Written By: Bethany Bazemore
Photo: BY ANY MEANS
In 2024, I visited the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia, where I learned about the stories of liberation and resistance that have shaped the history of the United States. Among the many stories presented, the story of three young men particularly stayed with me. Their deaths, and the eventual pursuit of justice surrounding their case, were shaped in part by strategic FBI operations. That moment in history provides the real-world context for By Any Means, making the film’s portrayal of these events especially significant.
By Any Means takes us on the journey of a young Black FBI agent who is paired with an Italian mobster to solve a string of murders targeting civil rights leaders and their allies in the Deep South. The story explores different facets of the agent’s life, from becoming one of the first Black FBI agents to moving his wife from the North back to his home state of Mississippi. Ultimately, his desire to do good with the authority given to him is constantly in conflict with his identity as a Black man. Despite their interpersonal conflicts, the film highlights an unlikely bond between the two men. Together, they ultimately track down members of the Klan and save the day.
I found Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg’s performances to be solid, with each bringing their own style to the film. While the movie scored only 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, I felt that the timing of its release within our larger cultural moment is what makes it compelling and deserving of more attention and promotion. In its strongest moments, the film feels both reflective of the past and eerily familiar to the present, echoing the rhetoric and political tensions we continue to see and hear surrounding voting rights in this country.
Movies that dramatize real-life events can be difficult to execute with the right balance of sensitivity and authenticity, and that tension is reflected in many of the personal reviews and discussions surrounding the film online. Still, despite the criticism and mixed commentary, I believe the movie is worth watching. Its ability to revisit real events while drawing unsettling parallels to the present gives it a relevance that extends beyond its execution as a film.
