Film Review: ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ Showcases the Politics of Passion For Power and Attention

In this film, the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party serves as a backdrop regarding FBI informant William ‘Bill’ O’Neal’s infiltration of the organization to bring down its leader, Fred Hampton.

By Lisa D. DeNeal

UPDATE: Actor Daniel Kaluuya is now a Golden Globe winner for his Best Supporting Actor portrayal of the late Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton, Sr.

There’s a price to pay for doing what’s right and doing wrong. The Warner Bros. motion picture, ‘Judas and the Black Messiah,’ released in theaters today and streaming for a limited time for HBO Max subscribers, highlights both.

“Judas and the Black Messiah” is directed by writer- filmmaker Shaka King (“Newlyweeds,” “Mulignans”), who also co-wrote the screenplay with writer-producer Will Berson (“Scrubs” “Sea Oak”) and is based on the story by Keith and Kenneth Lucas. It’s produced by Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther” “Fruitvale Station” “Creed”), Shaka King and Charles D. King. The motion picture was released Feb. 1 at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival to great acclaim. It has garnered two, 2021 Golden Globe Award nominations (Best Supporting Actor — Motion Picture: Daniel Kaluuya and Best Original Song — Motion Picture: ‘Fight For You,’ by H.E.R., Dernst Emile, II and Tiara Thomas) and three Critics Choice Award nominations.

I watched an advanced virtual screening of “Judas and the Black Messiah” a week ago, hosted by Warner Bros. Studios and National Public Radio station, KCRW, followed by a, “Behind the Screens” interview with Shaka King by KCRW’s Elvis Mitchell. Watching the movie reminded me of a well-known saying in the Black community. “All skin folk, ain’t kinfolk.”

For those who don’t know the real history, here is a brief synopsis as I highly suggest you do your research. In 1966, Chicago career criminal William O’Neal was caught by FBI agent Roy Martin Mitchell for car theft. O’Neal’s criminal record was deep enough to hit him with felony charges, including impersonating a federal officer using a fake badge. Instead, Mitchell offers O’Neal a get out of jail card in the form of infiltrating the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party and getting close to its chairman, Fred Hampton, deemed by the government as a radical threat. O’Neal takes the offer by joining the Black Panther Party. O’Neal soon gains Hampton’s trust and becomes one of the heads of Hampton’s security team, allowing him access to keys and details to various safe houses and Panthers’ headquarters. On December 4, 1969, in a barbiturates induced sleep, Hampton was assassinated in his apartment in the middle of the night by Chicago police officers.

O’Neal’s involvement with the FBI was revealed in 1973, and he was placed in witness protection and relocated to California. Years later, O’Neal would tell his side of the story in an interview seen in “Eyes On the Prize II: America at the Racial Crossroads 1965–1985” the sequel to the award-winning, PBS documentary, “Eyes On the Prize.” O’Neal committed suicide on January 15, 1990, the day “Eyes On the Prize II” aired on television.

“Judas and the Black Messiah” opens with actor Lakeith Stanfield (“The Photograph” “Get Out”) as William O’Neal in ‘footage’ of the interview for “Eyes on the Prize II” as he tells the interviewer how everything happened before the film reenacts what unfolds. Stanfield’s portrayal of O’Neal is everything you’d expect from him. From feeling the rush of stealing cars to the rush of ‘working’ for the FBI and admiring agent Mitchell as a role model, Stanfield delivers all the emotions, anxiety and guilt from beginning to the end.

Daniel Kaluuya (“Black Panther” “Get Out”) as Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton is a gift to viewers. I remember when news of Kaluuya getting picked to play the iconic militant leader, some reactions were not in favor of the selection. I don’t know how people will feel watching this film, but I felt that Kaluuya played the hell out of Chairman Fred Hampton. I was born in 1967, so I relied on watching videos and reading about Chairman Hampton. Kaluuya, 31, brought it and then some.

View trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ivHf4ODMi4

However, “Judas and the Black Messiah” is not a Fred Hampton biopic, but it does not shy away from the late chairman’s goal and purpose. The fiery passion is there in numerous scenes — my personal favorite scene is Kaluuya’s Hampton speaking to the masses inside a church. The film also spotlights on the romance between Chairman Hampton and BPP member Deborah Johnson, (Dominique Fishback) who was pregnant with their son, Fred Hampton, Jr., when the chairman was assassinated.

But this story was O’Neal’s, the Judas to Hampton’s Messiah. Through Stanfield’s performance, you saw a soul who committed crimes for a thrill, but his biggest crime was giving his soul to the government. A government who could not, and would not deal with a Black man with the magnetism and gall to make local and national changes within the Black communities and surrounding communities willing to support his revolution.

I give “Judas and the Black Messiah” four stars.

“Judas and the Black Messiah” is playing now in movie theatres and digitally on HBO Max.

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Running time: 126 minutes. Rated R for language and violence.

Visit https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/judas-and-black-messiah for more information, theatre ticket purchases and social media pages.

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