problem is the first step to resolution. They (meaning the government and those in charge) have used black people in this country for hundreds of years, for their profit and for our own destruction. Your skin-folk ain't your kinfolk but your kinfolk is also only trying to survive as well. But let's not go there because this movie went there for us and the cast showed this strongly.

Trip: Yes, Judas and the Black Messiah has inherent relevance to 2021 American culture considering all that's gone on in the last year. The film as directed by Shaka King takes care to show how the Black Panther Party, and Fred Hampton in particular, was more than some militant, anarchic political radicals, but that there was a deep connection to the need for social and economic justice across racial lines. We see Hampton going to various groups to build his Rainbow Coalition. The charisma exuded in Danial Kaluuya's performance is essential to the success of this movie because without it we wouldn't understand why the FBI and U.S. Government were so afraid of Hampton. I'll also note that LaKeith Stanfield is very good, as he usually is. Stanfield has the more difficult part in that O'Neal, ultimately is not a sympathetic character because he's the turncoat. However, Stanfield does well to show that O'Neal has no good choices - he potentially loses his life and freedom whichever decision he makes. Other than that, I'd say Judas and the Black Messiah is a top notch biopic, hitting the highlights and transporting us back to such a volatile time through its style and performance.

Trip: Judas and the Black Messiah is a must see film. The central performances are stellar, especially Kaluuya, and so, if you only see it for that, it is worth the price of admission. Yes, this is a big box of popcorn, sit back and enjoy.

S2S: I must agree with everything that Trip said. I mean wow. Judas and the Black Messiah is a big box of fresh popcorn and that's all I have to say about that. You can kill the movie reviewer but you can't kill this movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

AJGo85

Apr 23, 2021

A title like Judas and the Black Messiah tells you not only the kind of relationship the main characters will have but also how it will end. It also sets up the characters as figures of mythic and grand proportions. Fortunately, the approach by director Shaka King, the Oscar nominatedA title like Judas and the Black Messiah tells you not only the kind of relationship the main characters will have but also how it will end. It also sets up the characters as figures of mythic and grand proportions. Fortunately, the approach by director Shaka King, the Oscar nominated screenplay, and the excellent cast emphasize the human elements of this true story. It seems as though everyone involved in making this film knew there was little that they had to do to convey the importance of the story of Chicago Black Panther chairman Fred Hampton and the events that led to his death. This may sound like a heavy film given the subject matter, and at times it certainly is, but, in addition to the people and events depicted, the craft and skill on display in every aspect of the movie make it well worth watching. I was reminded of a Roger Ebert quote: “No good movie is depressing; all bad movies are depressing.” Judas and the Black Messiah is a good movie. The film opens with Bill O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) finding himself in an unfortunately ironic predicament. He has been caught by the FBI for impersonating an FBI agent in order to steal cars from unsuspecting bar patrons. Now, real FBI Agent Mitchell (Jesse Plemons) offers O’Neal the choice between going to prison or infiltrating the Black Panthers and becoming an informant. O’Neal takes the deal, eventually working his way to becoming the head of security for the Panthers and the driver for Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). As he passes information to the FBI, O’Neal also comes to believe in the cause of the Panthers and finds himself greatly conflicted. Stanfield has great emotional scenes with dialogue and quiet moments trying to hold back his conflicted emotions. His character is always under stress, always presenting one persona to Hampton and the Panthers and another to the FBI. His betrayal of Hampton is by no means excused, but Stanfield shows us the emotional and mental state of the man driven to it. As good as Stanfield is, the real standout is Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton. He captures the confidence and charisma of the 21-year-old activist, but the screenplay also allows us to see him in private moments like him reciting along to a record of a Malcolm X speech to practice his own oratory skills. Dominique Fishback as Debra Johnson also gives a great performance as Hampton’s fiancé. When she first attends a Black Panther meeting, she is immediately captivated and enchanted by Hampton’s speech. Kaluuya’s performance makes her attraction both to his words and his presence easy to understand. His scenes with her allow for quiet, intimate moments that further show this figure from recent history as a real person. Kaluuya is the frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, in part because he is actually a co-lead along with Stanfield, who is also nominated in the Supporting Actor category. True stories can make for great films, but great films based on true stories do not necessarily make for great history. I do not doubt the authenticity of the characters or major events depicted or the FBI plot that led to Hampton’s death. I have read and seen enough documentaries to know that J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI was motivated by his serious but mistaken belief that the Civil Rights movement was being controlled by communists and had to be stopped before it destroyed the country (here Hoover is played by Martin Sheen in a performance too small to be especially good or bad, however, his makeup is especially bad). Judas and the Black Messiah is the best kind of based-on-a-true-story film: it engaged me with the story and characters, giving me a real sense of what things were like for them, and it makes me want to learn more about the events and people depicted. The film ends with documentary footage and these short clips actually enhance the emotions of the movie instead of undercutting them. If you already know the story of Fred Hampton and the FBI’s insidious campaign against him and the Black Panthers in the late 1960’s, the reason to watch Judas and the Black Messiah is for the incredible performances from Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield. This isn’t just another biopic or a reenactment. At times it plays like a tense thriller in the same vein as Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. At other times it plays like a quiet drama. At every moment we are made aware of the social imbalances and injustices that motivate Hampton and the Panthers and come, too late, to move O’Neal as well. It is unfortunate and frustrating that these social imbalances and injustices are still being dealt with today. Judas and the Black Messiah comes as close as any movie does to bringing history to life.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Windolicker

Apr 11, 2021

If you want race relations to heal in the US, do you repeatedly pick at the scab, keep making movies about previous injustices, slavery movie after slavery movie after slavery movie.....after.....wait for it.....slavery movie; WE GET IT, you hate us. I think it is time for a divorce. I amIf you want race relations to heal in the US, do you repeatedly pick at the scab, keep making movies about previous injustices, slavery movie after slavery movie after slavery movie.....after.....wait for it.....slavery movie; WE GET IT, you hate us. I think it is time for a divorce. I am citing irreconcilable differences. You know, on account of the whole "We hate you because of slavery even though you had no part in it" whole thing. I'm seriously sick of it. Also, does anybody care about the Oscars? If you cared a year ago you are not too bright but in the last few months they announced that in order to get an Oscar, you have to meet certain diversity quotas or your film has to have a certain message about anti-racism. So, the Oscars aren't about talent anymore; they aren't even pretending that it's about talent. No, they are flat out telling us that their nomination process is political.… Expand

2 of 14 users found this helpful212

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30	#30 Best Movie of 2021
66	#66 Most Discussed Movie of 2021