STORYLINE:  A notorious mafia hitman and a young Black FBI agent team up to investigate the murders of civil rights leaders in 1966 Mississippi.  (IMDb)

   Mlk Jr’s voting rights march was portrayed in Selma (2014).  A civil rights fight, for marriage equality, unfolded, in the true story Loving (2016).  Blackkklansman (2018) told the true story of Ron Stollworth (John David Washington), as he launched his undercover investigation into the KKK.  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg team up in the to investigate the  murders of civil rights activists, in the current release By Any Means.

    The FBI has been the subject of multiple features, across multiple decades.  There have been just as many fiction films (The FBI Story – 1959, Traitor – 2008) as there are non fiction features (All the President’s Men – 1976, J. Edgar – 2011).  While not a documentary, By Any Means is a non fiction film, about an FBI investigation. 

    The movie sets up the investigation quickly.  There is little time spent getting to know the victim.  The viewer gets to know the reason for the murder more then the victim, as a person.  The movies spends Little time introducing the investigators as well. However, audiences get to know the investigators throughout the course of the movie.  I’m doing this By Any Means jumps straight into the dramatics of the murder  investigation.

    After a rushed first act,  By Any Means finds its groove through the course of the good cop/bad cop dramatic murder investigation.  Intense moments, speed throughout, add up to a motion picture filled with dramatic tension. 

   By Any Means reminded me a lot of Spike Lee’s incredible feature Blackkklansman.  Both movies are true stores that feature a pair of racially diverse FBI agents investigating the KKK.  By Any Means fails to live up to Blackkklansman.  Mainly I hold the Spike Lee feature in high regard.  None the less once, By Any Means, finds its groove in the second act it becomes the kind of tense, dramatic thriller I enjoy.  

    By Any Means is a non fiction tense murder investigation, it takes a bit to find its feet.

     Until next time, I will see you at the movies!