Selma (2014)

Best movie of this year hands down!

As Good As It Gets

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

With a phenomenal lead performance from David Oyelowo, 'Selma (2014)' focuses upon a specific time and place within both the Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life. It's a period that isn't always focused upon but is desperately important in the history of this monumental campaign. It highlights its modern day relevance while shining a light on perhaps a slightly overlooked part of a massive chunk of the movement. The film itself is a moving and captivating one that manages to evoke the rising power of King's speeches through a fantastic script and a powerhouse central turn. It's a methodical and affecting piece that will invigorate you in a similar way that real events should have, able to move you with nothing but well-timed words. It makes for a powerful watch. 7/10

No 20th century figure looms as large as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and no film could possibly encapsulate who he was and what he did over the course of his short but powerful lifetime. But in "Selma," director Ava DuVernay and writer Paul Webb find an ideal window of time through which to explore King's influence and not as a dreamer, but as a strategist. The film examines the chess moves that took place leading up to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a critical piece of legislation that removed many of the barriers keeping African-Americans away from the voting booth. In early 1965, King (David Oyelowo) arrives in Selma after being unable to convince President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) of making swift changes to protect the black right to vote. Knowing the only way he can make change is to double dow on peaceful protest and make more headlines in the news, he begins planning with members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and ultimately challenges Alabama Gov. George Wallace (Tim Roth), risking lives in order to get the federal government to act.Emotion layers every part of "Selma," but Webb's script has a definitive focus on tactics and explores the political maneuvering behind affecting actual change. Today, we regard the Civil Rights Movement and King's methods as one of the most effective efforts to enact social and political change and "Selma" shows just how calculated - not impulsive - those methods were.At the same time, the film suggests King was riddled with doubt. The man we know to be resolute if not stubborn in his will was keenly aware of the consequences for his fellow man. Oyelowo's best work as King comes in emulating his incredible oratory skills rather than the behind-the-scenes moments, but he's compelling nonetheless and captures both the strong leadership and humanity of this legendary figure.Still, the film operates best when it explores King as strategist and the dynamics on both sides of the board trying to plot their next move. The little character moments with King and, for example, his wife, Coretta (Carmen Ejogo) don't hold as much weight or attention. On the other hand, the way King interacts with others in the movement, like the father of a young protester killed by Selma police, show King's pastoral nature and bring deep humanity to the story. Those moments, when human consequences converge with the top view of change-making are when "Selma" shines most. The film just needs more of them. DuVernay also seems like a director best suited with that kind of material. The actors carry the brunt of conveying all the dialogue-heavy gamesmanship scenes for her, but she does best with moments like in the beginning when Oprah's Annie Cooper goes to the courthouse and tries registering to vote. That scene is a mere microcosm of what's discussed in the film, but it stands out because we can relate to it and feel for the character. The analytical side and the emotional side of "Selma" seem a bit at odds with each other through most of the film, but when they come together, they make for the kind of cinematic moments you want from a prestige picture like this. "Selma" is also pretty good when one side clearly overtakes the other, but admittedly it makes for a less cohesive finished product. Nevertheless, the film honors the pivotal piece of history it portrays and the key figure at its center. ~Steven CThanks for reading! Visit Movie Muse Reviews for more

Selma does not disappoint and safely delivers its message. David Oyelowo is the spitting image of the great Martin Luther King Jr however he may not have portrayed him to the full extent. When actors take on monumental figures in history they have very big shoes to fill. Having said that he manages to pull of a nice tribute and likeness to Dr King. The supporting cast did a great job in carrying this film. The film excelled in showing the brutality towards many innocent African Americans and the inhumane behavior of law enforcement. However it felt a bit slow at times and did drag on. Some will argue how accurate the portrayal of LBJ was. Also accusations against MLK being unfaithful were never substantiated and the rumors do not match with the reality of those times. Perhaps this could have been excluded. This was a good film but it could have been a great film. The best part of the film was probably the montage of scenes at the end and actual footage shown from Selma. 7.8/10

I have heard allot of good things about Selma and I have finally seen it and it is a fantastic film. The film documents an important part of Dr martin Luther king jnrs life as he tries to get the vote for all black people. David oyelowo plays king and he was absolutely amazing in this film. He was so good that I truly believed that king was on the screen in front of my eyes and that is huge credit to this incredibly talented actor. Tom Wilkinson plays the president and he also did a great job in this film. I actually felt like his character had development and was an interesting character. Tim Roth plays a villain in this film and he did a good job in coming across as a bad guy. Everybody around the civil rights movement was great as well and connected with MLK. The story had a great development with mlk and how he was just a normal guy and that he had problems. Also seeing some bad things in this film really makes you want to root for the movement. However, there are some side plots that aren't developed that much and thus leave you asking a few questions. The script was really good with the drama involved making sense for the time. It is one of those films where the lack of humour works. The style was really good, the brutality shown feels real and it really makes you root for mlk. Overall this is a fantastic film that if your interested in the subject matter is worth a watch.