Today’s episode is a review of the 2021 Warner Bros. film ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’. Based on the last days and months in the life of Black Panthers leader Chairman Fred Hampton, the film details his revolutionary mission to unite oppressed groups across the city of Chicago, the Black Panther Party's conflicts with the Chicago PD and ultimately the FBI, and Hampton's betrayal at the hands of undercover informant Bill O'Neil, played by Lakeith Stanfield. Daniel Kaluuya delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as Hampton, and actors Dominique Fishback and Jesse Plemmons are also great in supporting roles.

 

On the podcast, we discuss the effort it took writer-director Shaka King and producer Ryan Cooglar to get the blessing of Hampton's family for this project, the filmmakers' attempts to stay true to real-life events while also staying true to their artistic vision, and despite our quibbles with the narrative, how the film smartly weaves cat-and-mouse thriller with government conspiracy, love story and biopic sensibilities.