By Any Means

We've all seen FBI and CIA films many times, and we've all seen films that center around the mafia and hitmen, but it's not very often when we are privvy to the combination of both. Well, with "By Any Means", we are offered that combo and it hums along like a well oiled machine. 

Based on a true story, a young black FBI agent, Wayne Strider (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is sent into 1960s Mississippi to investigate a wave of brutal killings targeting civil rights leaders by FBI Special Agent Roy K. Moore (David Strathairn). Forced to work alongside notorious mafia hitman Greg Scarpa (Mark Wahlberg). he finds himself pulled into a deadly hunt where justice and vengeance begin to blur. When the system is broken, two men divided by everything agree on one thing: the law has limits. They don't. While investigating the killing of Civil Rights leader, Vernon F. Dahmer (Giancarlo Esposito), Strider and Scarpa get a little more than they bargained for. 

Others to round out the cast are Nicole Beharie as Allison Strider, Wayne's wife, Josh Lucas as Special Agent Everett Rhodes, LisaGay Hamilton as Ms. Rebecca Brewer, Ethan Embry as Sam Bowers, LaChanze as Hattie Dahmer, Vernon's wife, Will Brittain as Billy Roy Pitts, Biko Eisen-Martin as Special Agent Archie Crawford, DeVere Jehl as Edgar Ray Killen and Zach Lane as Clive Styles.

This was directed with stylish grit and intensity by Elegance Bratton ("Pier Kids" '19, "The Inspection" '22, "Hell Fighter" '24, "Move Ya Body: The Birth of House" '25) plus TV and shorts. Even though this was a violent and bloody film, this filmmaker was able to bring a certain slickness to its format. He was able to send us a 'stylish' feeling to an otherwise rough and tumble male flick oozing with an over abundance of testosterone. His staging and pacing was also slickly executed as well. It was executed well by writer Sascha Penn (" Creed II" '18, "Main Justice" '18, "1992" '22) plus TV. Even though he is not a seasoned writer, what he has written along with his TV projects has served him well. Other than a couple of very small places of choppiness, this story was riveting as well as informative. Really, this guy simply needs more work since he has potential of being a great writer. The cinematography by Ante Cheng was very interesting in that it gave a subtle 'grainy' look as though one is peering into a film dating back to the 60s. And this newer actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II definitely has a future in feature films. He's strong, quiet and can certainly hold his own. And Wahlberg is always a perennial favorite. These roles are the roles we typically think of when it comes to him. 

Certainly if your favorite genre is that of drama, FBI with crime, you'll be in film heaven. It has it all: drama, intensity, racial tension, even some humor to help with the violent moments in the film. This isn't one for the kids--too many F-bombs and violence, but does have an interesting premise. After all, it isn't titled "By Any Means" for nothing.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                      Rated: R                                         106mins.