Judas and the Black Messiah: Pacing Perfection or Propaganda?

Okay, so I finally caught "Judas and the Black Messiah" and wow, I'm still processing. The performances were incredible across the board – Lakeith Stanfield killed it as O'Neal. You genuinely felt his conflicted soul, which is saying something considering the dude was basically a rat. And Daniel Kaluuya? Forget about it. He completely embodied Fred Hampton. The scene where he's giving that speech in the church? Chills. Literal chills. Director really knew how to utilize those two actors. Visually, it's a gorgeous film. The cinematography really captured the grit and tension of the era. I especially appreciated how they didn't shy away from the violence, but also didn't glorify it. It felt...real. My only real hang-up is the pacing in the middle act. There were moments where it felt like they were rushing through parts of Fred Hampton's organizing and community building. I wanted MORE of that and less of the FBI procedural. I understand it's about O'Neal's betrayal, but the movie's at its strongest when we're with Hampton. That being said, the final act is a gut punch. Knowing what's coming, you're on the edge of your seat the whole time. The raid scene? Unbearable. The way they staged the aftermath, with the camera lingering on the bloodstains...powerful. It really makes you think about the cost of revolution and the lengths the government will go to silence dissent. It definitely raised some questions for me about historical accuracy and bias, which I'm still researching. Overall, I thought it was a really strong film. Not perfect – the pacing issues are real – but the performances, the visuals, and the sheer weight of the story make it worth watching. I recommend checking it out. What were your guys' thoughts?