The opening of the film is sublime. We see King (David Oyelowo) and his wife, Coretta (Carmen Ejogo) as they prepare for the Nobel Prizes where he is to receive the prize for Peace. No sooner has he accepted than we see the results of a church bombing in Birmingham that leaves 4 little girls dead. Anger has been brewing in the south for some time now, and this is the catalyst that drives the cause to Selma. Amidst so many racial prejudices and injustices, King and his peaceful protesters demand the White House pass legislation to protect black voters and give them the vote. In a town that is 90% black, only 2% are even registered to vote.
We have an introduction to the relationship between King and President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) and the troubles they encounter: King demands change now, while Johnson has other fish to fry. While the President promises to dig into the matter in the coming months, King likewise promises to make front page news on papers across America.
The set up of the film is sublime, and we learn a lot about characters and setting in a quick amount of time. The many issues and problems the protestors encounter and must overcome are spelled out immediately upon King's arrival to Selma, Alabama, leaving the audience with little else than to witness both the plights and struggles of these black citizens.
David Oyelowo is absolutely brilliant as Martin Luther King, and it's a role that is almost baffling to see snubbed at the Oscars. Through both demeanor and body language, there is virtually no differentiation between the actor and the man, and with his many speeches given from church pulpits to court house steps, we understand why someone like King could rally so many to his cause and lead men and women like no one has since. We saw Oyelowo appear in the less-than-fantastic "The Butler" just last year, but in Selma, this is a breakout role that knocks it out of the park.
Our director, Ava DuVernay, also tackles the subject with a head-on approach and a detailed style. The focus in the screenplay (clunky as it is at times) is handled as well as possible, and there are scenes that are assembled so wonderfully that they leave you both white-knuckled and spellbound. With a better script, there is no doubt this film could have been magnificent. Oftentimes, the film seems to drag on, and instead of following a clear narrative flow, it merely seems to fill the time in between brutal scenes and heart-wrenching speeches. Yes, it's a great movie in the dramatic moments, but in quiet moments of dialogue, it leaves much to be desired.
Aside from my other few annoyances (an original score that is as sloppy as it is confusing, for one), Selma is surely one of the year's more ambitious films, and a film that is important to see both as a piece of history and as a part of today's culture. There is some controversy surrounding the characterizations of the President as being less-than-willing to help the cause, but that's easy to forgive. As a film, there are no requirements to be historically accurate 100% of the time. Even King's speeches throughout the film are entirely fabrications of the filmmakers (as his real speeches have been copyrighted). What matters is the heart of the story, and that is justice for all. As one character recites the Preamble of the Constitution in the film, you listen to the words and can't help but think of how forward-thinking our Founding Fathers were. It's a shame it's taken us so long to catch up.
(Awards potential: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Oyelowo), Best Supporting Actress (Ejogo), Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Original Song)
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