Oscar Nominations
Best Picture
Best Original Song - "Glory" by John Legend and Common
Among the deluge of Oscar-baiting biopics this year, Selma is the one I found most
intriguing. This not only serves as
Hollywood’s first biographical representation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
but this film also seemed to serve a purpose beyond the performer-aggrandizing
shallowness of most biopics. David
Oyelowo may make a great Dr. King, but this film isn’t made with the sole
intention to use his talent to win gold statues. There is a purpose here, to demonstrate the
particular trials and tribulations that occurred during the Selma protests, and
to paint an accurate picture of Dr. King as an orchestrator of the progress it
spawned.
The film does this by choosing its timeframe very carefully
and particularly. This is not a story of
Dr. King’s life, as it picks up after he has achieved fame and only just as he
is awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.
The story then covers the following three months, focusing on those
particular events and Dr. King’s place in them.
This is a very refreshing take on the biographical feature, as we aren’t
focused on Dr. King’s entire life, which likely couldn’t be done justice in the
time and three-act structure limits of a feature film. What Selma
does best, however, is use the story of the protests to paint Dr. King as more
than the peace-loving saint that popular culture has reified him as, and show
us the political strategist behind the icon.
David Oyelowo may carry the public gravitas of Dr. King, but
he really shines in the moments where King isn’t acting as the great orator,
and Dr. King’s deft understanding of media manipulation and public sentiment
comes to light. Behind the Christian
minister lay a tactician, who understood that non-violent protest was, more
than anything else, a tool to gain media coverage so as to inform the rest of
the world of the tragedies happening in Selma.
Oyelowo carries these scenes with a sense of solemn and determined
conviction, greatly regretting putting his people in harm’s way but recognizing
the greater good that their movement serves.
And though Oyelowo’s performance captures Dr. King’s
understated brilliance with award-worthy skill, the real credit for this film’s
masterpiece lies with director Ava DuVernay, who orchestrates a large cast of
actors into a relatable and watchable fictionalization. She recognizes that a story about human
rights needs to focus on the human elements of the struggle, so not only is Dr.
King recognized as vital, but the other grassroots organizers are given just as
much credit. Furthermore, the way she
chooses to portray the white politicians of the day is remarkably resonant of
certain politicians of modern times, who recognize the inherent injustice of
their positions and the turning tide of public opinion, but feel the need to
keep up a strong appearance for their constituents. The clear parallels to modern politics and
events is not accidental, and though the events of Ferguson could in no way
have been influential in the filmmaking process, DuVernay’s film shows quite
clearly how easily such injustices can be perpetrated.
Selma was largely snubbed
by the Academy this year, receiving only Best Picture and Best Original Song
nominations out of seeming token appreciation rather than actual. However, in light of the competition, there
is no reason why David Oyelowo and Ava DuVernay should have been excluded from
their respective categories, and that is truly unfortunate, because this truly
was one of the best pictures of the year, and one of the few nominees that
actually deserves the distinction.
What are your thoughts on the overly white and male
representation of the nominees at the Oscars this year? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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