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🎬 I'm NOT your casual movie reviewer!

I don't do plot overviews or safe, spoiler-free summaries. For that stuff, there's Wikipedia.

What I DO: I share my raw, unfiltered experience and thoughts on movies and TV shows. That means MAJOR SPOILERS could hit you in the very first line of any review.

I talk about films the way you'd chat with a friend who's already seen them. No dancing around plot points. No vague hints. Just honest, spoiler-filled conversation.

You've been warned. Now let's have a real talk about movies! 🍿

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) promotional poster featuring Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton and Lakeith Stanfield as Bill O'Neal, the FBI informant who betrayed the Black Panther chairman in late-1960s Chicago.

Plot Summary: FBI informant William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with bringing down its charismatic chairman, Fred Hampton — a young Black socialist powerful enough to unite entire communities, and the man J. Edgar Hoover called the greatest threat to the internal security of the United States.

Director: Shaka King
Screenplay: Will Berson, Shaka King
Producers: Charles D. King, Ryan Coogler, Shaka King
Cinematography: Sean Bobbitt
Music: Mark Isham, Craig Harris

Starring:
Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton
Lakeith Stanfield as Bill O'Neal
Jesse Plemons as Roy Mitchell
Dominique Fishback as Deborah Johnson
Martin Sheen as J. Edgar Hoover
Ashton Sanders as Jimmy Palmer
Darrell Britt-Gibson as Bobby Rush
 A header image for a movie review from "Freddy's Movie Review." On the left is a blue-tinted photo of the blog's author, Freddy, smiling while wearing sunglasses and giving a thumbs-up. The text "freddy's movie review" is on the right.
***SPOILER ALERT***

Gasoline on the Fire


Today I'm alone here 😢 — from what I have heard, Krasnaya fell asleep during the film. So here goes my short review. Judas and the Black Messiah is another movie that comes to add more gasoline to the fire. The fire is my hate for the US government, its corrupted agencies and capitalist cronies. Unbelievable movie I have to say, truly unbelievable. I'm still quite furious coming out of this experience, and also inspired to learn more about the Black Panther movement. This is one of the reasons I love good cinema. It opens the doors to books and makes you wanna kill! Just kidding. 👀

Fred Hampton delivering a powerful speech about the goal of capitalism — a scene from Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).
The goal of the capitalist.

Two Powerhouses: Kaluuya and Stanfield


I was very happy to find these 2 actors coming together. Daniel Kaluuya, who I know from the awesome horror movie "Get Out" directed by comedian Jordan Peele, and LaKeith Stanfield from a grand favorite of mine "Sorry To Bother You" directed by Boots Riley. These guys were both fantastic in this movie. Kaluuya was inspiring and Stanfield played a perfectly dislikable snitch.

Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton delivering a rousing speech in a key scene from Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).
Freddy Hampton 😛

A Story That Will Blow Your Mind


Throughout the movie I came to think that there was a lot of exaggeration and distortion of facts, but it seems that I was mostly wrong according to History Vs Hollywood. Rainbow Coalition? Get out of here! Fred Hampton was truly one of the most dangerous men to the establishment of the USA at that time — a Black socialist with the power to unite very different people through sheer force of words. I guess J. Edgar Hoover was right in a sense when he said the Black Panthers were "the greatest threat to the internal security of the country." This is an attention-grabbing movie (except for Krasnaya) with lots of style and captivating characters. And this is just Shaka King's second feature! I will definitely be checking out his first movie "Newlyweeds". If you don't know anything about the Fred Hampton story, your chin is going to drop to the floor by the end. I know you'll want to see real footage afterwards, so look no further than the extra section below. All you need is right there. Until next time, I'm forever alone Freddy and I love you.

The moment of betrayal — Bill O'Neal's treachery is exposed in Judas and the Black Messiah (2021).
Cucu Judas, I see you.

Final Score: 91/100 — I got the Feelz. Judas and the Black Messiah is an unforgettable, furious biographical crime drama.

🎬 You Might Also Enjoy:

➤ Argo (2012) Another gripping true story about government secrets and impossible missions — the kind that makes your jaw drop
➤ Historical Movies List More powerful films based on real events that will make your blood boil and your mind race
➤ Drama Movies List Explore our collection of the most gripping and emotionally powerful drama films

Extra: Real People, Real History

I know you'll want to go deeper after watching this film — here are the real interviews and documentary footage that inspired the movie.
SHAKA KING INTERVIEW

DANIEL KALUUYA AND LAKEITH STANFIELD TALK ABOUT THE MOVIE

THE MURDER OF FRED HAMPTON DOCUMENTARY (1971)

FRED HAMPTON INTERVIEW 09/10/69

WILLIAM O'NEAL FULL INTERVIEW

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