A movie truly worthy of multi-awards but largely ignored by white, wealthy Americans of a certain age.

Rating: 10/10 (7 April 2016)

At long last a movie worthy of Oscar nominations. Yet it was totally ignored by the BAFTAS and only received two Golden Globes nominations, (neither of which it won), and only a single major Oscar nomination, but at least we can be grateful it was for 'best movie'. Out of all the films I saw for the 2014 Oscar nominations, Selma should have won the 'Best Movie', hands down, as should Selma's director, and lead actors in the best acting categories.
Selma is the story of a three-month period in 1965 when Martin Luther King campaigned to secure equal voting rights for blacks by making an epic, non-violent, but 'illegal' march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.
The movie is labelled a bio-pic – but is it really?
To me, a bio-pic tells the story of someone's' life – or least a good part of a person's life. A three month period in someone's life – however momentous, is more the story of a true event than the story of a life, which in the case of King's life, included numerous other momentous events. But let's not get hung up on semantics.
I was nineteen years old in 1965, and I still recall the event which was covered widely by the British media.
I believe that everyone from Britain and the United States who cares about this troubled world we live in today, should see Selma, as indeed they should see 12 Years a Slave, the Oscar winner in 2013.
Why?
Because we in Britain were prime participants in the abominable slave trade that brought millions of Africans to America in the first place, and because Americans can see how, within living memory, blacks were still being treated as inferior human beings and were miss-treated, tortured and even killed with impunity
We should keep this fact in the back our minds when we look at the horrors of the 21st Century, in Syria, Iraq, Nigeria and elsewhere. Not so long ago, we used to do some pretty inhuman things to our fellow human beings ourselves. Maybe that knowledge will help us to understand that there always have been – and always will be – very evil people in this world who, if left to their own devices, will perpetrate unspeakable acts of violence to their fellow men. The Nazis killed 6 million Jews less than 90 years ago and the 'killing fields' of Biafra, Rwanda, Bosnia and so many more abominations have occurred in even more recent times.
Yes, we should do well do dwell on man's inhumanity to man.
It seems incredible that during my own lifetime, blacks in America were denied basic equal rights; banned from 'white' hotels, denied entrance to 'white' schools and, critically, were denied the vote in many southern States. They were also regularly strung up and hanged by the Klu Klux Klan.
Martin Luther King's historic march from Selma to Montgomery was an event that was initially stopped in its tracks by ruthless state troopers. They did this by charging at the would-be marchers on horseback; by beating them mercilessly with clubs, and even shooting and killing them.
When, in its third attempt, the march finally succeeded in taking place, it was one of the 20th century's most momentous and iconic happenings. It resulted in the then US President, Lyndon B Johnson, passing a bill that removed all voting barriers for blacks.
American readers may think that I only support movies with predominantly British cast, but nothing could be further from the truth. Selma was made by first-time feature-length film director, Ava DuVernay'; a female, black American. She is clearly the major mover and inspiration for this film and what a wonderful job she has made of it.
As indeed does the British Actor David Oyelowo as King; as does British actor Carmen Ejogo as King's wife; as does British actor Tom Wilkinson as LBJ; as does British actor Tim Roth as Governor George Wallace. All British, but all so American in their roles.
Why DuVernay didn't cast Americans in these roles, I can only guess at, but it doesn't really matter.
For me, not only should DuVernay have been nominated for best director, but so should have all the above-listed actors in their respective acting categories. Tim Roth as George Wallace is a stunning revelation trust me.
I am glad to see that the song 'Glory' is up for best song, as it is a soaring and inspirational melody – but even that was ignored by BAFTA.
Shame on the BAFTA and Oscar Academies! What is wrong with you? Surely this lack of nominations isn't all about 'race' raising its ugly head again is it? I read somewhere that the Oscar academy was turned off Selma when the left-leaning Democrats, (which comprise a majority of the voting academy), put it out that the film did not show one of their favourite Democratic Presidents, LBJ, in a very flattering light.
Considering how Hollywood routinely twists real life events to suit their own ends, this is utter hypocrisy on a grand scale. Never mind that the film is about one America's all-time heroes, ignore it because it casts a few aspersions on a long dead, white, Democratic President.
Well, I guess many of these faded stars from yesteryear who make up the academy voters are all as egotistical as that 'Birdman' character. That's why they loved Birdman so much and disliked Selma. I reckon the only reason Selma was put up in the single category of best film was to avoid charges of being racist.
If you see only one movie in the next twelve months, make it Selma – you will not be disappointed.