Film Review: ‘Selma’
Director: Ava DuVernay
Cast: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo, Giovanni Ribisi, Alessandro Nivola, Cuba Gooding Jr, Tim Roth, Oprah Winfrey.
Age Restriction: 13 LPV
Genre: Drama, Historical
Runtime: 122 minutes
Release date: 6 February 2015
Nominated for two Oscars – including Best Picture, Selma chronicles the true-life-events of the African-American Civil Rights Movement’s attempts to ensure equal voting rights by marching from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. The film’s protagonist is none other than Civil Rights Movement leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo).
With all the accolades that Selma has received, it’s also had its fair share of snubs with the Screen Actors Guild and the Producers Guild of America failing to give the film a Best Picture nomination, while the film’s director Ava DuVernay was snubbed of an Oscar for Best Director.
By watching Selma, it’s actually clear why all the snubs have happened; the film is probably one of the weakest out of the Best Picture nominees.
Don’t get me wrong, Selma is a great film, but it has many flaws that prevent it from truly soaring. Perhaps its biggest advantage and disadvantage is its attempt to stay one hundred percent true to the event. By doing so, we get a faithful adaptation that will please historians as the film offers nothing but the truth. However, the film focuses so much on staying faithful, that most of its emphasis is on the story thereby leaving a reduced amount of character development and emotion – two elements which would’ve allowed for a balanced film.
Midway through Selma you sort of forget who the main character is as the focus shifts away from Martin Luther King to the residents of Selma as well as some of King’s fellow colleagues. This makes sense as the film is mainly about the Selma marches and is not a King biopic as the film has been marketed.
However, changing the focus of its characters may have been an exceptional decision if we knew exactly who they are, as they’re completely underdeveloped. At that point, we basically don’t have anyone carrying the film and that’s when things go awry. Despite King being the only developed character, there’s just not enough development to really make an impression.
What’s also lacking is the film’s emotional element which we only get during King’s speeches in the film and that’s it. Yes we see people fighting, dying and crying for a cause, but we don’t see the psychological trauma that goes with that. Selma also lacks the emotion to inspire and teach audiences valuable lessons as it mainly focuses on its story and that’s it.
Selma contains lots of political jargon which will turn off most moviegoers who aren’t politicians. It’s evident that this film won’t resonate well with general moviegoers due to its complexity and lack of simplicity. But those who love complex films as well as art house features will absolutely enjoy Selma.
Despite its flaws, Selma does have its fair share of good moments like the story, which is well adapted and executed with the film’s attention to detail being a major highlight because it stays true to the event and doesn’t hold back.
The film’s violent content will evoke audiences with awe and shock and that’s what’s great about Selma. It’s not afraid to be honest, and the film’s honesty is what will keep audiences glued to the screen.
David Oyelowo gives an amazing performance as Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and deserves all the recognition coming to him. Although I am quite displeased at his Oscar nomination snub as there was definitely room in there for him.
The film’s set design was well constructed and it’s nicely edited and well shot.
All in all, Selma is a well-crafted film that’s honest and faithfully adapted, but lacks character development and emotion which holds it back from being exceptional.
