BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The buddy cop scenario featuring interracial partners has been a mainstay of the movie industry for decades. This approach creates two levels of tension – the actual case and the will-they-won’t-they-kill-each other bickering.
What makes the casting of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg as a black FBI agent and a mafia hitman in Jim Crow Mississippi in the 60s in “By Any Means” more interesting is that the film is based on a true story. That means a natural tension but it is important to remember with any film carrying such a tag, the amount of truth is up for debate.
The truth of “By Any Means” is that despite a standout performance by Abdul-Mateen, the film wallows in so much hatred, corruption and radical racism that the film ends up being uncomfortable to watch. There is no arguing that this was a horrible time, filled with horrible people doing horrible things. That storyline would make a compelling documentary but as a feature film it lacks even the slightest bit of balance…