‘By Any Means’ is a propulsive action thriller set against the Civil Rights Movement

The briefing

Director Elegance Bratton’s 'By Any Means' pairs Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a righteous FBI agent with Mark Wahlberg as a gritty New York Mafia hitman tasked with solving the 1966 murder of Mississippi NAACP leader Vernon Dahmer Sr. The film offers a muscular, unvarnished action thriller reminiscent of 'Mississippi Burning,' blending historical racial tensions with intense cop-duo dynamics. Earning three out of four stars, the Paramount Pictures release is rated R for pervasive violence and language.