Selma
SELMA (15)
D: Ava DuVernay
Paramount/Pathé/Plan B/Cloud Eight/Harpo (Christian Colson,
Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner & Jeremy Kleiner)
US 2014
128 mins
Historical/Drama
W: Paul Webb
DP: Bradford Young
Ed: Spencer Averick
Mus: Jason Moran
David Oyelowo (Martin Luther King), Tom Wilkinson
(Lyndon B. Johnson), Carmen Ejogo (Coretta Scott King), Tim Roth (Gov. George Wallace), Giovanni Ribisi (Lee C. White), Oprah Winfrey (Annie Lee Cooper)
First off, I'm going to state that David Oyelowo is excellent
in this with his portrayal of Martin Luther King, Jr., and probably should received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
There's no "I have a dream" speech and this is not a biopic,
rather it's a dramatic recreation of the 1965 march from Selma, Alabama to the state capital of Montgomery in favour of the right for voting equality in America, met with violent opposition by
Klansmen in the racially-oppressed state.
This ensemble piece also sees fine performances from Tom
Wilkinson as then-president Lyndon B. Johnson, juggling the contentious tasks of keeping the peace and the civil rights issues, as well as Carmen Ejogo, who does a very good job with the
underwritten role as King's wife.
For those who know the story of American segregation, this
story won't tell you anything you don't already know, and is presented as a schoolbook history rather than an in-depth study of the actual events.
Released very soon after 12 Years A Slave, the drama dipped
under the radar somewhat, but was still recognised as one of the best films of the year by the Academy Awards, who shortlisted it as a Best Picture nominee.
8/10
