JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

US, 2020, 126 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Kaluuya, La Keith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, Lil Rel Howery, Martin Sheen.
Directed by Shaka King.

For so many reasons, the 1960s was an extremely turbulent decade. A decade of change, a decade of challenge, a decade of revolution. This was especially true of the United States. It was a decade of civil rights, of Martin Luther King, of the March on Washington, of assassinations. 1968 was a particularly significant year, in the Vietnam war, in the election of Richard Nixon, of student revolutions in Paris, in uprisings in Czechoslovakia…

And, 1968 in the United States was a key year, not only in the election of Richard Nixon but in the protests, especially in Chicago, as recently seen in Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago Seven. Meanwhile, in Chicago, there were movements of protest and revolution with the Black Panthers. This film takes us into the local chapter of the Black Panthers, the leadership of the local chairman, Fred Hampton. He is the Black Messiah or at least that was the hope of his followers.

In fact, the film opens with a speech by J Edgar Hoover declaring that the Black Panthers were one of the chief threats to American society. It is a fiery, antagonistic speech, racist tones. Later, there will be another appearance by Hoover interrogating one of his agents, fomenting racist sentiments so that he will pursue Fred Hampton, asking the agent to imagine his daughter bringing home a black man to the house… (It is rather hard to recognise through the strong prosthetics, Martin Sheen appearing as Hoover.)

At the end, it is something of a surprise to find that Fred Hampton was only 21 when he was killed. He is played by British actor, Daniel Kaluua, 30 years old at the time of filming, (an interesting phenomenon to see British actors effective in key black American roles, David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King in Selma, Chitwitel Ejiofor In 12 Years a Slave, John Boyega in Detroit, Delroy Lindo in Da 5 Bloods, Idris Elba). Daniel Kaluua won a golden globe as Best Supporting Actor, particularly strong in two sequences where he speaks, preaches, exhorts his followers.

However, the first word in the title is Judas. And the film opens with a 1989 television interview with William O’Neal? what his children will think of his activity with the Black Panthers. In 1968, O’ Neal was a petty criminal, Fleshly dressed, holding up an FBI agent badge, rough handling young black men, stealing their cars. However, he is caught, interviewed by agent Mitchell, Jesse Plemons, a firm believer in FBI philosophy, a family man, with a hold over O’Neal?, threatening years of imprisonment, especially because of the false FBI badge, and getting him to infiltrate the Black Panthers. And, so successfully, that he becomes the security chief, a friend of Fred Hampton, seen going to swanky hotels and smartly dressed to give information to the agent. And, yet, having some bonds with Hampton and sympathy with the Black Panthers’ philosophy. This is a fine performance by La Keith Stanfield, a callow and conflicted man.

The film takes us inside the organisation, Fred Hampton and his loyal supporters and friends, his attraction to a young worker, Deborah Johnson, love, her becoming pregnant. And he is is betrayed by his Judas, spends some time in jail, is released pending an appeal.

The racist ruthlessness of Hoover, American fears about black uprisings, lead to violence, and a ruthless attack for the elimination of Fred Hampton.

There are some sombre pieces of information before the final credits, some footage and photos of Hampton and his friends, and audience Discussed at the Hoover-inspired ideological assassination – but the continuation of the work of the decade by Deborah and Fred Hampton Jr.

1. The title and its implications? Fred Hamilton and his role with the Black Panthers, hopes? Bill O’ and the infiltration, informant, betrayal, final Judas-payment?

2. 1968, American society in the 60s, the political assassinations, the death of Martin Luther King, the March on Washington, Civil Rights, Lyndon Johnson and legislation? Uprisings? Revolution? Riots, violence? 1968 in the election of Richard Nixon, the trial of the Chicago seven, Eldridge Cleaver, Malcolm X?

3. The Chicago setting, the city, the black neighbourhood, homes and apartments, streets, meeting places? The headquarters and the facade in the street? The interiors? The contrast with the FBI, offices, meeting places? The action in the Chicago streets? The musical score?

4. The story of Fred Hampton, his age, 21 at his death? Influenced by the Black Panthers, becoming the Chairman? His personality, seen in his rousing speeches, his command of crowds, loyalty amongst his associates? His beliefs? The Black Panthers? Revolution, violence? The Muslim background – how evident in the storytelling? With his close associates, Bill O’ Neal coming on board, head of security, relying on him? The office workers, the meeting with Deborah Johnson, the attraction, the relationship, her pregnancy? His being the target of the FBI, informants, arrest, treatment in prison, getting out, his appeal, the FBI influence, the continued presence of the police, Hampton violent, his being the target of assassination? The raid, the shootout, his death? Witness to his cause? A rallying point?

5. The story of Bill O’ Neal, the opening, the television interview in 1989, Eyes on the Prize 2? The reprise of the end? His declaration about himself? Proclaiming innocence? And the final information that he committed suicide the night of the broadcast? His personality, the criminal on the streets, ambitions, smart dressing, his FBI badge, the attack on the young men in the pool room, violence, the car keys, their exposing him, chasing him, getting away in the car? The police? The interview with Agent Mitchell? Time to be served in jail, the years for the false FBI badge? His being persuaded to infiltrate the Black Panthers? His personality, engaging with Fred, with the other members, promoting security? His seeming loyalty, at meetings, his chanting, his believing in the cause? His fear of jail?

6. Agent Mitchell, ordinary American, wife and family, committed to the FBI, to J Edgar Hoover? The meetings with Hoover? The other authorities? His meeting with O’ Neal? His being the contact point? The meetings, O’ Neal and his smart dressing, restaurants and hotels? The rally when Fred Hampton came out of jail, his being one of the ordinary members of the audience, his applauding, yet keeping watch on O’ Neal? The plan to kill Fred Hampton, the poison, persuading O’ Neal? O’ Neal not administering the poison, the raid and the shootings? His being vindicated?

7. The two scenes with J Edgar Hoover, Martin Sheen’s performance, the prosthetics, his voice? Policy, the Black Panthers as top enemy for the United States? His racist attitudes? The interview with agent Mitchell, the speculation about his daughter bringing home a black man, emphasising the racist supremacy?

8. Deborah, her work, commitment to the cause, her personality, devoted to Fred, her love, her pregnancy, the friends and her work, while he was in jail, getting out, the possibilities for a future? His death? The information about her continued work for Black causes over the decades, and her son, Fred Hampton Jr?

9. Fred Hampton’s associates, friends, advisers, company, his enjoying their company, their sharing his beliefs? The violence, demonstrations in the street? Shootings? The focus on Jimmy, young, the gun, his attack on the police, arrest, his death?

10. The impact of Fred Hampton, at such a young age, his personality, the sequences where he addressed his followers, early in the film, on his release from prison? Speculation about what might have happened had he not been killed?