Review of Selma (2014) by Ramón M — 18 Feb 2015

*Ryan Shakes his head* Oprah, Oprah, Oprah. *And continues shaking it*.

Can I make a recommendation for your Oprah BookClub 2.0 March read?

Yes?

Ok I would suggest reading:

Too Much Oprah: Oprah's Global Domination Overkill.

Who's it written by? Me.

Yes yes yes, I knew that Selma was produced by two other production companies aside from Oprah's Harpo (jesus. even typing "Oprah" and "Harpo" in the same sentence exudes pretentiousness). But before watching Selma I mentally crossed my fingers and every other crossable body part hoping that Oprah wouldn't show her face in a movie she produced ( a la The Butler).

Alas when she shows up in the second scene as one of the first shown black women trying to vote, that magical Make-A-Wish Foundation hope was obliterated. Thank Oprah-Almighty she only appears in like 4 other "Oh look it's Oprah again" scenes during Selma's 2 hr running time.

My bigger issue surrounding Selma is related to the high-profiled or highly-celebritized people attached to film. Oprah; Tom Wilkinson (who actually did a decent job of playing President Lyndon B Johnson ), Giovanni Ribisi, Cuba Gooding Jr., Tim Roth, Martin Sheen and (pardon me why I ask the multiracial Gods of this universe WHY? For the love of WHY?) Common.

Yes Common and John Legend do a powerful, get-off-that-pew-and-clap-your-heart-out synthesized performance of Glory (the film's only chance for an Oscar I feel). Played as the film closes, it backdrops Selma's final and most successful segment: the inclusion of real life, black and white news reals and camera shots of the actual march of Selma.

But Common as an actor? Believable? Comm-on! No!!

David Oyelowo does a valiant job at capturing the prestige yet keen fighting persistence of Martin Lurther King, Jr. Even if at times the ego in his portrayal feels somewhat inflated.

There was one shocking moment where I gasped: the explosion of the church that kills the four girls. However after its initial quivering effect, it became one of many gratuitous stand alone scenes that was integrated into Selma as an incongruous scene purposely trying to sway the audience's feelings, perceptions and impressions to the film's subject material.

Or at least that's how I felt by the finish of the film; a bit emotionally manipulated by director Ava DuVernay (first Hollywood wide release directorial debut).

Even though it wasn't a "bad" movie, Selma was not a revolutionary movie I would put on any "best of" lists. Selma - along with American Sniper - feel like Patriotic historical pats-on-the-back flicks that got recognition not truly for it's material but for how they were produced and showcased.

I would have more graciously enjoyed and appreciated watching a documentary on Martin Lurther King Jr's life rather than sitting through an all-star glamorized, Hollywood red-carpet engagement of it.