Directed by:
Shaka KingCinematography:
Sean BobbittCast:
Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, Martin Sheen, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, Lil Rel Howery, Dominique Thorne, Algee Smith (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
In 1968, a young, charismatic activist named Fred Hampton became Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, who were fighting for freedom, the power to determine the destiny of the Black community, and an end to police brutality and the slaughter of Black people. Chairman Fred was inspiring a generation to rise up and not back down to oppression, which put him directly in the line of fire of the government, the FBI and the Chicago Police. But to destroy the revolution, they had to do it from both the outside…and the inside. Facing prison, William O’Neal is offered a deal by the FBI: if he will infiltrate the Black Panthers and provide intel on Hampton, he will walk free. O’Neal takes the deal.
Now a comrade in arms in the Black Panther Party, O’Neal lives in fear that his treachery will be discovered even as he rises in the ranks. But as Hampton’s fiery message draws him in, O’Neal cannot escape the deadly trajectory of his ultimate betrayal. Though his life was cut short, Fred Hampton’s impact has continued to reverberate. The government saw the Black Panthers as a militant threat to the status quo and sold that lie to a frightened public in a time of growing civil unrest. But the perception of the Panthers was not reality. In inner cities across America, they were providing free breakfasts for children, legal services, medical clinics and research into sickle cell anemia, and political education. And it was Chairman Fred in Chicago, who, recognizing the power of multicultural unity for a common cause, created the Rainbow Coalition-joining forces with other oppressed peoples in the city to fight for equality and political empowerment.
(Warner Bros. CA)
Reviews (3)
A decent film about the Black Panthers. It almost has a gangster-drama feel to it, and two great young actors from Get Out. Both Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya are for me the best and coolest young representatives of African-American actors. There is also some intense action, but story-wise I expected more intensity. In the second half I slightly lost interest in the film, which is a pity. Overall good, pulled along by the actors and the capable direction, but it drags in places. Story****, Action***, Humor>No, Violence**, Fun***, Music***, Visual****, Atmosphere***, Suspense***. 6.5/10.
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If you (like me) watch The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Judas and the Black Messiah two days in a row, you get a solid and authentic look at the Black Panther movement and their confrontation with the police in the late 1960s. The film is mainly based on convincing performances - deservedly Oscar-nominated Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield, and Dominique Fishback alongside them - and a strong and very topical theme at the time, considering the current situation in the US. The first half had a slower and more talkative pace, while the second was noticeably more action-packed and darker. This is definitely a vividly made biopic that doesn't drag or get boring.
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Another lesson from American history on the oppression of the African-American community, but in this case with a strong emphasis on the "black power aspect" and an attempt at an apparent balancing of racial issues – whatever that conjures up for you. I appreciate the total absence of pathos (except for the restoration of the burnt down headquarters, but even that is not presented in an overly emotional way) and the (un)pleasantly merciless ending, which is certainly not lacking in drama. A clear Oscar winner given the current tide of social discourse, which is fortunately also quite well shot and impresses not only with flawless performances but also with a soundtrack that is both weirdly neurotic and beautifully minimalist. [75%]
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