Judas and the Black Messiah

Judas and the Black Messiah ★★★★½

I pretty much enjoyed the hell out of this film, mostly because the characters were all powerful, and the acting was stellar. I mean, seriously, let's not kid ourselves, Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield are two of the greatest working actors in the business today. And how did we get so lucky to get them together in the same film again already? And let's also be honest, African American directors are currently the greatest filmmakers in the business right now. Hands down, in my opinion. They are just killing it with the originality and strong messages. I mean, Barry Jenkins... Steve McQueen... Jordan Peele... directors such as these are untouchable right now. These directors and actors are literally taking over the film business when it comes to making unforgettable, quality films and performances that truly mean something. The Oscars better start recognizing!

Anyway, back to this film. It's fantastic. I really felt for everyone in this movie, except ignorant FBI guys and law enforcement, of course. But everyone else... The conclusion of this movie really messed me up. I knew what the outcome would be, but I personally wasn't aware of exactly how it would get there. And it's just so sad. And not right. Disgusting that this is a true story. I'm glad I'm aware now though. Movies like this need to be seen. For awareness, if nothing else.

The only thing that keeps this from being a five star movie for me was a lack of tension. Sure, there are plenty of suspenseful moments in this, as there generally are with any story that involves undercover work, but still I was hoping for a scene or two that really had me on the edge of my seat, unable to breath. But, given that this is a true story, I will give it a pass. This doesn't need to be entertaining to get it's message across.

Highly Recommended. I absolutely cannot wait to see what the future holds for these two actors. Very exciting, indeed. KILLING IT!

Watched on HBO Max.

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