No. 20 (2021) JUDAS AND THE BLACK MASSIAH. March 10th.

 

Film No. 20 (2021)  March. 10th.  6:00 PM  PALACE Cinema 3,  Raine Square,  Perth City. 

"Their aim is to show hatred and inspire terror"(The words of FBI chief J.Edgar Hoover; expressing his views on why the Black Panther movement must be extinguished).

With all that continues to be wrong in our world when it comes to race relations here is a film worth seeing to remind us how the fight for equality must continue. And while Fred Hampton was not perhaps The Black Messiah, Shaka King (Director and co-writer) depicts, he was a significant figure, and this story is one well worth telling.

The story of Fred Hampton's death during a violent raid on an apartment in 1969 was the subject of an enquiry which showed law enforcement to be deficient and cruel. The lead up to this raid revolved around this Chicago "Messiah" and his head of security, Bill O'Neal, a petty criminal who turned Judas to avoid prison for his misdemeanours. Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield play the leads, and their combined talents spark this film to the level of audience consciousness it deserves.

Martin Sheen may have created the most unnerving J. Edgar Hoover of all considering the cinema depictions gone before. FBI sleaze Roy Mitchell is greasy and creepy, another feather in Jesse Plemmon's cap. Deborah Johnson creates a powerful legitimacy as Hampton's lover, Dominique. There has been criticism about the age differences between the real characters (late teens, early twenties) and the cast, particularly in the case of Hampton who died as a twenty-one year old. The stunning performances buried those criticisms for me.

The thing about J and the B.M. is the simplicity with which this intriguing story is told. There are no tricks. The flashback's (O'Neal interviews) are short, essential and effective. It's what Scorsese has been bringing to cinema for years and this has some of those hallmarks. King's only other writer/director feature, Newlyweeds (2013), was low budget and heartfelt. A few Oscar recognitions in the coming months is surely going to bring his profile to the fore. Judas and the Black Messiah should be seen by many. 11GUMS.