Directed by Ava DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Selma captures the essence of the Civil Rights movement and legacy of one its greatest leaders.
David Oyelowo delivers a powerhouse performance, portraying King with nuance, shrewdness, and gripping dynamism. Although some question the film's historical accuracy—especially as it pertains to the relationship between King and President Lyndon B. Johnson—DuVernay's storytelling prowess is unquestionable. The goal of historical fiction is to dramatize and empathize, and DuVernay excels at both while delivering a perfect case study on the importance of hearing and amplifying Black voices.
Movie poster for Selma (2014)
Details
Released in 2014
Directed by Ava DuVernay
Produced by Oprah Winfrey, Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
Written by Paul Webb
Starring David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo, Cuba Gooding Jr., Tim Roth
Music by Jason Moran
Cinematography by Bradford Young
Production by Pathé, Harpo Films, Plan B Entertainment, Cloud Eight Films, Ingenious Media
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Run-time of 128 minutes
Awarded the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song
Nominated for the Academy Award of Best Picture, and the Golden Globes for Best Drama, Best Director, and Best Actor