Review of Selma (2014) by Corey N — 07 Feb 2015

After seeing Selma i've finally concluded my annual goal to view all of the best picture nominee's of 2014. In doing so I find myself torn about this movie. It's not that I don't feel it deserves a best pic nod, I definitely do! It's more that I can't help but comparing it to last years best pic nominee and winner "12 Years A Slave".

While they are different films, based on different time periods, etc. They both deal or dealt with an underlying issue in america for the time, especially civil rights, racism and the treatment of african americans in general.

While Selma does justice to the history of Martin Luther King and his resolve, it didn't drive home with me the wretched amount of suffering and abuse that 12 Years A Slave did. This is probably partly on purpose as Martin Luther Kings story is one of peaceful protest and resolve which is clearly evident in this film while 12 Years A Slave is more about the brutality of slaves so again, it's a tough comparison.

In short, I just feel 12 Years A Slave was a better movie overall dealing with racial tension and human rights in general. Please understand, it is clearly evident in Selma as well that African Americans have and had suffered a great deal, especially at the hand of whites but it didn't evoke in me the overall struggle African Americans have had from the beginning.

Now don't get me wrong. There are a couple scenes in this movie that make you want to turn away or leave such a sick feeling in your stomach that it almost leaves you disgusted to be a descendant of whites during those times.

The real shocker is that much of this occurred only 50 years ago! It's sad to think we were so far from equality such a short time ago. In leaving these comparisons behind Selma was a brilliantly acted movie which we all enjoyed.

David Oyelowo transformed into the perfect embodiment of Martin Luther King. Common showing up was also a nice surprise. While his role was rather small, I think he's an under appreciated actor. The movie is a little over two hours long as it is but I felt as though it could have been fleshed out a little more.

I would have enjoyed learning more About Dr. Kings childhood or how/where his rise to civil rights leader started and where those personal feelings evolved from. While the film was solely about Selma and the march, I just feel it would have been a more complete story.

Hopefully this will be addressed in a future film. I feel the first time director was great as well. What a superb job for a feature film first! Again, my only gripe was that it seemed a bit rushed. Overall I think the movie was a good portrayal of that specific event.

Dr. King was a very smart man gifted and leader. Although the struggle continues to some degree today, he not only improved conditions for African Americans but he may have also improved conditions for all Americans in general.

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