This is going to be an unconventional review. The subject matter is too serious and pertinent to today's society for me to sully it with shitty puns.
Selma is a well executed portrayal of events in the Alabama town of Selma in the early 60's. African Americans are being denied their voting rights through intimidation and arbitrary restrictions. Martin Luther King comes to town to stage peaceful protests, hoping to get enough national attention to force President Johnson to pass a federal bill that would remove state and local impediments to voting. Things get ugly in Selma, where white people take too much pleasure in beating people. MLK and his group eventually overcome, but not without losses.
I always have a seed of doubt when watching movies like this. How much is true, given Hollywood has the tendency to exaggerate and manipulate? Unfortunately, it is more honest than I wish it to be, as it reflects very poorly on the history of the U.S. and reminds me that needlessly cruel, malicious people do exist.
The movie uses some shock tactics to get the viewers attention. Often when I see such things, I laugh because I recognize I'm being manipulated and I don't particularly like it. I am reminded of the ultra-violence in Saving Private Ryan. There it seems unnecessary to me, but because there are 5 movies a year talking about evil Hitler and the hell of WWII. The tactics work in Selma because it forces people remember how many assholes are living in the backyard of the U.S. People don't like being reminded of the violent results of their prejudices and ignorance.
It reminded me of Lincoln, an effective portrayal of a historical figure through a major event. Narrowing the scope allows for richer character. It's a shame that Selma is not getting the Oscar attention that Lincoln received. I'd love to say it's a coincidence that a movie about African-American's overcoming obstacles through their own means without a white man coming to save the day never gets Oscar recognition, but that's too optimistic. Instead, it would seem white America is still more comfortable believing LBJ is the mastermind behind everything, as indicated by numerous articles decrying Selma for its "historically inaccurate" portrayal of LBJ.
Selma is not without flaws. The movie jumps around in time without explaining itself, only showing the time when it conveniently fit in with the surveillance cards. Slightly annoying, but I'll take it in lieu of over-explaining, which is all too common in movies of the last 20 years. There's a song choice during the march at the end I really did not like. Sounded to modern, really didn't fit.
Recently read this article on Grantland, which sums up the movie (and controversy) better than I can. It may also take a few days to read. Grantland writers don't dig the brevity thing.
First Viewing: 3+2+3+2+3 = 13