Movies βMofaβ Fan123βs review published on Letterboxd:
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βI Am a Revolutionaryβ
Judas and the Black Messiah is an always captivating and powerful movie. This is a devastating movie. Itβs quite intense despite knowing what would eventually happen to Fred Hampton. Daniel Kaluuya gives a powerhouse performance. With this and Get Out, I already can tell that this man will be going great places. Heβs insanely talented. He steals every scene he is. He says every line with so much conviction. During the movie he wasnβt Daniel Kaluuya anymore, he was Fred Hampton. He disappears in the role. He should be winning best supporting actor because he is that good. But LaKeith Stanfield is still able to hold his own despite Kaluuyaβs powerful performance. He might not be as good but heβs able to stand his own which in my eyes shows his talent equally as much as Kaluuya shows his own talent. Sometimes the hardest thing for an actor can be just trying to not get totally forgotten due to another actorβs performance. Stanfield doesnβt let that happen. His performance still wonβt be as memorable but it still leaves an impact. These two guys are gonna be game changers. I can already tell that. Their such talented young actors. Jesse Plemons is also great. His character is very intimidating. He has some possibly redeeming qualities deep inside but hides it. Heβs able to play someone so human-less or maybe more so someone that is trying to show himself as human-less if that makes sense. Plemons is also a very promising actor. The rest of the cast is great as well. I want to go back to Kaluuya and Stanfield or most importantly their characters. I love Stanfieldβs character. Heβs undercover. Heβs working for the FBI. He should be someone that would be absolutely un redeemable but they donβt fully show him as that. He doesnβt really want to be doing this. Especially as the film progresses he really seems to agree with what the Black Pantherβs are saying. He seems to really have morphed into one of him. It could be all an act but I donβt think it is. I think this partly adds to the devastating nature. Hampton seemed to have so much trust in him. Itβs very sad. Hampton is shown as a human which obviously he is but Iβm just glad they decided to portray his character in the way he did. I really felt for his character. Sometimes with biographical movies I feel as they show the people their portraying as almost gods. He just seems to have so much emotions to him. He has so much angry and bravery. He knows death is near.
Heβs accepting of that. I really felt for him. He just felt like a normal guy. Sure he was leading this revolution but good for him. What ends up happening to him is just so devastating. I knew it was coming but that might of honestly made me sadder about it. Itβs also just so well directed. Itβs also captivating. A few slower moments more so in the beginning. The beginning is a lot of set up. But it just gets better and better as it goes along. The final hour is especially just fantastic. Itβs so intense. The cinematography is really good. Itβs also super well written. Ugh there is just so much to praise here. My only issue is again the pacing near the first act. Other than that I donβt really have anything wrong with it. Hope it gets a best picture nomination. I really do hope it does. Itβs an important movie. Everyone needs to see this. Itβs just so good. Still trying to process this one. Stuff like this hits me really hard. Just watch it. Overall Judas and the Black Messiah is a film with two brilliant performances from Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield and itβs just so engaging.Β
πDick Johnson is DeadΒ
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