Selma (2014)

What happens when a man stands up and says, "enough is enough"?

Today is the perfect day to experience one of the most powerful and moving biographical films ever made. SELMA is a perfectly crafted look at a turbulent time in our country's history that still sadly resonates half a century later.

David Oyelowo is incredibly good as Dr. Martin Luther King, portraying the man's passion, spirit and weaknesses with equal skill. Oyelowo's performance is equal to Daniel Day Lewis's turn as "Lincoln" and its startling he wasn't nominated for Best Actor with this role. He is amazing.

The film depicts Dr. King's struggle to gain voting rights in Alabama in 1965. While Black Americans made up 55% of the population of the state at the time, less than 2% could vote due to racism and corrupt practices in the registrar's office.

This repression takes place under the watchful eyes of Governor George Wallace (Tim Roth), the violent local sheriff and the growing impatience of President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson).

By focusing on a pivotal three-month period in the history of civil rights, just as "Lincoln" did with a small time frame in history around slavery legislation, the film is able to dig deeper into the details and share shockingly sad and troubling historical facts that bring the issues to life and empower them with true consequence.

As King struggles to lead strictly non-violent protests, he is met with pressure within his own community for revenge on local regimes that treat their population with no human regard.

SELMA introduces you to real people that you grow to care about. You feel their pain and horror as the backward hate of racism takes their blood and sometimes their lives, but never their passion for real change.

Carmen Ejego is very good as Coretta Scott King, rap star Common is excellent as James Bevel, Giovanni Ribisi is strong as LJB's right hand man, Lee White and Oprah Winfrey brings power to her small role as a woman determined to vote that serves as our conduit into those struggles in the mid sixties.

The cast is filled with surprise cameos of major actors in roles, delivering a who's who of American acting talent to the film, even though all four leads are actually from the UK!

Paul Webb provides a smart, involving screenplay and Director Ana Duvernay (again shamefully not nominated, while the film WAS for Best Picture) crafts a moving, emotionally powerful tribute to King, his mission and the historic march from Selma to Montgomery.

While they changed the world in 1965, we clearly have more work to do 50 years later. This powerful film is a tribute to those of all colors that stood up and said "No. Enough is Enough".

Oyelowo's performance is one of the best I've ever seen. He campaigned for 7 years for the film and we're all lucky that he earned the role. He's a powerhouse that truly connects at a deep level on these important issues, offering a fitting tribute to King. The injustices witnessed in this film are jaw dropping, but Oyelowo gives them even more human weight through his inspired performance.

Come to watch the man act and leave moved by this beautiful film. SELMA gets a richly deserved A+ and a powerful spot in my all-time Top 100 films.