Every once in a while, I take a look through all of the upcoming film releases and see if anything catches my eye. Normally, I already have an inkling of what I want to watch, but sometimes I take a chance on a film I know next to nothing about. This was the case with By Any Means, directed by Elegance Bratton and starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg. The main thing that caught my eye was the fact that Yahya was one of the leads, and I’m always down to see his latest project. Was Yahya’s performance as an FBI agent in Mississippi good enough to justify the price of admission, or should I have spent my time elsewhere?
A Tumultuous Time
Just two bros in Mississippi. (Paramount)
Mississippi in 1966 wasn’t exactly the best place to be if you weren’t white. Not only was there still animosity between people of different skin colours, but this was also the time when the KKK started to really get going. Needless to say, it was not a fun time to be an African American in the state, let alone advocating for equal rights. But that’s just what Vernon Dahmer is doing, as he is encouraging his local community to register to vote and make their voices heard. After a dangerous altercation with the KKK ends in despair for Dahmer’s family, the FBI get involved to figure out what happened. They send in Wayne Strider, a young FBI agent who has recently moved into the area, to uncover the mystery. But when he runs into multiple obstacles that keep impeding his investigation, drastic measures have to be taken, and a contractor is brought in. Can Agent Strider work with the FBI’s hired help, the Brooklyn mob enforcer Greg Scarpa, and solve the case, or will these two just not see eye-to-eye?
I found the story here fine enough, but it never fully committed to what it was trying to say. From the first act, I was led to believe that the film would tackle the civil rights issues in the South and how the KKK was a constant danger. But after that first act, most of those ideas fall by the wayside outside of a handful of moments where the film reminds us that “racism is bad” (no shit). Instead, the film focuses more on the relationship between Strider and Scarpa, and how their different methods of solving the case clash. This does lead to some interesting character moments, but the potential this story had was squandered as a result. That’s not to say the messages disappear completely, since they are still fundamental to how the story plays out; I was just hoping the film would have made more effort to dive deeper into the issues it presented at the beginning.
Bring In The Professionals
A trip around town. (Paramount)
As I mentioned earlier, I was interested in seeing this film the moment I saw that Yahya was one of the leads, and he did pretty well with what he was given as Agent Strider. The character did remind me of your stereotypical government investigator in a rural town, but he does provide some charm in his performance to make Strider seem more fleshed out. I did find his arc a bit predictable and oddly paced, with major changes happening in quick succession, but that’s what you have to do with an hour-and-47-minute runtime. I would’ve liked more scenes with Strider and his wife Alison, played by Nicole Beharie. Her performance was also pretty good, but her character felt very underutilised.
The other main player in this film is Gregory Scarpa, played by Mark Wahlberg (wearing a very noticeable prosthetic nose). His performance was a highlight of the film, but I don’t know how much of that was the character’s story and how much was Wahlberg just being himself. He does a good job at playing the no-nonsense mobster who gets results, and I’m a bit disappointed there weren’t more scenes showcasing him in his element (while dragging Strider with him). In a similar vein, I’m disappointed we didn’t get more of Giancarlo Esposito as Vernon Dahmer, as he isn’t in the film for very long. Despite that, he puts in a stellar performance, and I enjoyed every second of it (I also just think he’s neat).
It’s All In The Lighting
Bat vs. person. (Paramount)
This film looks pretty decent, with some striking imagery that will stick with you for a while. The effective use of lighting and practical sets gives this film a distinct visual style that helped to give the disappointing story some extra oomph. The few times you see a burning cross also stick out, as they not only catch the eye, but let you know shit is about to go down without having to tell you directly. I also enjoyed the several interrogation scenes, as they are shot differently depending on whether Strider is involved.
There are also several action scenes in this film, and while they’re nothing to write home about, there is one thing I wanted to mention, which is that NONE OF THESE PEOPLE CAN HIT A SHOT! Seriously, I don’t think a single person in a shootout in this film gets shot. Plenty of guns are present, and there are several trigger-happy racists, yet nearly every shot missed its mark. This is honestly not that big of a deal, but it really took me out of most of the action scenes, as I was laughing at how a trained FBI agent could be missing everything. Hell, I think there was only one time when someone gets shot, and it’s when they’re strapped to a chair, and it’s at point-blank range, which is just absurd.
Surely he can’t miss this shot? (Paramount)
By Any Means is a fine enough crime thriller that has some interesting visuals and decent performances. Unfortunately, the film is held back by a story that prioritises the wrong plot threads and characters that aren’t all that engaging. I did still have some fun with the film, but I chalk that up to being a fan of Yahya and Giancarlo rather than the film’s quality. I wouldn’t be running out to see this again anytime soon, but if you end up finding it randomly on TV, it might be worth a watch.
Have you seen By Any Means? What did you think? What was your fav moment? Let us know in the comments where we can talk all things film.