A chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.
Against all conceivable odds, this is a film as confident and assured in its moral fortitude, and as soaringly powerful in its oratory, as the great man himself.
It’s not a perfect film by any means, but it’s incredibly powerful and often moving, anchored by an awards-worthy performance from Oyelowo.
Presenting King as a vulnerable, fallible man attempting to turn the tide of history, Selma is a resonant, relevant portrait not just of an individual but also of the relentless hypocrisy of racial inequality in a country built on the ideals of freedom and democracy for all. It's an essential piece of cinema.
Powerful drama, driven by a powerhouse performance, Selma is this year’s Lincoln. For Oyelowo and DuVernay, it’s a career changer.
A vital piece of work from an invigorating new voice. Oyelowo is a revelation.
A majestic David Oyelowo deserves an Oscar for this uncanny performance.
It’s a stirring and thrilling film.
When the film shows baton blows raining upon them, we flinch. And when they stand together in unison and in triumph, we feel that too.
Directed by Ava DuVernay, this is urgent, thought-provoking and timely history movingly brought to life.
It’s Oyelowo who really holds it all together, raising what could have become a drama of workaday worthiness into something genuinely inspiring.
Selma is a passionate, deeply moving slice of history with a terrific performance from Oyelowo as its glowing centre and guiding light. Let’s hope the compensation for the Oscar and Bafta oversight is a string of film roles that make the most of his undeniable talent.
Selma is far from standard Oscar bait; too bad that a year on from 12 Years a Slave, that seems to have counted against it.
It’s a good, although not great movie, that steers a coherent path through a weighty historical moment.
She had a dream: the woman who brought Martin Luther King to the big screen
Ferguson, Selma and a mood for change
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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