I want to begin by addressing the title of this review. David_Vogel_1 intentionally review bombs African American films that do not fit or suit his narrative. Simply take a look at his previous movie reviews and you'll see he "one stars" them.

This film is about the true story of Fred Hampton and the FBI. Do not look up the history until after the film or it will be spoiled for you. It is absolutely worth the watch and the acting is superb!

This movie is superbly made with outstanding performances all around. Danial and Lakeith Stanfield give performances of lifetime.

This film feels more of a thriller than a biopic, and you get accounts of all point of views. Utterly devastating from start to finish.

Shaka King's well-made, gritty drama serves as a deeply thought-provoking look at the intersection of racial tensions and betrayal. Lakeith Stanfield plays William O'Neal, an FBI informant investigating Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya,) who was the chair of the Black Panther Party in Illinois. As O'Neal closes in more on Hampton and his inner circle, he is faced with a deep crisis as to whether to turn in valuable information on Hampton to authorities. The film is a tightly-made analysis of racial unrest as well as the true horrors of white supremacy and the systemic functions that uphold it.

The performances are outstanding across the board, conveying clear emotion and vital urgency in their roles. Kaluuya is particularly outstanding as Hampton, and his acting brings each scene he is in to a gripping, powerful crescendo. I always thought Kaluuya was an outstanding actor after seeing his leading performance in "Get Out" as well as his menacing supporting performance as a criminal villain in Steve McQueen's "Widows," but here he is able to authentically and completely show a unique new range of his acting talents. The film's gritty cinematography is powerful and sublime, enhancing the mood of the film. Well-written dialogue not only serves as a form of character development here, but also clearly to provoke thoughts. King's direction and sense of tone are both also great, showing an outstanding sense of dramatic tension. While the film's pacing can sometimes be a bit uneven, the film's narrative is overall finely crafted--and well worth seeing. 8/10