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Quickie Review - Selma

Selma might possibly contain the most powerful first five minutes of any movie I've ever seen. In one instant I realized that the director's point was not to walk us through history, but remind us of it's brutality, then walk us through one of its greater triumphs. What resonates is how much was done by MLK and how little has really changed since. Any cable news show in 2015 seems to lead with a story about poverty and persecution, racism and inequality. The deaths continue and only the terms have been changed. Where the movie triumphs is to show that MLK at the end of the day was a man with faults, as was John Lewis, President Johnson and George Wallace. It showed they were creatures of their culture and we surrounded by like minded people and those with the strength to cross over. It was MLK's ability to bring these people together that made him different.

The word hero is the most overused word in the English language. MLK was proven to be a hero, long before he became a martyr and that is important. This movie showed that a hero doesn't have to carry a gun or make an oath to defend, protect or even fight. They can use their will to move mountains and that walk, from Selma to Montgomery, was colossal. The movie honored that and all those who allowed it to be conquered.

I once said Argo was one of the most perfectly directed movies I've ever seen. Selma is now added to that list and Ana Duvernay, like Affleck, has big shoes to fill. When they're your own, it might be harder. Four years later, Affleck hasn't even attempted a follow up. I pray for all of us, he and Duvernay continue their magic. I don't get angered by Oscar snubs, but her not winning might be the biggest Oscar atrocity of all-time.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 7, 2015 at 9:56 AM

    Affleck was also excellent in Gone Girl, not sure who directed it but it was very well done, the best book to screen adaptation since The Hours.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMay 7, 2015 at 9:57 AM

    and good news, Netflix will have Selma to me by the weekend! woot. I missed the first 5 minutes, then also missed another 10 min or so cuz my cousin wanted popcorn

    ReplyDelete

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