Resolve Celluloid- Room (2015)

“To go beyond the walls and back into the outside world…”

Room is narrated from Jack’s (Jacob Tremblay) perspective.  He’s celebrating his 5th birthday along with his Ma (Brie Larson).  They are both living in forced human captivity by Old Nick.  She was taken over seven years ago and has spent that time in a room.  Jack knows about outer space (the outside world) from television.  Ma has taught him to read, write, and cook.  However, she wants to escape with Jack from Nick.  Will her plan work?  Will Jack love outer space?  How will her family react to their return?

Room is hauntingly directed by Lenny Abrahamson and written by Emma Donoghue (based on her novel).  Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay steal our hearts and our tears.  Larson should win Best Actress at the 2016 Oscars for her role as Ma.  Tremblay gives a performance beyond his years that would make any actor envious.  The film has been nominated for four 2016 Oscars:  Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.  Brie Larson won Best Actress for her role as Ma.

Room is the Best Film of 2015.  It gives viewers a bird’s eye view of how captives feel.  Danny Cohen’s cinematography brilliantly puts us inside the clear, claustrophobic room and into the bright, unfocused world.  The viewers go through the same ups and downs as the captives.  Parents and grown children will empathize with Ma and Jack.

I felt particularly moved because I’m an only child. However, the family size does not necessarily matter but how much love the child received.  Fortunately, I have received and continue to receive love from a caring mother and father.

Room stands as a testament for all parents, families, and friends of captivity survivors.  Don’t miss this timely, emotional drama.  Remember, We All Have Strength!

 

MCM Resolve Celluloid- John Goodman in The Gambler (2014)

“To go all in one last time or else…”

The Gambler revolves around Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a Literature professor.  However, Jim has a secret:  he is a compulsive gambler in the hole for $2.5  million.  He owes Roberta (Jessica Lange), his mother, an apology for his vice and endangering his family.  However, he owes a total of $2.5 million to Mr. Lee, Neville Baraka, and Henry.  Mr. Lee (Alvin Ing) is a Korean mob boss and is intimidating.  Baraka (Michael Kenneth Williams) is a bookie but is always about fixing the numbers.  Yet, Henry (John Goodman) trumps Lee and Baraka.  How you ask?  Henry holds the F**K You Card! He allows debtors one last chance after finite chance of repayment.

Bennett has seven days and a potential good luck charm.  The charm is named Amy Phillips (Brie Larson).  She is a promising lit major with the most potential of his students.  Will she be his saving grace?  Will Henry inflict his card on Jim?  Will Jim come to his senses?  One thing is for sure: life is a game of chance.

The Gambler is a remake of the 1974 film starring James Caan (yes, Sonny Corleone).  One thing is certain Mark Wahlberg is not Caan.  However, his saving grace comes to a great supporting ensemble.  Lange illuminates as Roberta and holds us with her dramatic charm.  Ing and Williams bring a great flare as diverse crime bosses.  Larson is a subtle, smoldering presence as Phillips.  She has the right balance to Wahlberg’s grit.  However, John Goodman gives the film’s darkest performance.  He makes viewers ask the following:  “Who was Dan Conner?”

The film has several snafus in regards of gambling etiquette.  In the first, Bennett curses and disgraces the Asian card dealer in an Asian casino.  Then, he has the stones to borrow more money from there after losing.  In real life, he would have been barred, arrested, and/or roughed up for such misbehavior.

The other situation involves a California Indian Casino.  Jim talks rudely to a blackjack dealer.  Also, he mocks a fellow gambler at the table.  Again, the real life consequences would be being barred and a potential ass kicking by the other gambler.

Overall, the film is average but is bolstered by Jessica Lange, Brie Larson, and John Goodman.  The underworld casino sequences are well conceived but Wahlberg’s character behavior discounts them.

John Goodman is a St. Louis, Missouri native.  He attended Missouri State University, played football, and earned a B.F.A. in Drama in 1975.  During his tenure there, he studied with actresses Kathleen Turner and Tess Harper.  After a football injury, he decided to leave Missouri for New York City.  He struggled with menial work as a bartender and waiter.  However, he broke through with voice-overs, commercials, and plays.  His national breakthrough commercial was for Skin Bracer by Mennen.  However, his most notable role was Papa Finn in Big River.  It earned him a Drama Desk nod and a spot on the Original Cast Recording.

He has appeared in numerous films including Revenge of the Nerds, Arachnophobia, and Monsters, Inc.  However, his best known role is Dan Conner from Roseanne.  He earned a Golden Globe Award and Seven Emmy Nominations for this role.  Finally, he won an Emmy for Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2007 for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

He is a regular collaborator with the Coen Brothers.  He has appeared including Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou, & Inside Llewyn Davis.  He has hosted Saturday Night Live a total of 14 times.  He made notable appearances as Linda Tripp during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Recently, he has been seen on T.V in shows such as Damages and Treme.  He has appeared in the Oscar winning Argo and more recently in the Oscar nominated Trumbo.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Goodman

 

Loose Trilogy Celluloid- The Fighter (2010)

The Fighter revolved around half brothers Dicky Ekland (Christian Bale) and Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg).  Ekland had his shot at fame with a bout against Sugar Ray Leonard.  However, he blew it.  Instead of continuing on, he found a new love in crack.  Yet, Micky was interested in boxing and that was a mixed blessing to Dicky.  Ward’s upswing in training and fighting was also helped/hindered by Alice Ward (Melissa Leo),  his mother.  She was his manager and also a wife to George Ward (Jack McGee) and mother to his six other harpies…I meant sisters.

Ward finds a potential saving grace in bartender, Charlene Fleming (Amy Adams).  Will she be the one to help Micky breakthrough?  Will Dicky ever get it together?  Does Alice and those harpies ever back down?

The Fighter was the first in David O’Russell’s Loose Trilogy.  The docudrama style is great and blended actual footage with the scripted drama.  It succeeded with Oscar-winning performances by Christian Bale (Best Supporting Actor-2011 Oscars) and Melissa Leo (Best Supporting Actress-2011 Oscars).  Amy Adams was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress as Charlene.  Jack McGee is great as George and continued his lovable, smart ass persona from Rescue Me.  However, Mark Wahlberg’s performance was the least believable in this film.  Although, Ward is nothing without the dysfunctional love of Ekland, Fleming, and Alice.

Viewers should expect this type of atypical love in O’Russell other Loose Films:  Silver Linings Playbook &  American Hustle.  Fighter is not Rocky but it will sucker punch at random.  Hey, What else would you expect from The Pride of Lowell?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micky_Ward

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicky_Eklund

 

No Diversity with the Oscars?- Op Ed

So, Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett-Smith are boycotting the 2016 Oscars due to black actors being snubbed for 2nd consecutive year?

I disagree with this notion.  Over the past 15 Years, The Academy has diversified its membership.

Ang Lee is a Taiwanese native and winner of three directing honors.  He has a 2001 Best Foreign Film Oscar for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a 2006 Best Director Oscar for Brokeback Mountain, and a 2013 Best Director Oscar for Life of Pi.

The 2002 Oscars saw Denzel Washington win Best Actor for Training Day, Halle Berry won Best Actress (the first black actress to win) for Monster’s Ball, and Sidney Poitier won an honorary Oscar (his second overall) for his body of work.

At the 2005 Oscars, Jamie Foxx won Best Actor for Ray.  Jennifer Hudson won Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls at the 2007 Oscars.  Also, Eddie Murphy was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Dreamgirls. 

2010 Oscars saw two Oscars for Precious;  Geoffrey Fletcher won for Best Adapted Screenplay and Monique as Best Supporting Actress (both of whom are black).  Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to win Best Director for The Hurt Locker along with a Best Picture Oscar to boot.  She beat out her ex-husband James Cameron (Avatar) for both honors as well.

The 2013 Oscars found Quvenzhane Wallis became the youngest Best Actress nominee for Beasts of the Southern Wild.  She was just nine years old.

2014 Oscars found 12 Years a Slave garnering three Oscars.  Steve McQueen (British producer/director who is also Black) won a Best Picture statue.  John Ridley won for Adapted Screenplay.  Lupita Nyong’o won Best Supporting Actress for her work.  Also, McQueen was nominated for Best Director but lost.  However, he lost to Alfonso Cuaron (Mexican), Best Director for Gravity.

2015 found the diversity trend continuing.  Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Mexican) won Best Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay Oscars for Birdman.  The readers will notice that 2014 and 2015 had back to back Mexican directors win Oscars.  He is nominated for the 2016 Oscars for The Revenant as director, producer, and adapted screenplay again.  This would be phenomenal to have a Latino director potentially win Best Director for a 3rd Year (Inarritu for his 2nd time), Picture for a 2nd Year, and a Screenplay honor.

The Academy did not intentionally snub Black actors and actresses.  However, the film may not have lobbied as hard for nominations.  Viewers reading this may or may not have noted that.  The success of films such as Creed, Concussion, & Star Wars:  The Force Awakens was noticed by critics, film goers, and Academy members.

On a high note, The Academy has honored openly gay writer Dustin Lance Black for Milk and lesbian singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge for An Inconvenient Truth as well.

We should be proud of how far the Academy has come in the past 88 years.  It still has a way to go but they are getting there.

 

WCW Ensemble Resolve Celluloid- Sleeping with Other People (2015)

“To Lose My Virginity and Keep Having Sex…”

Sleeping with Other People starts in the year 2002 with college students at Columbia, Lainey (Alison Brie) and Jake (Jason Sudeikis).  Lainey is hard up to lose her virginity to Matthew (Adam Scott), the Resident Assistant?  Hmm, she needs to pass a class b/c he’s also a Teacher’s Assistant.  Some T & A to get an A?  Typical as per frickin’ usual.  Hold up, it ain’t like that at all.  Matt wasn’t there and she had a meltdown. Jake saw her and felt that spark.

Slow Your Roll, Homie!  You’re getting ahead of the conquest.

They decide to hang out and bond.  Later on the dorm roof, they stumble reluctantly into losing their innocence.

In 2015, Jake’s a full fledged nympho hopping in and out of bed with every woman possible in New York City.  Meanwhile, we find Lainey in a relationship with Sam (Adam Brody).  She decides to confess her sexual diary out loud in a quiet restaurant.  Sam goes ape and leaves her in shambles.  In a panic, she texts Matthew.  Yes, that one; Oh, My God!!!  She’s still hung up on the T.A./R.A. but does he have a P.A.?  That’s a negative, Ghost Rider!

Lainey decides to go to a sex addict meeting.  After attending, she reunites with Jake?  Hmm, two nymphomaniacs falling for each other?  Will it work?  Can they keep it fresh?

Sleeping with Other People is brilliantly written and directed by Leslye Headland. It is an atypical concept that has been tiptoed around before until now.  Two nymphomaniacs falling in love?  If 50 Shades can have a S&M happy billionaire, let these two air out their needs and wants.

Jason Sudeikis & Alison Brie are magnetic together. They surrounded by a terrific ensemble including Adam Scott, Marc Blucas, and Amanda Peet.  Oh, Billy Eichner (yes, FOR A DOLLAR!) damn near steals the film as the sex addiction group leader.

This comedy is funny and meta. It is an askew companion piece to Linklater’s Before Trilogy. Leslye Headland’s script and direction are spot on in capturing atypical/typical dating dialogue.  She has written one of 2015’s ten best films overall.  Headland should feel comfortable being in the same company as Amy Schumer’s screenplay for Trainwreck.  The film can be summed up in feeling by Drake’s “Hotline Bling”, David Bowie’s “Modern Love”, Meatloaf’s “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”, and Elvin Bishop’s “Fooled Around and Fell In Love”.

Resolve Celluloid- Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)

“To be accepted by the in-laws”

Hotel Transylvania 2 finds Jonathan (Andy Sandberg) and Mavis (Selena Gomez) on the verge of marriage.  Dracula (Adam Sandler) approves surprisingly along with the rest of the Drac Pack:  Frankenstein, Griffin, Wayne, and Murray.  Linda (Megan Mullally) and Mike (Nick Offerman), Jonathan’s parents, are surprisingly accepting of the unusual in-law and extended family.  Several years pass,  the newlyweds are expecting their child but Mavis begins to crave a change of scenery.

However, the new child brings another dilemma, Vlad (Mel Brooks).  Vlad is old fashioned and believes that humans are to be scared and eaten?  Well, Dracula is more willing to bathe in holy water than for him to meet the new family.  Will Vlad go medieval on the humans?  Will Mavis decide to leave Transylvania forever?  Does Griffin have an actually, invisible girlfriend or is he hallucinating?

Hotel Transylvania 2 has a shocking revelation.  Ready?  Adam Sandler has found a perfect niche:  family films.  He has an infinite audience for his new brand of mild, toilet humor:  children under 8.  However, his jokes in this installment are funnier than any of his previous PG-13 or R-rated comedies (excluding the Drew Barrymore team-ups).

The voice-over actors are nicely cast including Molly Shannon, Dana Carvey, and Rob Riggle.  However, the new editions of Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman are wonderful.  Their human couple captures overcompensating in-laws to the best degree.  They go to outlandish links to find weird, monstrous couples in California (Surprise, No Kardashians?).  Yet, Mel Brooks steals their thunder as the hasidic Vlad.  Presumably, he has no soft spots except for his grandchild.

Viewers shouldn’t go in expecting Meet the Parents or Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.  However, they will be pleased with Sandler’s lighter side.  In retrospect, he should’ve reunited Carl Reiner with Mel Brooks one more time. 2000 Year Old Vampire anyone?  Hmm, well where would we find a coffin big enough for those two.

Gather a Drac Pack and make the B-line to Transylvania for this can’t miss laugh fest.

 

Super Hero Celluloid- Ant-Man (2015)

Ant-Man revolves around Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his long struggle to keep his invention from S.H.I.E.L.D. He left the agency in 1989 and founded his own company. In present day, Pym’s faced with a conundrum involving Dr. Steven Cross (Corey Stoll), his protege. He’s yearning to pull the trigger of the secret. Pym has to take a chance to stop Cross. His game changer lies in an thief named Scott Lang (Paul Rudd). Lang took a company to task for robbing its customers blind and repaid their losses through hacking. He was sentenced to San Quentin and served time.

Lang is struggling financially and Luis (Michael Pena), his friend, urges him to go back burgling. He’s resistant until his ex-wife withholds visitation of their daughter. Luis knows of a house with something valuable and unguarded. So, Lang breaks in and finds a strange suit. He takes the suit and tries it out. One button does nothing and the other…uh oh. After trying the suit, he returns it to the owner and is arrested. This starts a most, uncanny chain of events.

Ant-Man soars due to Paul Rudd’s Lang and Michael Pena’s Luis. They are joined by an eclectic ensemble including Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, and Hayley Atwell. The visual effects and unexpected laughs are astonishing. The ants are to Ant-Man what Groot and Rocket are to Guardians of the Galaxy. Gather a colony and go see this film.

Marvel teaser at the end features The Winter Soldier being recruited by Falcon and Steve Rogers.

(This review was originally written on August 22, 2015.)

Resolution Celluloid- The Revenant (2015)

The Revenant is inspired by Hugh Glass’ story of survival in 19th Century South Dakota.  Prior to the story, Glass’ (Leonardo DiCaprio) life was shattered years prior to this journey.  Powaqa, his Pawnee wife, was mother to his son, Hawk.  She was killed during a tribal raid and left Hugh to raise their young son.   Many years later, Glass and his teenage son were fur trappers for Captain Jack Henry’s (Domhnall Gleason) company.  However, they were still dodging tribesmen looking for his presumed, living wife.  The constant Indian raids frustrated fellow trappers including John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy).

The company saw increased success with Glass and son.  However, their luck was about to change.  Hugh got mauled by a mother bear protecting her cubs.  The Henry trappers caught him in time to stabilize his life functions.  The Captain decided to venture onward but left two volunteers to care for Hugh & Hawk.  However, the two men were to be paid $150 if Glass died.   The two men were Fitzgerald (Hardy) and Bridger (Will Poulter).  However, Fitzgerald’s greed and dishonesty were greater than Bridger’s.  Would this lead to a tragedy for Hugh?  Would Capt. Henry be informed of the loss?

The Revenant was partially inspired by Michael Punke’s 2002 novel along with true events.  It was co-adapted, produced, and directed by Oscar-winner Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Birdman).  He has taken a gamble by making a western in a time of superheroes and supernatural resurgence.  Emmanuel Lubezki is fresh off of a 2015 Oscar win for Cinematography and could be poised for another nod/win.  His work is quiet and visceral simultaneously throughout the film.

Leonardo DiCaprio is gruff and empathetic as Hugh Glass.  His character has similarities with the female lead in I Spit on Your Grave (1978).  However, Tom Hardy is sadistic, heinous, and almost unrecognizable as Fitzgerald;  he’s equivalent to the male rapists in Grave.  However, Glass wasn’t raped in this case by Fitzgerald but his motives were on the same par.  Viewers might be scratching their heads while reading this.

(WARNING: The following explanation of I Spit on Your Grave spoilers…Be Advised):

(The woman is raped and left for dead by the apathetic chauvinists.  However, the rapists are shocked when she is still turned on by their virility.  Feminists don’t fear; she used some major shade to get her way. She seduced, mutilated, and murdered all of them.)

Innaritu has created another memorable film that stands as one of 2015’s 10 Best Films.  He has taken the eroticism out of Tristan’s bear encounter from Legends of the Fall.    Also, he created an isolated landscape where viewers can almost taste the consumption, gangrene, frostbite, body odor, and unimaginable pain.  This is what all filmmakers and screenwriters should yearn for.  It’s a complicated feat that keeps viewers challenged.  DiCaprio could potentially win Best Actor for his most in-depth role since The Aviator.  Hardy should be nominated/win for Best Supporting Actor for his atypical turn.

Along with The Martian, viewers are praying and thanking the fates that Smell-O-Vision hasn’t been invented.  However, Revenant should join its place next to The Martian at the 2016 Oscars.

The Revenant won 3 2016 Oscars:  Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Glass

http://www.rosyinn.com/more005.html

http://www.ibtimes.com/revenant-true-story-fact-vs-fiction-about-hugh-glass-leonardo-dicaprio-tom-hardy-2255772

 

 

WCW Hot Mess Resolve Celluloid- Tina Fey & Amy Poehler in Sisters (2015)

I know what you’re thinking.  Four women in a sauna reflecting on their lives.  No, Honey this ain’t NBC Saturday Night 10/9 central with Sela Ward and Swoosie Kurtz from the 1990s.  If that’s the female bonding that you seek, get to steppin’.  However, Tina and Amy working their globes on the big screen is your destiny.  Welcome to Women Crush Wednesday…

“To live in our childhood home”

Sisters centers around Maura and Kate Ellis.  Maura (Amy Poehler) is a business minded woman who writes motivational cards.  However, Kate (Tina Fey) is the female Wimpy from Popeye on diet pills.  She seeks all the pleasures and doesn’t worry about the end game.  Yet, she differs from Kate in one big way…her daughter, Haley (Madison Davenport).  Haley has dreams of her own and doesn’t stay at home long…sound familiar?

All of their lives are about to change with one announcement.  Bucky (James Brolin) and Deana (Dianne Wiest)Ellis are selling their home and moving into a retirement community.  They have forced Maura into Trial By Fire with Kate.  No, Game of Thrones would be an easier battle royale than this knavish wrangling.  The daughters are left to pack their rooms and say goodbye.  What would goodbye be without an Ellis Island Party?

Will they succeed in the mother of all parties? Will Haley come home to Kate?  Will Bucky and Deana retire in peace?

Sisters was written by Paula Pell (30 Rock) and directed by Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect).  Pell’s script is filled with salty dialogue that would make Amy Schumer blush (almost).  Fey is the trainwreck in this latest pairing with Poehler.  She spouts one liners that would make a Special Forces Unit cringe.  However, Poehler dabbles with blue dialogue as well.  They last teamed for Baby Mama (2008) with Tina being the timid one.

The ladies are joined on screen by fellow improvisers such as Ike Barinholtz (Mad TV), Maya Rudolph (SNL), Samantha Bee (The Daily Show), and Bobby Moynihan (SNL).  Moynihan steals his scenes as a timid, internet star turned party animal.  However, John Cena fuels his party in a great role as Pazuzu, the drug dealer.

However, Dianne Wiest and James Brolin warm the screen in their roles as Deana and Bucky.  Their rapport is more magnetic and brief in comparison to their on-screen daughters.  However, they relish the blue dialogue that is far from their usual ventures.  Viewers enjoying this kinship of  Wiest & Brolin will enjoy CBS’ sitcom Life in Pieces.

Overall, the film succeeds as a female scripted and lead comedy.  However, viewers may approve more of Liz Lemon and Leslie Knope with regards to talking around things.  Fey and Poehler meld beautifully but we prefer to see them with a live audience (i.e. Golden Globe Awards or Saturday Night Live).

Before SNL, Amy Poehler was best known as a member of Upright Citizens Brigade. However, SNL would turn her from a Comedy Central sensation to a Not Ready for Primetime Player (2001-2010 as actress and host).  She would parlay this success into appearances in such films and shows as Wet Hot American Summer (film & Netflix series), Parks & Recreation, Welcome to Sweden (with brother, Greg), and Inside Out.

Tina Fey got her start in Second City (yes where all or most of SNL’s finest were harvested) in 1992.  She was discovered by Adam McKay (Will Ferrell’s BFF & Production Partner).  He submitted some of her writings to Lorne Michaels.  He enjoyed them and she was hired as a writer.  She would make SNL history by becoming the first, female head writer.  She enjoyed a tenure as writer and performer that stretched from 1995-2006.  Also, she ventured as a screenwriter and actress in Mean Girls (2004).  However, she would leave the show to write a familiar one.

The show was called 30 Rock (2006-2013).  She inhabited a familiar role as Liz Lemon, head writer of The Girly Show.  However, Michaels was an executive producer (off screen) replaced by Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy (a Lornesque presence on screen).  The show garnered Golden Globe, Emmy, and Writers Guild Awards for her.  During her time there, she returned to SNL for a noteworthy run as 2008 Vice Presidential Candidate, Sarah Palin.  The lampoon earned a 2009 Emmy for “Guest Actress in a Comedy Series”.  Many fans still confuse the two ladies to this day, YOU BETCHA 😉 !

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Poehler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Fey

 

Resolve Ensemble Celluloid- Selma (2014)

“Equality for all races”

Selma documents Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s (David Oyelowo) fight for equal black voting and civil rights in 1960’s Alabama.  During this period, blacks were subjected to discrimination, poll taxes, and political questions.  They could vote if another black registered voter could vouch for them.  If they answered the preliminary questions correctly, they were still rejected and told to come back another time.  Also, their jobs were threatened by the white registrars.

However, Dr. King sought a solution to this injustice condoned by Gov. Wallace (Tim Roth) and President Lyndon Johnson (Tom Wilkinson).  He sought the proposal and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by Pres. Johnson.  However, Johnson had bigger fish to fry and pushed King aside.

King had to find a focal point in Alabama to plead his case.  Selma was that lightning rod.  Sheriff Jim Clark condoned violence against blacks for attempting to integrate white only restaurants and utilize voter registration.

How would Dr. King succeed?  Would Pres. Johnson give into King’s demands?  Would Alabama Gov. George Wallace be a stubborn ass?

The answers are a resounding YES!

Selma carefully documents the events leading up to this historic march.  Ava DuVernay masterfully directs Paul Webb’s script and Oprah Winfrey’s production. The African-American ensemble is one of the most diverse to date.  Ms. Winfrey’s name has gathered such notable performers as Niecy Nash, Wendell Pierce, and Cuba Gooding, Jr.  However, the most notable performances come from Oyelowo, Roth, and Wilkinson.  Oyelowo gives a sincere and heartfelt performance as Dr. King.  Wilkinson and Roth brilliantly inhabit their roles as Johnson and Wallace.

The film garnered only two 2015 Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Song.  DuVernay and Oyelowo were shockingly snubbed.  However, “Glory” by John Legend and Common won the Oscar for “Best Original Song”.

People will find historical inaccuracies in this film.  This article includes two links.  The first is written by Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Pres. Johnson’s top asst. for Domestic Affairs.  The second features inaccuracies highlighted by Paul Williamson, Selma City Council Vice President.

However, Selma shouldn’t be knit picked.  It should be taken for the unknown aspects of the historic march.  Viewers will be surprised to know that the march didn’t start on the first attempt.  The third link highlights the entire process.

Most Americans don’t realize the ordinary people that made integration, voter registration, and other ordinary privileges possible.  We should thank the innovators and peaceful (and violent) protesters who stood up against society’s wrongs.  Now, don’t misconstrue recent reactions in Baltimore and Ferguson as righteous.  The civil injustices were unfortunate there.  However, the rioters were not in line with Dr. King’s legacy.

Overall, Selma is a must see for the other side of this historic event.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-movie-selma-has-a-glaring-historical-inaccuracy/2014/12/26/70ad3ea2-8aa4-11e4-a085-34e9b9f09a58_story.html

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/selma_alabama_movie_inaccuraci.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma_to_Montgomery_marches