This film isolates an event as an example of the bigger picture...

Rating: 9/10 (9 February 2015)

Perhaps it shows my broad lack of knowledge about the Civil Rights movement in America, but if I were to make a biopic of Martin Luther King, it would probably contain two important events – the famous "I Have a Dream" speech, and his eventual assassination. "Selma" contains neither of those things, and to be honest I was extremely glad that it didn't. Apart from the fact that "I Have a Dream" is so important and influential that perhaps no other man should perform it, the film succeeds in showing us a single event in the man's career, rather than the entire thing. It isolates this event as an example of his influence and determination, and succeeds as a snapshot which we can easily extrapolate to get a wider idea of the difficulties of the time.
In the American South, black people are still unable to vote, despite it being their legal right to do so – they are constantly barred by white officials who make up ridiculous rules so that they can't register. Despite the movement coming on so far, there is still so much work to do, and Martin Luther King is not giving up. He has numerous tense meetings with President Lyndon B. Johnson in which he attempts to get what he wants, but the President isn't budging. In King's mind, there is only one thing to do – travel to Selma, a small town in Alabama, to make an example of how black people are treated. King always knew how to influence people in non-violent ways. He stages marches which he knows will end with black people being treated violently, so that the horrific and brutal scenes are on the front of the national newspapers every single morning.
King's tactics are admirable, and it is so incredible to see the extent to which he refuses to be violent or destructive, and always remains extremely calm. The FBI try to break up his relationship with his wife, and there are very moving scenes where the tension between the two of them becomes almost too much, but they are able to stay together despite all of this. In choosing the events in Selma as a case study, we get a glimpse of the much wider picture: not every black person agreed with King's methods (including Malcolm X, who later sided with them); the white population were extremely divided, but many came out in person to support; and most importantly, King was one of the greatest orators of the 20th century. We are shown a few of his sermons at the church in Selma, and the way he speaks is truly inspirational. In this, we are also shown the quality of David Oyelowo's performance, which is so moving and powerful, since he truly believes in what he is saying, and is not just reciting words on a script.
The supporting cast of the film is also extremely strong, with special mention going to Carmen Ejogo as Coretta King for her excellent portrayal of their marital struggles. It doesn't take itself too seriously at times, and it's not at all a depressing two hours, despite knowing when it needs to shock. The fact that it only takes place in a short period of time means that it rarely drags, and it constantly wears its message on its sleeve. As well as all of this, it is visually extremely satisfying, with excellent use of imagery and some very beautiful shots. The framing of King's speeches in the church, as an example, is truly perfect.
It's a huge shame that Oyelowo doesn't have an Oscar nomination. It is easy to compare this to "12 Years a Slave" since both tackle ideas about race, and in many ways this is a stronger film. Both tackle ideas about resilience and strength of mind, but this makes you care so personally for a much broader range of characters. You root for them throughout, and the final scenes honestly brought me extremely close to tears. It's one of the most powerful films I've seen in a long time, and is a worthy representation of a truly great man.