The arrival of Ava Duvernay's civil rights drama Selma couldn't come at a better time. Our country just held its midterm elections that saw voting rights trampled in numerous states, and even in those that didn't face such odds saw only a small percentage of people turn out to vote. A lot of people fought and died for that right to vote, and the story of that struggle looks to be in very good hands if the first trailer for Selma is any indication.
Starring David Oyelowo in what looks like a career-defining performance, he plays Martin Luther King Jr. as he fought for voting rights in 1965, leading to the incredible marches from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and ultimately the signing of the Voting Rights Act by President Johnson. King and his supporters faced opposition on all sides, much of it violent, and it appears Duvernay isn't afraid to show just how bad it was for those fighting for equality.
The project was initially led by Lee Daniels, but he stepped aside so he could focus on The Butler, which turned out to not be the Oscar contender he had hoped for. Selma seems to be on the right track though, and should be the breakout film for the vastly underrated Duvernay. Starring Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo, Andre Holland, Omar J. Dorsey, Alessandro Nivola, Dylan Baker, Wendell Pierce, Common, Tim Roth, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Keith Stanfield ,Giovanni Ribisi, Tessa Thompson, Diane Nash, Colman Domingo, Stephen Root and Jeremy Strong, Selma opens on Christmas Day in limited release, going wide January 9th 2015.
