Selma Movie Review

"Those who have gone before us say "no more". No more! NO MORE! That means protest! That means march! That means disturb the peace! That means jail! That means risk! That is hard!"

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

From early childhood we learn about the hero that is Martin Luther King Jr. and every year we observe a day in his name. We honor everything he lived and subsequently died for. I was familiar with his struggle as most Americans are and if done right I knew this movie could be amazing and motivational. It was that and much, much more. The film was directed by Ava DuVernay and it starred David Oyelowo who I had lots of faith in to tackle this massive undertaking. There was also a great ensemble of supporting cast that just strengthened the film even more.

Selma is a story of a man who would not take no for answer, not even from the president of the United States. The film mainly takes place in 1965, after JFK's assassination and after the Civil Rights Act of 1960 was passed. African Americans technically had the right to vote but it was still made nearly impossible for them to register in the South, brought upon by systematic racism. The president in office was LBJ who was played by Tom Wilkinson and played a very interesting part in this story. He seemed to only want to help Dr. King when it benefited him as well. One reason why I loved this film so much was because it focused on an important event and built up to it in an efficient way. The narrative wasn't all over the place and it was clear that DuVernay had a very clear direction in which she was taking the film. Dr. King spent years and years working towards equality for African Americans, but Selma concentrated on this important march from Selma to Montgomery.

Just like many other films that take place during the civil rights movement, I expected there to be a certain level of violence, which there was. During the first attempt to march from Selma to Montgomery the local police force brutally beat the peaceful protesters. They threw smoke into the crowds and came in on horses, hitting the protesters inhumanely. Some were beat to death while other suffered sever injuries. People of all ages marched with Dr. King and they were all attacked in the same way. It was a very intense scene that showed just how strong the divide and hatred was in Alabama and it was scary. The rest of the film really builds on the characters we're introduced to and how motivated some of them were. They were willing to put their lives on the line to take what was theirs and it was very inspiring. Another interesting part of the film was how they portrayed Dr. Kings marriage. His wife Coretta, played by Carmen Ejogo, was also a very strong figure. She was pillar on which Dr. King leaned on and lots of times even a voice of reason. It's clear that she had a very important role in the civil rightsmovement both directly in indirectly. But with such strong personalities and such large goals in mind, their family life often suffered. She feared for his life and they would frequently receive death threats targeting them as well as their two children. It was a struggle on all fronts to say the least.

Selma took an important event in our nations history during the civil rights movement and put it on center stage for everyone to see. It's great to educate both the young and the old of the struggle of the people who came before us, and our country is currently in a very turbulent time where films like this could possibly do some real good. I'd like to thank Ava DuVernay for bringing such an important and amazing story to the big screen about one of the bravest people in our history. It's also important remember that Dr. King didn't do it alone. He had the help of millions of Americans of every race, religion, and denomination who came together in the face of injustice. Countless innocent people lost their lives and loved ones along the way but it was a fight that they believed was worth the risk. I give Selma a 10 out of 10 because there is simply not much to dislike about this film. It was moving and inspirational while still managing to be an entertaining film that kept you hooked the whole way through.