Monday, February 22, 2021

I Am A Revolutionary

Judas And The Black Messiah is an important film, especially in light of the recent news of the complicity of the FBI and NYPD in Malcom X's murder. That said, the movie is flawed, mostly due to making William O'Neal too sympathetic of a character at the expense of the depth Fred Hampton’s character deserves. (Hampton's political awakening and activism started at a young age, and he was only 21 when he was assassinated.) There's a powerful scene with Hampton talking about his time in jail, yet it doesn't have the impact it should. There's also a rather glaring historical omission, but I'll avoid pointing it out as it would act as a spoiler. Still, the acting is superb all around, it's well filmed, the soundtrack is perfect, and again, the story is an important and sadly timeless one.

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