Selma Review

If there was ever an appropriate time for a film like Selma to be released, it's now. With all the recent headlines of renewed racial unrest, it seems like the nation is in need of a refresher on this issue. While Ava DuVernay's biopic of MLK isn't entirely the sure-fire instant classic that some have tauted it as, it certainly is an achingly relevant study of the ongoing fight for racial equality. And it's made all the more effective by the oftentimes mesmerizing performance of David Oyelowo.

Selma isn't really a film about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. He's definitely a major part of the movie's story and message, but its scope is much more parochial than the entirety of his life. It focuses mainly on the fight made by King and his supporters to secure voting rights for the people of the southern United States in 1965. More specifically in the town of Selma, Alabama, where African Americans were heavily discriminated and denied their constitutional right to vote by their white elected officials.

By concentrating on this single event, DuVernay is able to establish her film with more dramatic conciseness. Because of this, I find it rather unfortunate that she occasionally brings the movie to a jarring halt and can never really find a consistent pace. Nonetheless, Selma's dramatic power is enough to override much of its flaws and the result is both satisfying and resonant.

The central performance by Oyelowo is terrific, and fully deserving of any award wins and nominations he will undoubtedly receive. He's able to portray King as a complex and layered individual, rather than an untouchable hero figure. He certainly has his majestic moments, mostly during the stirring speeches. But, most of the time, he's just a man that's had enough with injustice and is standing up for what he believes is right. It's a daunting role to take over, but Oyelowo does it with grace and tact.

All the supporting performances are strong as well. Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo, and Giovanni Ribisi are a few of the notables. The cast is impressive, and contains other names like Oprah Winfrey, Tim Roth, and Cuba Gooding, Jr.

There are many scenes that I found quite moving in Selma. Many of those were the aforementioned speeches given by Oyelowo, who so convincingly embodies King's persona. The last speech in particular I found incredibly powerful, and it had me leaving the theater quite inspired. Additionally, the marching scenes were well-filmed by DuVernay, and I thought they were suitably raw and intense, which resulted in them retaining the power they sought to evoke.

I did find, however, that there were a number of patches of time during the film that felt cut off from the rest of the movie. The pacing is lackluster at times, and there are many stretches of time where little to nothing really happens. I honestly did find a lot of those moments and scenes tedious and boring. They don't last too long, but there were a handful of them, most noticeably in the first act. I think Selma could have been a lot more effective had it been structured more skillfully and paced more evenly. Because in a film with scenes as gripping as some moments in Selma, these dull moments stick out like a sore thumb.

Thankfully, the film is powerful and inspiring enough in its best moments to satisfy. That being said, I think people looking for a flawless biopic in the vein of the recent 12 Years a Slave may be a little disappointed in Selma. It certainly is not flawless, and I found myself checking my watch during some of its slower parts. However, if people simply want a no-nonsense account of the peaceful protests that occurred in Selma, Alabama, this movie is perfect. Do I think it should be nominated for Best Picture? Honestly, no. If this deters you from seeing the film altogether, that's really a shame. Because Selma is definitely worth seeing for David Oyelowo's incredible performance, and the sheer dramatic power and modern relevance of its story.

B+