SELMA

THE PITCH

WORTH

$$$$$

THE VIEWING

"We will not wait any longer!"



             It took a while but I finally saw the 2015 Oscar nominated film SELMA. What makes this story different from all other civil right movement pictures is that this story forensically focuses on the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, all the while keeping it’s affect on the world in the viewfinder.  The way it came across the screen was fascinating and very easy to watch. Exemplary directing and even better acting along with the merits mentioned earlier makes this film an instant classic.

     “Easy to watch” was said with a few side notes in mind like:

• ‘Easy’ doesn’t mean that there won’t be moments that are hard to look at
• Like a good book, once you are engaged there’s no disengaging. [buckle up!]

     David Oyelowo portrayed Dr.King beautifully. I’ve heard complaints ranging from inauthentic cadence to not being ‘passionate’ enough… I didn’t find that while watching.  Honestly any casting director can find a good ‘imitator’ but a true Actor brings alive the script the way the it was meant to once the red light comes on.  Thanks to an extremely well written script and even better direction from director Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo becomes Dr. King distinctly for the entirety of the film.  I thought he did a wonderful job.

    Carmen Ejogo deserves just as much praise. Unlike David, Carmen morphed all the way into her character, Coretta Scott King. Both David and Carmen left no trace of their British accent, or their former physiognomy.  Dare I say if we were ignorant to all prior info of who played whom, I doubt vigorously that you would know the actor/actress behind the main characters.  Both of their performances where THAT good. Neither one is up for an Oscar but they should be.

    Just an impressive film all the way around.  It took me a while and I will admit to some stalling while thinking it was yet another film about MLK/civil rights, I’ve seen it all before right??  Unn Uhh, I have never saw this story told so vividly well .

Worth Watching.

letter grade:   A

Lee Daniels' The Butler

THE PITCH

WORTH

$$$$1/2



THE VIEWING

" The whole world was changing and I didn't know how I fit in."

   Memorable in a very good way.  I’m not certain why most of the professional critics panned it but everyone that I personally know gave only glowing reviews about it.  In fact, almost every story that we've traded about our experience watching it always refers to real applause  in the auditorium at the end of it.  Simply worth every cent of that dollar.

     The Butler serves as a sure pick for this year’s best underdog movie.  Beating out  Elysium     (which turned out to be really good as well),  Kick-Ass 2, and Jobs.  

      If you pointed a gun at me and made me pick something wrong I would say the pace… At times it may have seemed slow but as I defend my desperate plea now that the gun is away… That’s also what I liked about the film.  They covered some very important events.  All that would've made really good movie(s) on it’s own except  the viewpoint of all the settings was from the Butler himself… Not a politician, strategist, or anything like that.  That perspective is what gave the overall feel a more personal, human touch.

    I HAVE to mention the superb casting job done by Leah Daniels and Billy Hopkins!!!  Some of the best casting jobs that I've seen in a very long time.  Everyone was great but James Marsden was scary good as JFK… I mean incredible!  Minka Kelly did a wonderful job as his wife as well.  Alan Rickman WAS Ronald Reagan… not sure if he was acting or morphing into Ronald but Jane Fonda was definitely Nancy!  Again…. scary good rendition.  All of the lead cast have a wonderful chance of being nominated for the little gold guy…

    Great family picture, bring your friends… I think this movie is going to be in the theater for a while.  I anticipate The Butler hovering around the top of the box office now that word of mouth is spreading.

  recap:  Worth every penny.  letter grade: A-