By Any Means Review
Sometimes, if one’s to get what they want, they have to do something about it. That’s simply the main idea of the Elegance Bratton-directed and Mark Wahlberg-produced thriller, By Any Means. Although this film has got big names attached to it, it does feel like it’s been slightly swept under the rug. That may be because of the intense nature of the actual figures the film bases its story on in addition to the time period it takes place in. Given how By Any Means tackles 1960s southern Americana, it means that its political and cultural themes are driven to certain extremes. That said, Bratton and his team seem to do their best to create a compelling story despite taking a few liberties.
Loosely based on Gregory Scarpa and FBI agent Lindley DeVecchio’s partnership, By Any Means finds Wayne Strider (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) doing his best to get by. He’s not put on any cases and is left in the dust by his peers until he discovers that civil rights leaders are being killed. Although Wayne’s superiors won’t let him do it alone, they come up with a compromise by hiring hitman-turned-informant Gregory Scarp (Mark Wahlberg). The two unlikely figures are forced to team up, but what starts as a troubled situationship turns into a peculiar partnership that takes Wayne into darker places he’s never been to.
To start off, Abdul-Mateen truly gives another well-rounded performance as the hesitant, yet capable, Wayne Strider. The way that Abdul-Mateen subtly emphasizes Wayne’s desire for wanting more at the start really makes that emotional drive feel real. Yet, the vision from Bratton and writer Sascha Penn allows Wayne’s inner moral conflict to stick with viewers in the first act. He doesn’t want to be brutal because he considers it to be wrong, but he also doesn’t have that pillar he can rely on until Gregory gets into the picture. Wahlberg’s Gregory is about as stereotypical as you can get with any character trying to portray a mafia member. That said, Wahlberg is able to give that ’60s Italian charm whenever the two have back-and-forths, whether that be on the road or just scouting. Plus, getting to see a different cut of criminal, through Gregory, interacting with the less-than-good KKK members adds a bit of hilarity.
Aside from Abdul-Mateen and Wahlberg, By Any Means’ cast members are pretty good in their roles. Particularly, Nicole Beharie as Wayne’s wife adds a nice familial layer to the already-complicated circumstances Wayne finds himself in. Beharie gives Wayne a much needed urgency, yet sympathy for her husband as she commits herself to the protests of black Americans despite Wayne’s pleas. There’s a scene between the two that gives a heartfelt nudge as they discuss being in all of this together that’s slightly resonant. Another character that almost works is civil rights leader Vernon Dahmer, played by Giancarlo Esposito. Although not much time is spent on him due to certain events, his purpose in the story does create that basis. Unfortunately, the use of Dahmer’s presence is mired in a controversy involving his real-life family, which does give much needed insight.
Wayne and Gregory’s partnership almost makes By Any Means a grittier version of 2018’s Green Book, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. Although both films explore the dynamics of race relations through ’60s America, Bratton’s adaptation takes a more bleaker approach. Here, Wayne’s undertaking to reveal a darker, vengeful part of himself becomes the focus as with each encounter the duo finds with their witness, Abdul-Mateen does his best to show Wayne’s reservations. It’s a gradual progression: at the start, there’s a specific police encounter where Wayne really hesitates to do what’s necessary, but by the climax, you really believe he’s fully embodied a new shade of himself.
Wayne gets involved when Gregory gets out of hand, but spectates with a looming attitude, shadowing behind Gregory’s more upfront presence. It’s the way that Bratton and Penn strategically put Wayne in those moments that make By Any Means’ emotional core impactful. However, when Wayne finally gets involved, he’s the one that faces the consequences because of that collision of beliefs. At times, the script does want to explore how Wayne’s actions and inactions affect his relationship with these bureaucracies. Yet, due to the core focus placed on Wayne and Gregory’s investigation, it almost feels sidelined by the end of the film. Nonetheless, Bratton is able to maintain a cohesive and intriguing narrative all throughout.
By Any Means is intensely grounded in the grim reality of today’s world, which is what Bratton capitalizes on with his brutal take on Gregory Scarpa and Lindley DeVecchio’s partnership. Yahya Abdul-Mateen and Mark Wahlberg’s performances carry this thriller as their characters’ shaky relationship satisfyingly contributes to a larger, more nuanced, conversation that needs to be discussed.
Rating: ★★★½
By Any Means releases is now playing in theaters.
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic with a Bachelor’s of Science with minors in Digital Media & Journalism. When not running The Reel Roller, Chris writes reviews and breakdowns on all things film and TV for outlets including Nerdtropolis, Tell-Tale TV, Eulalie Magazine, and more. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.