Selma

I have to say that of the plethora of films 'based on a true story' one of the best I've seen is that of "Selma". Many stories out there, important and significant as they were, seemed to pale in comparison as this story that changed history forever. Question: would Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. be as proud of this retelling of his efforts as we should be?

This unforgettable true story chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery crossing the Edmund Pettus bridge culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. This film starts with segregation becoming unlawful and it tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary, Dr. King Jr., his wife, Coretta (Carmen Ejogo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.

Others to round out the cast are Giovanni Ribisi as Lee White, President Johnson's advisor, Lorraine Toussaint as Amelia Boynton, Andre Holland as Andrew Young, Stephan James as John Lewis, Trai Byers as James Forman, Oprah Winfrey as Annie Lee Cooper, Tim Roth as Gov. George Wallace, Tessa Thompson as Diane Nash, assistant to King, Dylan Baker as J. Edgar Hoover, Ledisi Young as Mahalia Jackson, Keith Stanfield as Jimmie Lee Jackson, Henry G. Sanders as Cager Lee, Stan Houston as Sheriff Jim Clark and Cuba Gooding Jr. as Fred Gray.

This was incredibly directed with stark reality and true pathos by Ava DuVernay ("This Is the Life" (Documentary) '08, "I Will Follow" '10, "Middle of Nowhere" '12) plus TV. She doesn't have a tremendous amount of directing experience under her belt, but she will assuredly receive more work in the very near future. It was equally well written by Paul Webb who has no other experience at all which is very difficult to swallow due to the shear talent of this man. Both DuVernay and Webb will undoubtedly receive Oscar nods as will Oyelowo as Dr. King Jr. His performance was near perfection, and he even looked uncannily like King himself. Another jewel to the crown in this production is that of cinematographer Bradford Young ("Mother of George" '13, "Ain't Them Bodies Saints" '13, "Vara: A Blessing" '13, "Pawn Sacrifice" '14, A Most Violent Year" '14). He is a photographer that has a bright future ahead, because this and "Ain't Them Bodies Saints were both shot beautifully and this could receive a nod also come Oscar time.

Certainly if you were moved by "12 Years a Slave" or "The Butler", this will move you as well. In fact, as with "Lincoln", this will be shown in schools in the future as a history lesson, because this is a film all should see to remind us that all are equal and no one is better than anyone else.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                            Rated: PG-13                                128mins.