What better way to honor Martin Luther King Day than to review a movie of one of the key moments in King’s crusade for Civil Rights. Selma has been criticized for the depiction of President Johnson as a…politician. In Robert Caro’s brilliant books on LBJ, the President knew racism in the South was a minefield. Johnson was crafting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and needed all the support he could garner. He couldn’t risk losing legislation to an ill-conceived act of support for a controversial figure like MLK. David Oyelowo should have gotten an Oscar Nomination for his performance as Dr. King. He’s convincing and powerful. The oddest aspect of Selma for me is the fact that the King Family refused to allow director Ava DuVernay to use King’s actual speeches in this movie. So DuVernay and writer Paul Webb had to come up with “approximations” of King’s famous speeches. Very odd. But, putting that aside, Selma makes a bold statement about the struggle for freedom. Go see it. GRADE: A
George, this reminds me of Richard Attenborough’s GANDHI and the common message they carry. I have read King’s sayings and speeches over the years but I have never seen a movie based on his life. I think you’d have to be a politician, and a shrewd politician at that, to catapult yourself into the White House or as head of government in any country.
Prashant, the audience at SELMA gasped as the violence played out on the screen. I was a teenager when all of this was happening. It dominated the TV screens at the time.
I think I read somewhere that MLK’s children, especially since their mother died, have been embroiled in a lot of litigation, sometimes against each other, which is very sad–although, I daresay, their childhoods must have been terribly scarred.
I don’t know how the Academy Awards program is going to address the woeful lack of color in this year’s nominations. It will certainly be an elephant in the room. “Selma” is nominated for best film, but the director and the lead actor weren’t? What made it a great movie then? Art direction?
Deb, you’re right about the lack of diversity in the Academy’s nominations. SELMA is a powerful movie. Certainly David Oyelowo as MLK should have garnered a nomination.
George, as I read the situation, King’s family didn’t actually refuse permission to the makers of SELMA to use MLK’s words; they had already sold those rights to Steven Spielberg and didn’t have them to give.
I remember seeing all this on television myself, and I remember a lot of liberal opinion at the time (Norman Mailer, for one) that LBJ dragged his heels on Civil Rights because he had a southern accent. There may be something further from the truth but it don’t come to mind off-hand.
Dan, racial politics is always complicated. LBJ was trying to get historic legislation passed in a hostile Congress while MLK was trying to achieve social change. Both men had important agendas but sometimes they didn’t coincide. I still think it was a shame that Dr. King’s actual words weren’t used in this movie.
On my list for sure.
Patti, I’ll be eager to read your review of SELMA!
I guess I’ve forgotten the huge outcry about last years best picture winner. Are those crying “snub” of the opinion that every year there must be a picture featuring people of color, including it’s actors? I thought the idea was to pick what appeared to be to best acting, regardless of race, creed, etc. The arguments I have seen are about color, not acting.
Which isn’t to say it’s not a fine film, with good acting. I just don’t think anyone was intentionally snubbed.
Rick, that’s why I’m pretty much indifferent to “awards.” They’re just a marketing device.
The trailers looked great, glad to hear it is a good film.
Carl, SELMA was a tipping-point in the Civil Rights movement. It’s captured in the film vividly.
Didn’t King have twin girls who he named Inta and Gration? He renamed them after milking some press from the stunt.
Bob, the only King daughters I know are Yolanda and Bernice.
Like you I remember seeing this all played out on television. As for Johnson all you need to do is look at the makeup of Congress in 1965. Nearly every committee was headed by a Southerner and he did not have an easy time getting them to go along.
On the other hand I have zero respect for. Sharpton and the other loud mouth blowhards. Last year 12 Years a Slave won Best Picture and Supporting Actress and there were plenty of nominees who were black, as in many years in the last decade or so. I don’t know why Selma didn’t do better but if Sharpton really marches on Hollywood I hope they re-enact the movie and turn the water hoses on him.
He is after nothing but personal attention.