By Any Means
review by Bobby Blakey
Mark Wahlberg has taken roles in a wide variety of genres, often bringing a tough guy persona, but his latest film By Any Means is leaning into it. The film, based on a true story stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nicole Beharie, Josh Lucas LisaGay Hamilton, LaChanze, Ethan Embry with David Strathairn and Giancarlo Esposito from director Elegance Bratton. Could this film bring something so real, it’s hard to believe or will the hate be too much to overcome?
By Any Means follows a volatile partnership between a hardened mafia hitman and a young Black FBI agent as they are forced into an uneasy alliance to track down those responsible for the killing of civil rights leaders, uncovering a conspiracy that tests the limits of justice, loyalty, and survival.
I love anything involving the Mob in any fashion, but even more so when you thrust in some unexpected true elements too it. We have heard stories of police and crime families working together, but this one infused in the civil rights and Klan infection was something even more interesting. One thing that is so sad and effective when dealing with this time is just the unnecessary hate on display. I know it is of the time, but it’s still got too many elements that are relevant today that we should be passed at this point.
The story moves at a good pace to make sure we not only get invested in Abdul-Mateen II and Wahlberg but every other character that will be affected. This is an element that a lot of films tend to just kill people or have them affected without any real connection. Here they let them all have just enough moments, good and bad, to make their outcome even more impactful.
The cast are all good, but it’s Abdul-Mateen II and Wahlberg who carry the film. They are fantastic together and Wahlberg looks to be having the time of his life in the role. I thought the fake nose might get distracting, but it works and his little
nuances make him so fun to watch. You can’t help but like the guy but then get reminded of how horrible of a person he is. There is a more serious tone of the buddy action comedy without it ever leaning too far into the silly stuff. It never outweighs the drama of the horrific crimes they are dealing with and in the end it works.
There are so many great moments here, but I was really looking forward to seeing how they would close out the case. With a favorite of mine Ethan Embry taking on such a dark role I was wanting more of him and a better finale. The ending isn’t bad, but after the violent satisfying sequence leading to closing this out, I guess I expected a finite ending. Sadly, it I a real life situation and when dealing with these kinds of crimes we all know they never resolved fairly. It does still give us a proper ending to the real-life aftermath, that is also frustrating in the history of how it ultimately played out but lets you know where it all stood.
In the end there are elements I would have loved to see fleshed out more and some other people getting what they deserved but still gave me what I had hoped for. Decide for yourself and check out By Any Means in theaters now from Paramount.