David Oyelowo stars as Martin Luther King Jr. in this historical drama set during the height of the American civil-rights movement, and depicting the marches from Selma, AL, to the state capital of Montgomery to secure voting rights for black people. Brad Pitt and Oprah Winfrey produce and Ava DuVernay (I Will Follow, Middle of Nowhere) directs. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Ava DuVernay
Cast: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Cuba
Gooding, Jr., Carmen Ejogo, Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi
Release Date: Dec
25, 2014
Rated PG-13 for Brief Strong Language, A Suggestive
Moment, Disturbing Thematic Material and Violence
Runtime: 2 hr. 8 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
Selma is an
excellent film which captures the 60’s civil rights movement but feels timely
at the same time. Ava DuVernay’s
direction, helped by some beautiful and evocative cinematography, provides
immediacy to the entire story. As a
result the film rarely drags even though there are a few moments where it could
have been trimmed, just a tad. At the
center of it all is a mesmerizing David Oyelowo who delivers a career making
performance as King. Oyelowo captures
King’s voice inflections perfectly but it’s more than just mimicry. The script gives us a King that’s very human
and Oyelowo brings that to the screen perfectly. We see the passion, some of the failings and
pain King went through along with some wonderfully engrossing reenactments of
famous speeches. The rest of the cast
was strong with nary a weak link in the cast even though I’d love to have seen
a bit more of King’s relationship with his wife, played well by Carmen
Ejogo. Selma
is a sure fire awards candidate, it’s also the type of film that may make your
eyes well up on more than a few occasions.
A-
