Judas and the Black Messiah

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. (14/02/2021)

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. (18/04/2021)

J'aimerais bien que l'Académie m'explique qui jouait le rôle principal dans ce film, sachant que Kaluuya et Stanfield sont nommés pour des rôles secondaires. Martin Sheen ? :-D Je subodore une manigance visant à permettre la remise d'un Oscar à Boseman (RIP et il le mérite certainement pour Le Blues de Ma Rainey) en reléguant Kaluuya dans un rôle secondaire. J’en ai vraiment ma claque de ces quotas ! C’est un bon film qui se base sur des faits réels assez tristes et bouleversants, d'accord. Mais pourquoi doit-il être récompensé ? Il ne se démarque en rien et n’a rien d’extraordinaire. Pfff… (19/04/2021)

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%] (18/04/2021)