A chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.
Director:
Ava DuVernayWriter:
Paul WebbStars:
David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tim Roth |Storyline
The unforgettable true story chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay's "Selma" tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.User Reviews
Poor Selma. This Oscar
season is quite unsatisfying without being able to see Selma live up to
its full potential had a proper awards campaign taken place. While I
expected it to still do well with the Academy, instead it makes an
appearance similar to Pride at the Golden Globes. Sitting (almost) alone
in the Picture category representing a minority. At least it seems
it'll win Best Song. There's two aspects that sorely deserved a
nomination, with all due respect to their peers. One is David Oyelowo's
performance as Martin Luther King Jr., who nails his articulate speeches
with an arresting passion. Sparks fly in his hands and you can't take
your eyes off him. The second is Ava DuVernay's direction, whose
delicacy, intelligence, and gravitas shine on screen. I marvel at how
she wrote those original speeches yet still demonstrates a remarkable
restraint. Selma takes itself deadly seriously, there's not a lick of
humour to be found, and any break from documenting its events are often
downbeat character moments.
There's a reason - the critics weren't kidding when they said that Selma feels like a mirror to society today with the violence and unrest. It's almost disturbing, but it resonates stronger than I ever expected. The film may be very dry, but every time it starts to lull it grabs you back, often in Oyelowo's hands. The most rousing moments of the film are when people are joining arms to do something together. Bradford Young's cinematography is the aspect that really holds it together. He relishes in the darkness, pushes objects to the edge of the frame, and holds so much tension in the air. At the very least, he makes this film such expertly crafted cinema. However, I would've liked to have seen King withstand a bit more damage. He may be courageous but it's difficult to have a truly compelling protagonist without taking some punches themselves. Perhaps Selma is too broad for its own good. It may not incite a fire in me like the filmmakers have, but I certainly admire the filmmaking. Lots of bright futures in this cast and crew.
There's a reason - the critics weren't kidding when they said that Selma feels like a mirror to society today with the violence and unrest. It's almost disturbing, but it resonates stronger than I ever expected. The film may be very dry, but every time it starts to lull it grabs you back, often in Oyelowo's hands. The most rousing moments of the film are when people are joining arms to do something together. Bradford Young's cinematography is the aspect that really holds it together. He relishes in the darkness, pushes objects to the edge of the frame, and holds so much tension in the air. At the very least, he makes this film such expertly crafted cinema. However, I would've liked to have seen King withstand a bit more damage. He may be courageous but it's difficult to have a truly compelling protagonist without taking some punches themselves. Perhaps Selma is too broad for its own good. It may not incite a fire in me like the filmmakers have, but I certainly admire the filmmaking. Lots of bright futures in this cast and crew.
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