"Anywhere there is people, there is power."
As the title suggests this is a movie about a Judas and a black Messiah. We have two interesting and well layered characters: from one side Fred Hampton(Daniel Kaluuya), the chairman of Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, a revolutionary, a man with principles fighting for a better future for his community; then we have William O’Neal(Lakeith Stanfield), the Judas of the situation, unscrupulous but also remorseful. Both actors were amazing in their roles, but I feel Stanfield’s performance was the toughest to play. William O’Neal was such an ambiguous person, you feel angry with him for being responsible for the death and destruction of many lives, but you can’t help feeling sorry for him. It’s not easy to capture the essence of such a controversial person. Kaluuya is more than believable in his role, but he portrays a character quite steady in his actions, he’s always determined in his speeches and work; the only moments of timidity and weakness were in the moments of intimacy with his girlfriend Deborah Johnson. Other than the performances of the main characters(still not sure why they were nominated in the supporting category at the Oscars) the movie has a good screenplay, especially Hampton’s speeches and the dialogues between O’Neal and agent Mitchell. Moreover what makes it so special is its resonance with the BLM movement in the USA. It’s still so present, you just cannot believe 50 years later police are still killing innocent black people without being brought to justice. It makes you wonder when the violence and racism will end, will we still have this conversation in 50 years or things will eventually get better.
From my point of view I’m glad there are more movies about black, powerful characters as Fred Hampton, that Hollywood is finally giving more opportunities to black actors, that they are not secondary characters anymore. Finally they are getting their own voice as they should rightfully had centuries ago.
