Just saw Selma

[Dak Pickscott]

 

[TheGodling]

It was a good movie but I felt it resonated with me emotionally more because of the subject matter (and how painfully relevant some of it still is today) than because of the movie's efforts. Not to downplay that the movie is indeed well directed and particularly well acted, but not in such an amazing way that I would put the direction too far above the other well directed biopics of this year, The Imitation Game, The Theory Of Everything and Foxcatcher. Theory Of Everything and Foxcatcher in particular, despite their flaws, have confident direction and a clear vision whereas Selma plays a tad too traditional. Selma gets the nod because it's overall still the better movie (beating out the also all-round efficiently made The Imitation Game as well), but I can see how it got a bit lost in the biopic shuffle come awards season.

And I did feel they could've shown *edit LBJ at least a bit more agreeable on MLK's goals. They focused too much on him trying to push the issue away without (as I felt it) emphasizing that he was sympathetic to the cause, because every encounter he seemed more annoyed with MLK than conflicted, and that's a small but very important difference in how he's portrayed. I wouldn't say it was worth all the 'controversy', but it was a point of note.

 

[kp404]

It was a good movie but I felt it resonated with me emotionally more because of the subject matter (and how painfully relevant some of it still is today) than because of the movie's efforts. Not to downplay that the movie is indeed well directed and particularly well acted, but not in such an amazing way that I would put the direction too far above the other well directed biopics of this year, The Imitation Game, The Theory Of Everything and Foxcatcher. Theory Of Everything and Foxcatcher in particular, despite their flaws, have confident direction and a clear vision whereas Selma plays a tad too traditional. Selma gets the nod because it's overall still the better movie (beating out the also all-round efficiently made The Imitation Game as well), but I can see how it got a bit lost in the biopic shuffle come awards season.

And I did feel they could've shown JBL at least a bit more agreeable on MLK's goals. They focused too much on him trying to push the issue away without (as I felt it) emphasizing that he was sympathetic to the cause, because every encounter he seemed more annoyed with MLK than conflicted, and that's a small but very important difference in how he's portrayed. I wouldn't say it was worth all the 'controversy', but it was a point of note.

The point of the movie is to show how complicated organizing against oppression is; so many voices and perspectives in one room that conflict is forever...I though Ava did a damn great job at showing how upset Lewis was with King because that's exactly what happened (except it was much worse). Just because you are sympathetic to a cause doesn't mean you agree with the path to said goal, which is a historical and contemporary trend of all social movements. Perfect depiction for a PG-13 movie on Voting Rights Act activism

 

[TheGodling]

The point of the movie is to show how complicated organizing against oppression is; so many voices and perspectives in one room that conflict is forever...I though Ava did a damn great job at showing how upset Lewis was with King because that's exactly what happened (except it was much worse). Just because you are sympathetic to a cause doesn't mean you agree with the path to said goal, which is a historical and contemporary trend of all social movements. Perfect depiction for a PG-13 movie on Voting Rights Act activism

I was talking about LBJ, I fukked up writing JBL. Does John Lewis even have a B. for his middle initial? lol

Anyway, I agree that's probably the biggest strength of the movie, showcasing that the civil rights movement wasn't just one big happy go lucky family.

 

[Sane]

The scene with Jimmie

 

[Sane]

Didn't realize it was the same actor from the film Short Term 12. Keith Stanfield. Dude is very talented.

 

[blazn101]

The scene with Jimmie

 

[MartyMcFly]

One of the oscar voters gives her reasons for not voting for Selma:

First, let me say that I'm tired of all of this talk about "snubs" — I thought for every one of [the snubs] there was a justifiable reason. What no one wants to say out loud is that Selma is a well-crafted movie, but there's no art to it. If the movie had been directed by a 60-year-old white male, I don't think that people would have been carrying on about it to the level that they were. And as far as the accusations about the Academy being racist? Yes, most members are white males, but they are not the cast of Deliverance — they had to get into the Academy to begin with, so they're not cretinous, snaggletoothed hillbillies. When a movie about black people is good, members vote for it. But if the movie isn't that good, am I supposed to vote for it just because it has black people in it? I've got to tell you, having the cast show up in T-shirts saying "I can't breathe" [at their New York premiere] — I thought that stuff was offensive. Did they want to be known for making the best movie of the year or for stirring up shyt?

Is she right about the film not just being that good or there's no "art" to it?

 

[TheGodling]

I disagree with how it's worded but as I've said in this very thread:

It was a good movie but I felt it resonated with me emotionally more because of the subject matter (and how painfully relevant some of it still is today) than because of the movie's efforts. Not to downplay that the movie is indeed well directed and particularly well acted, but not in such an amazing way that I would put the direction too far above the other well directed biopics of this year[...]

However, bringing up the "I can't breathe" t-shirt thing counteracts her point because that has nothing to do with the quality of the movie either. If it really is about the movie being either good or not, that shyt is completely irrelevant and it only shows how they let outside stuff affect their opinion.

I'm not even getting into equating a call for justice against the continued oppression of blacks in modern society to 'stirring up shyt'.

 

[MartyMcFly]

I disagree with how it's worded but as I've said in this very thread:



However, bringing up the "I can't breathe" t-shirt thing counteracts her point because that has nothing to do with the quality of the movie either. If it really is about the movie being either good or not, that shyt is completely irrelevant and it only shows how they let outside stuff affect their opinion.

I'm not even getting into equating a call for justice against the continued oppression of blacks in modern society to 'stirring up shyt'.

Yeah she undercut her opinion. I disagree with both of you tho lol but still she should've left that out cause it makes it seem like she's fishing for a reason to not like the movie because she was offended

 

[keond]

Off topic but, Ava Duvernay, sexiest director of all-time?

I mean she aint got much comp, but

She my type, thick boho and smart

 

[MartyMcFly]

Off topic but, Ava Duvernay, sexiest director of all-time?

I mean she aint got much comp, but

She my type, thick boho and smart

Yeah she is kinda bad. Kathryn Bigelow is cute at times but clearly it's Ava. But it's kinda sad that I can only think of two. Oh Angelina too so that's three but I'd still go with Ava over both of them

 

[TheGodling]

Yeah she undercut her opinion. I disagree with both of you tho lol but still she should've left that out cause it makes it seem like she's fishing for a reason to not like the movie because she was offended

Well, in all fairness Selma is a better movie than most of the nominees but that's because the Oscars are crap anyway.

 

[Roman Brady]

Watched this on Tuesday was surprised with how boring it kind of was, the only thing that saved it were the phenomenal performances and necessity to watch a dramatized version of this pivotal point in American history.

The acting all round was stellar David oleyawo in particular was just sublime. Only dude that kind of sucked was the sneaker dude. That scene in the car with king was over long and needed subtitles.The direction was also a mixed bag, I could appreciate the voyeueristicesqe nature of scenes of important dialogue but the Tom and Jerry stuff during the explosion didn't mesh. The trailer kind of showed too much and it wasn't as good as it could have been but more movies like need to be greenlit. And was I the only one shocked to see Oprah was still alive? Slapping a white cop upside the head in the south in public and no hanging let alone jail time? Farcical




Ps Am I the only one that finds it demonic the way Spielberg and ssome execs hold the rights to MLK's speeches? If they choose they can withhold them indefinitely and we will never see a legit MLK biopic ever, who the hell was so hard up for money to sell such a thing? To cacs

It was a good movie but I felt it resonated with me emotionally more because of the subject matter (and how painfully relevant some of it still is today) than because of the movie's efforts. Not to downplay that the movie is indeed well directed and particularly well acted, but not in such an amazing way that I would put the direction too far above the other well directed biopics of this year, The Imitation Game, The Theory Of Everything and Foxcatcher. Theory Of Everything and Foxcatcher in particular, despite their flaws, have confident direction and a clear vision whereas Selma plays a tad too traditional. Selma gets the nod because it's overall still the better movie (beating out the also all-round efficiently made The Imitation Game as well), but I can see how it got a bit lost in the biopic shuffle come awards season.

And I did feel they could've shown *edit LBJ at least a bit more agreeable on MLK's goals. They focused too much on him trying to push the issue away without (as I felt it) emphasizing that he was sympathetic to the cause, because every encounter he seemed more annoyed with MLK than conflicted, and that's a small but very important difference in how he's portrayed. I wouldn't say it was worth all the 'controversy', but it was a point of note.

point notwithstanding Selma wasn't a biopic

 

[Big Boss]

great movie