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

Dirty Wars

THE PITCH

 WORTH

$$$$1/2



THE VIEWING

"We call them the American Taliban."

I have to thank WDET at Wayne State University for inviting me to the Detroit premiere of Dirty Wars, part of their Discover series.  This documentary was awesome! I can declare that even while knowing that most documentaries are slighted and configured in such a way to romanticize to us their own agenda.  Dirty Wars was presented so many hard facts in the way of documents, videos, eye witnesses, first hand testimonies and major network television show footage. Reasonable minds would still require more due process in order to find the truth but what a way to crank the engine!

          I’m dumbfounded at how popular investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill is and at  the same time disappointed that I am so late learning about him.  Why isn't his work broadcasted more frequently!? One segment of the film showed Jay Leno jokingly saying [paraphrasing] “How are you still alive?”  Sadly, as I watched and wondered the same thing, I’m also questioning how I missed this incredible journey of him seeking the truth? Then I had an epiphany.... Had I saw Jeremy Scahill on one of those political shows early one Sunday morning I’d probably dismiss it, labeling him another extremist.  The work shown in DW is hard to refute, dispute or debate.   No matter what, I feel that it’s too important of a subject matter left dissolving at the theaters with no one there to see it.  It’s not in mass release which makes it of the utmost importance to try and support.  

         There was a Q & A after the showing here in Michigan and the co-writer came out and did a marvelous job answering questions.  One of the last questions asked rang so loud that even he had to say that it was the best question anyone could ask... “What now?”   Documentaries are suppose to provoke... Job well done.

  This film is very much worth your money.  I hope that you would make time to see it.

letter grade: B+

Detropia

THE PITCH

WORTH

$$$$$






THE VIEWING

    
"If the good Lord let me live, I'll die in Detroit."


      I've seen documentaries before and mostly all of them are meant to inform or encourage. Detropia does both and with a symphony of some of the most stunning post-manufacturing apocalyptic imagery that you've ever saw.  Stuff that stays with you and causes you to care long after you leave the theater.  Stuff that hits home... for some more than others.  Me especially because this is home.

   From the time it came on I was locked in and naming all the sites in my mind as they came across the screen.  From the ruins of the old Cass Tech high school, to the individual streets and districts.  I got all but one right.  The way I found that out is I went to visit one of the stars of the movie and asked her.  Crystal Starr is a video blogger.  Her cafe is located on the side of the Opera house and watching the movie I was thinking to myself that I've walked in or pass there at least 50 times.  She was one of three of the residents of  the city that took us on the Detropia journey.  All three did a phenomenal job.

     Everything was real, looked real, felt real... the only thing I believe to be rehearsed was a UAW meeting.  For the sake of your viewing experience while watching this masterpiece I won't spill what the meeting was about but you can put 2 and 2 together by watching the trailer.  I've been to these types of UAW meetings and trust me... things are a bit more 'intense' than what we saw on that screen... petty, nit-picking even; This film was, as a whole, authentic and I hope that all will get a chance to see it.
       
I've never saw a story filled with so much tragedy and leave you with so much hope.
  

 A
Worth Watching.