The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and The Voting Rights Act of 1965 were pivotal moments during the civil rights movement. The movie Selma captures the time period between the two – specifically, the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. It’s important to note that while the act of 1964 abolished separate but equal, established equal employment and ensured the right to register to vote, it still left authority for application approval in the hands of government officials. Selma explains the dilemma…

Story: This story is told very well because it isolates one very finite period of time and fully explains the nuances that were in play at the time. The writers and the director expose the missing extra step the 1964 act didn’t cover and show the press to fix it. They don’t try to cover too much ground or tackle too much subject matter… Just the movement that led to the act of 1965.

Also of note, they address some greatly speculated rumors about Dr. King’s personal life. There have been suggestions for decades about infidelity in his marriage; The writers – in a very subtle way – bring light to the accusations. Dr. King is on record as saying he wasn’t a saint and while he changed the world as we know it, his humanity shouldn’t be dismissed. He was a man of vision, but, he deserved to be just a man too…

Performances: David Oyelowo as Dr. King is excellent. He’s an englishman, so, he has to work on the look, the sound and the manner, but, he nailed it all. He passes my litmus test – I forgot I was watching David Oyelowo… Look for nominations across awards season.

Tim Roth as Alabama Governor George Wallace hits the nail on the head as well, but, Tom Wilkinson as President Lyndon Johnson didn’t hit the mark. This could account for some of the controversy over whether President Johnson’s impact on the movement is accurate or not.

Oprah Winfrey is a producer and also serves as the example of why this movement happened. She plays Annie Lee Cooper who tries to register to vote because the act of 1964 gave her the right, but, shows that the registrar still had the power to deny the right. Oprah’s appearances are brief, but, important. Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King is also important to this movie and enlightening.

Visual: The director really brings the 1960’s to life. Costumes and props were spot-on, but, put them aside for this film. You can feel the struggle – you get the sense that the white people really don’t like the black people and you get the sense of dignity the black people are looking to achieve. You can see this on the screen. The use of archive footage is also in perfect balance with the current scenes.

Rating: A. This film is being criticized by some historians as inaccurate as it relates to President Johnson’s impact on the movement and his discussions with Dr. King. You should see the movie and decide for yourself if you think it misses the mark. Of note: President Johnson was still a politician…

But, I don’t want to take away from first time director Ava DuVernay. She displays this story on the big screen well. And like Dr. King, no one is perfect – this is just her telling of this story. If you don’t like the way she and the writers and producers tell this story, go to the library – read about The Civil Rights Act of 1964; Read about The Voting Rights Act of 1965; President Lyndon B. Johnson has a whole library in Texas where you can read about his impact on the civil rights movement, U.S. politics and the Presidency. Decide for yourself…

If Selma gets people of this age thinking about civil rights and gets people to seek knowledge and education, then it’s an even better movie than I thought. No matter what, see it and decide for yourself…