By Max Siegfried
In the 1960s, racism and bigotry remained deeply embedded in American life. A Black FBI agent named Wayne Strider desperately wants to get in on the action in his department, but he doesn’t have much luck because of his race until Wayne gets on a case that hits a little too close to home for him.
In this movie, Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II play the main characters. Mark Wahlberg is a household-name, but Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is not so much; he has been in “Candyman” and the TV show “Watchmen” on HBO. Both main actors do a fantastic job in their respective roles.
In the film, Wayne Strider (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) gets put on a case that revolves around a family friend in Wayne’s hometown. However, the case is a lot harder and more personal than Wayne expects. He gets partnered up with Mark Wahlberg’s giant-nosed character named Greg Scarpa. Greg isn’t a man who follows the orthodox way; he’s a “by any means” kind of guy.
Wayne doesn’t find that out easily; instead, he does it in a way that is extremely unconventional for him. The FBI orders Wayne to do what Greg asks, but Wayne is now at a crossroads: follow justice or follow revenge.
Greg pushes Wayne to change his thinking through the actions he commits. After every scene, you see Wayne’s way of doing things change more and more. Along the way, disputes and enjoyable moments happen between the two, until Wayne realizes that this case is becoming too personal.
The movie ends with a hard but satisfying conclusion that leaves you reminiscing about the entire film. The images that you see throughout the movie- the heartbreak, the hurt and the hard times are all running through your mind at the end of the movie, not because you have to, but because you feel hurt and emotion for what was done.
I titled this article “By Any Means is an amazing story but incredibly hard to watch” because a big part of the story revolves around the Ku Klux Klan and what they did. It is no joke when I say this movie has a gripping story, great acting and gorgeous yet graphic cinematography, but the problem is that it portrays it so vividly that you can not help but feel deep emotions about what was done.
“By Any Means” does a great job of making the story feel like it belongs in the 1960s era. The houses, clothing, cars, decorations and honestly everything else felt like it was in this time period. The actors and actresses, with their mannerisms, talk and walk, make everything feel real. Even the background actors contribute to the 60’s feel.
The scenes and cinematography never feel like there are sudden switches or like we skip too far ahead and miss important moments. The movie moves fast, and the story stays gripping. The story’s goal never changes, but the way they get there does. Wayne’s character development feels like it was off the script and something real and raw.
The movie has some funny moments that get you laughing, but only a little. Overall, this movie isn’t something you casually watch on Netflix and say, “Oh, this looks good,” then turn it on. This is a movie you need to be prepared for.
I would give this movie an 8.5/10, but I’d caution anyone who watches it to be ready for the graphic and depressing things you will see. The acting is some of the best I have seen this year; it never feels like they were reading off a script, but rather acting like their real characters. You shouldn’t watch this movie alone, but with a group of people mature enough to understand the depth of what’s happening. I would not recommend this for anyone who struggles with blood, gore or graphic images; it is safe to say this is not for the sensitive.
Max Siegfried is a junior finance major and A&E writer! Max enjoys watching movies and writing about them. He also loves playing sports, having fun and spending time with family and friends.
“By Any Means” is currently playing in theatres
Images courtesy of Hammerstone Studios, LB Entertainment and Paramount Pictures
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