What to Watch This Weekend: Wrath of Man, Paper Tigers, Columnist, Water man, Judas and the Black Messiah, Human Factor, Initiation, Sons of Sam

For A Darker Guy Ritchie Experience: Wrath of Man (In Theaters)
Wrath of Man has Ritchie's trademark sharp writing, style, and a solid Statham performance, but with a darker tone and more intense action.  For more information, check out the review!

For The True Crime Fans: The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness (Netflix)

The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness details a fascinating theory and the brilliant but flawed proponent of it with amazing clippings, clips, and plenty of research.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Bloody Good Free Speech Satire: The Columnist (Virtual Cinema)

The Columnist is a stylish and entertaining satire--fueled by Katja Herbers's wonderful performance--about the dangers of social media and the very painful effect that online activities can have on real people.    For more information, check out the review! 

For A Crazy, Murderous Horror Party: Initiation (Theaters and Digital)

Initiation's college slasher party is amplified with great practical effects, brutal deaths, a good amount of tension, and a social media message.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Fascinating Historical Documentary: The Human Factor (In Theaters)

The Human Factor is a fascinating look at peace in the middle east, with great narration, clever effects to keep the viewer engaged, and a humbling look at just how complicated this issue really is.   For more information, check out the review!

For A Family Film Dealing With Real Issues: The Water Man (In Theaters)
Nomadland highlights a different, beautiful lifestyle with a very human performance by McDormand, amazing cinematography, and a wonderful sense of community.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Thoroughly Entertaining Martial Arts Film: The Paper Tigers (In Theaters and Digital)

Paper Tigers will knock you out with its wonderful comedic style, over the top and over the hill characters, and the amazing camaraderie and heart of the main trio.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Powerful Film About Racial Injustice: Judas and the Black Messiah (Redbox)

Judas and the Black Messiah is an amazing, powerful film that chronicles the short life of a charismatic leader, and highlights ideals and injustices that are still relevant today.  For more information, check out the review!

What to Watch This Weekend: The Mauritanian, Barb and Star, Lapsis, Sator, Judas and the Black Messiah, Minari, Land, Freaky

For A Star Studed Legal Drama: The Mauritanian (Theaters)
The Mauritarian tells an impressive and important story of justice delayed with an all star cast and plenty of legal and political drama!  For more information, check out the review!

For A Colorful Middle Aged Trip: Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar (Digital)
Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar is the type of laugh-out-loud ridiculousness we need right now, with fantastic characters and a bright style to help jump start your 2021.   For more information, check out the review!

For A Satirical Look At Our Techno Future: Lapsis (Virtual Cinema)

Lapsis has a strong, satirical style, a smart setting, and great characters to tell a near future story dealing with some very modern, timely societal issues.   For more information, check out the review!

For An Atmospheric Horror Experience: Sator (Digital)

Sator is a wonderfully done indie horror movie with great atmosphere, effects, and creepiness telling a unique story that pushes the genre while staying so true to what makes it great.      For more information, check out the review!

For A Powerful Film About Racial Injustice: Judas and the Black Messiah (Theaters and HBO Max)

Judas and the Black Messiah is an amazing, powerful film that chronicles the short life of a charismatic leader, and highlights ideals and injustices that are still relevant today.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Beautiful Immigrant Experience: MInari (Theaters)

Minari is a slow but exquisite film, one that tells the immigrant story with beautiful cinematography, sharp dialog, and a slow burning, bittersweet story of hard work, dedication, and loss.   For more information, check out the review!

For Those That Want To Get Away: Land (Theaters)

Land will take you back to nature with its stunning wilderness cinematography, fantastic soundtrack, and harsh realities of life and survival.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Humorous And Satisfying Horror Film: Freaky (Digital and Redbox)

Freaky is a mash up of slasher, humor, and teen drama, with enjoyable performances from Vaughn and Newton in this stylish, entertaining horror take on the body swap film.   For more information, check out our review!

Judas and the Black Messiah Review: A Powerful and Relevant Piece of Cinema

Release date: February 12, 2020
Running time: 126 minutes
Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, and Martin Sheen
Director:  Shaka King

FBI informant William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). A career thief, O’Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons). Hampton’s political prowess grows just as he’s falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback). Meanwhile, a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul. Will he align with the forces of good? Or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) commands?

Judas and the Black Messiah is based on historical events, and that is made clear from the start with a roll of classic footage that helps to place the film historically.  And then after that the film has a high energy opening that introduces you to Bill (Stanfield) and his predicament.  This scene--and the film overall--has a ton of 60s flair from the clothes, to the film style, to the general setting.  And throughout, Judas and the Black Messiah has an amazing soundtrack of avant garde jazz music that fits perfectly with the setting.

But what will really grab your attention in this film is the amazing acting.  Daniel Kaluuya is a revelation in this film, who completely transforms into Chairman Fred Hampton.  His mannerisms, his speech, his whole demeaner all channel this charismatic leader whose energy and beliefs started and fueled a movement.  And on the other side of him is LaKeith Stanfield, who is always amazing and is no different in this film.  Bill O'Neal is the main protagonist and you will have no trouble staying invested in his character as Stanfield gives a riveting performance that perfectly captures the difficult situation he is placed in as well as the inner conflict that starts to build inside of him.  And Jesse Plemons as Agent Roy Mitchell is another perfectly cast character who plays the manipulative agent perfectly.  And finally, Fishback is a charismatic foil and companion to Kaluuya, who is just as much of a revolutionary but has to take a back seat to the Chairman.

And the story of this film will keep you captivated for the entire two plus hours of this film.  It deals with such a turbulent and interesting time in America that you can't help but sit back and give into this high energy, high intrigue story.  And what is especially disturbing about this film is that it deals with systematic and calculated targeting of black individuals by a system that is trying to prevent their voices from being heard.  And while this film deals with a true conspiracy to target individuals, the pain and disenfranchisement that this caused these young activists has echoed for generations.  You can't help but think that it is these attitudes and abuses that have fueled many of the inequalities that are only now being talked about thanks to the Black Lives Matter movement.  In many ways, this film is a precursor to the turbulence and love that we experienced in 2020, and this film highlights why we can't just settle for the status quo, but must keep working.  It is also heart wrenching to think of what could have been accomplished by this young group of activists had they not been silenced so early.  And that whole process is documented perfectly in this amazing, powerful film that culminates in one of the most tense and shocking conclusions I have seen in cinema.

Judas and the Black Messiah is an amazing, powerful film that chronicles the short life of a charismatic leader, and highlights ideals and injustices that are still relevant today.

Watch it.

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following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.   Judas and the Black Messiah Premieres in theaters and on HBO Max on Friday, February 12.

For showtimes, click here.

Screening: Judas and the Black Messiah Theater Passes

 

Do you want to see this powerful new film for free in your local theaters?  If so, enter below to win a Fandango code good for two tickets to Judas and the Black Messiah!  Please note that the availability will vary depending on your local theater situation, so please keep that in mind.  The code is only good for Judas and the Black Messiah, and is only valid at theaters that allow ticketing through Fandango.  But if you have all of that, here's your chance to win a code to see this powerful film for free!  Enter below, winners will be notified on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.  

Please ensure that you are comfortable going to the theater before entering.  This contest is for a Fandango code to see the film in theaters.

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
In theaters and streaming exclusively on HBO Max February 12

FBI informant William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). A career thief, O’Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons). Hampton’s political prowess grows just as he’s falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback). Meanwhile, a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul. Will he align with the forces of good? Or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) commands?

Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders and Martin Sheen
Director:  Shaka King

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