Selma has probably attracted more publicity because of the perceived Oscar snubs than it would have attracted if it had garnered more nominations. Telling the story of a few months in the life of Martin Luther King and in the history of the civil rights movement during 1965, it is undeniably worthy but far from preachy or dull.
Although black people had been given the right to vote, that right was being denied to them across much of the South because of the application of legal technicalities and loopholes in the law. President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) is having to deal with the increased public opposition to the war in Vietnam and despite being largely sympathetic to the pleas of King to step in, doesn’t feel that he can do so. In order to raise awareness and increase the pressure on the president, King’s movement organises a march from a town called Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. That peaceful protest is initially brought to an end by horrific violence by the police.
I believe that the film is impossible to watch without feeling outraged, and without having a tear in your eye. The scenes of the violence on the bridge are the most powerful in the film and are assuredly handled by director Ava DuVernay. There was surprise about DuVernay not receiving an Oscar nomination, but I can understand why. The first 15 minutes or so felt a little disjointed and some of the scenes have a little too much exposition as the characters discuss their options.
However, aside from that, this is a very powerful movie featuring a terrific central performance by David Oyelowo. Giving Steve Carrell a best actor nomination for Foxcatcher rather than Oyelowo was mystifying. Whilst he holds centre stage magnificently, the supporting cast is impressive too. As well as Wilkinson, Tim Roth is convincingly scary as the slimy state governor. All the smaller characters in the civil rights group are superbly cast, particularly Wendell Pierce and, in a very touching performance, Henry G. Sanders.
Hard to watch at times, this is a potent, important movie.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10