MOVIE OF THE WEEK (1/9/15): SELMA
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KEY CAST MEMBERS: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo, Tim Roth, Common, Lorraine Toussaint, Oprah Winfrey, Alessandro Nivola, Trai Byers, Giovanni Ribisi, André Holland, Jeremy Strong, Stephan James, Stan Houston, Wendell Pierce, Tara Ochs, Keith Stanfield with Martin Sheen and Dylan Baker
WRITER(S): Paul Webb
DIRECTOR(S): Ava DuVernay
WEB SITE: http://www.selmamovie.com/60 SECOND PLOT SYNOPSIS (OR AS CLOSE TO IT AS ONE CAN TRY TO MAKE): Centering around the people and events that led to the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Selma stars David Oyelowo (Red Tails, Lincoln) as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The de facto leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), King and his allies – which includes Ralph Abernathy (Colman Domingo), Andrew Young (André Holland), James Bevel (Common), Rev. Hosea Williams (Wendell Pierce) and James Orange (Omar J. Dorsey) – King is planning to stage his greatest effort to date: Securing safe voting rights for all African-American citizens. Sure, African-Americans in the South have the right to vote, but as Annie Lee Cooper (Oprah Winfrey in a subtle role) knows first hand, getting to actually vote is another story due to all the road blocks put in place by the powers that be.
Meeting with President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson), King is optimistic his cause will be given priority ... Only to discover the president has "about 101" other things he claims he has to work on first. Backed by his fellow SCLC members and wife Coretta (Carmen Ejogo), King presses on to bring his fellow African-Americans the vote despite constant threats, actual realized violence all around him and the president – as well as FBI director J. Edgar Hoover (Dylan Baker) – mistrustful of his intentions. It all ultimately leads to the creation of a plan that will allow his group to remain non-violent while drawing national attention to force President Johnson's hand: a 50 mile walk from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., right to the front steps of "segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever" proponent Governor George Wallace (Tim Roth).
The cost King and his supporters will have to pay to change that, however, is one that will be paid in countless amounts of pain, grief and – in far too many cases – death.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST?: Oprah Winfrey fans; African-Americans – especially those who were alive during the Civil Rights movement; educators; the generally enlightened
WHO WON'T – OR SHOULDN'T – LIKE THIS FILM?: Racists; Lyndon B. Johnson historians and George Wallace apologists; people who like to view the events depicted as ancient history
FINAL VERDICT – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? Selma is exactly what you might think it is going into the movie: Very serious in its tone with unexpected nuances of spirit and soul, very well-acted by Oyelowo and his fellow cast mates at large and directed sand full of moments that are highly inspiring and at others. What isn't expected, however, is the manner in which so many of the film's scenes stick with you and not because they are presented in an over-the-top or gratuitous fashion.
While there's no debating Selma is largely about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the thing that makes the film truly impactful is the way in which Ava DuVerany shows how the situation affects everyone around King. Be in the parents of a young man senselessly murdered as indirect-but-not-really result of the orders of Wallace, people around the country who came to join the SCLC's cause or the conflict between the group and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) while working to achieve the same goal, Selma dives deep into the intricate politics of a major event in American history. The stakes are high for every player involved and Selma shows there was more to the Civil Rights Movement than random murder, a few marches and a couple of really well known speeches.
From the tension King felt in his own household to the likes of dealing with detractors internally and externally alike, you truly get a sense of the magnitude of not only what he and his supporters were trying to do, but the toll it took on him personally. Again, that's not to say Selma only pays attention to its main character – the struggles, convictions and impact of each player is presented in a organized, cohesive fashion so that each adds a layer to the story. In doing so, DuVernay crafts a tale that shows how the situation was larger than any one individual but at the same time needed each and every individual possibly to rectify the situation. While some have been critical of both the film's portrayal of President Johnson and its rather liberal (no pun intended) usage of historical events, the manner in which they are presented and their impact is certain.
Filled with so many subtle incidents that today might seem unfathomable, Selma does not only a good job of bringing tears to your eyes but also passion to anyone seeking inspiration of the need to be dedicated to a just cause, whatever it may be. And considering Selma is largely centered around a man – as portrayed by actor delivering what is the finest performance of his career to date – who famously dreamed of bringing everyone together, cinematically speaking, one could say his dream is no longer deferred.
WHO WON'T – OR SHOULDN'T – LIKE THIS FILM?: Racists; Lyndon B. Johnson historians and George Wallace apologists; people who like to view the events depicted as ancient history
FINAL VERDICT – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? Selma is exactly what you might think it is going into the movie: Very serious in its tone with unexpected nuances of spirit and soul, very well-acted by Oyelowo and his fellow cast mates at large and directed sand full of moments that are highly inspiring and at others. What isn't expected, however, is the manner in which so many of the film's scenes stick with you and not because they are presented in an over-the-top or gratuitous fashion.
While there's no debating Selma is largely about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the thing that makes the film truly impactful is the way in which Ava DuVerany shows how the situation affects everyone around King. Be in the parents of a young man senselessly murdered as indirect-but-not-really result of the orders of Wallace, people around the country who came to join the SCLC's cause or the conflict between the group and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) while working to achieve the same goal, Selma dives deep into the intricate politics of a major event in American history. The stakes are high for every player involved and Selma shows there was more to the Civil Rights Movement than random murder, a few marches and a couple of really well known speeches.
From the tension King felt in his own household to the likes of dealing with detractors internally and externally alike, you truly get a sense of the magnitude of not only what he and his supporters were trying to do, but the toll it took on him personally. Again, that's not to say Selma only pays attention to its main character – the struggles, convictions and impact of each player is presented in a organized, cohesive fashion so that each adds a layer to the story. In doing so, DuVernay crafts a tale that shows how the situation was larger than any one individual but at the same time needed each and every individual possibly to rectify the situation. While some have been critical of both the film's portrayal of President Johnson and its rather liberal (no pun intended) usage of historical events, the manner in which they are presented and their impact is certain.
Filled with so many subtle incidents that today might seem unfathomable, Selma does not only a good job of bringing tears to your eyes but also passion to anyone seeking inspiration of the need to be dedicated to a just cause, whatever it may be. And considering Selma is largely centered around a man – as portrayed by actor delivering what is the finest performance of his career to date – who famously dreamed of bringing everyone together, cinematically speaking, one could say his dream is no longer deferred.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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