Selma was disappointing. Before you throw stones, let me tell you why.
The film centered on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as he led the march from Selma, Ala. to Montgomery to help blacks attain proper voting rights amidst the racial tensions in the South.
When the film opened with the bombing of the 16th Street Church, I had high hopes. It was engaging. I jumped in my seat as the explosion rang out: the tragedy of the stolen innocent lives resonated with me as their bodies lay in the rubble.
As the film went on, however, the slow, ill-metered pacing turned me off. Overall, the casting of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was pleasing, yet his delivery left me wanting more. The selection for Coretta Scott King impressed me, and I spent much of the film comparing her features to the real Mrs. King. The rest of the cast was well selected also.
While the casting shone, the dialogue faltered. The dialogue was forced, choppy. I kept waiting to be impressed by the film that had been trumped up by the press, but nothing changed as it went on.
King’s speeches were well intentioned—they were supposed to be powerful and moving, yet I found myself yawning at his attempt at profundity and influence.
Selma presented itself as a powerful, noteworthy look into the struggles of bringing about change during the Civil Rights Movement, yet after the film ended, I felt manipulated. It felt like a grab for an award nomination more than an impactful film that delved into race issues.
If Selma was put together like the masterpiece 12 Years A Slave, maybe it would be more worthy of applause.