2014's Most Underrated Films

Today I'm going to highlight the hidden gems of the year in my Most Underrated Films of 2014 list. Just to be clear, I generally hold specific criteria for a movie's inclusion in the top 5. The two parameters are a film's ridiculously low box office total (hovering around $5 million or less) as well as NOT being a viable awards season contender. In my honorable mention portion below, I open the door to films with slightly bigger name recognition. So here they are, 2014's most overlooked movies.

Honorable Mention: Chef ($31.1 million, but wrongfully omitted from the awards season discussion), Chris Rock's Top Five ($19.1 million and snubbed by the Golden Globes) and finally The Skeleton Twins ($5.3 million).

#5. Cuban Fury ($92k)

Kicking off the top 5 is the vastly under-seen comedy, Cuban Fury, starring two hilarious talents from overseas, Shaun of the Dead's Nick Frost and Bridesmaid's Chris O'Dowd. After a bullying incident as a young dancing phenom has left Bruce (Frost) shy and frail in his latter years, the introduction of his foxy new boss (Rashida Jones) pits him against an arrogant co-worker named Drew (O'Dowd) in a competition for her affection. But news of her love for Salsa dancing gives Bruce the slight advantage, as the now overweight former dancer attempts to out-dance Drew and sweep his sexy new boss off of her feet. Cuban Fury is a fine comedy selection filled with legitimate laughs and a wholesome story at its core. Ironically, another Chris O'Dowd movie landed in my top 5 of last year's list as well.

#4. Kill the Messenger ($2.4 million)

Yesterday I outlined the Most Underrated Performances of the year, and right at the top of the list was Jeremy Renner's staunch performance in the conspiracy theory drama, Kill the Messenger. Renner stars as news journalist Gary Webb, a reporter guided toward a major government conspiracy from the 1980s. Supposedly, our administration was in support of a group trying to overthrow the Nicaraguan government. However, since we couldn't help fund their efforts publicly, Webb alleged through his sources that the U.S. government knowingly aided the crack-cocaine epidemic that swept across major cities in the 1980s because those funds were being funneled back to Nicaraguan rebels. Years later and it's still unclear whether Webb's claims were substantiated with legitimate sources, or if he fabricated a majority of the story. Either way, Michael Cuesta's Kill the Messenger delivers an enthralling conspiracy tale that succeeds on the shoulders of a tremendously talented Jeremy Renner.

#3. The Mule (no box office)

Every year I'm pleasantly surprised by the impressive crop of Australian cinema that I encounter. 2014 was no exception, as one of the rare treats of the year came in the form of the true-story dark comedy, The Mule. With writing and directing credits to the film as well, leading star Angus Sampson plays the timid and unimpressive footballer Ray Jenkins. Still living with his folks and starving for friendship, Ray's coaxed into smuggling heroine into his country by a pseudo "friend". Yet, when he begins to act suspicious in the airport, Ray's taken into custody by the local authorities who are given seven days to supervise their target. Aware of his own guilt, Ray must exhibit physical and psychological restraint as he tries not to defecate for an entire week. It's a bizarre story, I know, but all in all a smattering of exceptional performances carry this highly captivating and often comical tale. And since Australia is struggling to generate box office revenue for ANY film, The Mule was sent immediately to digital platforms for download.

#2. Laggies ($400k)

I was thrilled to be one of the first people in the world to catch a viewing of Lynn Shelton's Laggies at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. While the indie debuted to middling reviews, I felt a strong connection with the central character played earnestly by Keira Knightley. Following a proposal by her long-time boyfriend and high school sweetheart, the twenty-something year old Megan (Knightley) needs some time for personal reflection. Therefore, she conjures up a fake story and treks over to a new high school-aged friend's house (Chloe Grace Moretz) for a week to get away from her normal routine. While shacking up there, her friend's father (Sam Rockwell) helps Megan understand what she truly wants in her life. Nowadays especially, it's a difficult world for those mid-twenties young adults who graduate college and struggle to find work. Not too far removed from those years myself, Laggies became an easy film to connect with and another spectacular performance from supporting star Sam Rockwell simply sealed the deal. 

#1. Cheap Thrills ($60k)

2014's most impressive and underrated indie flick was the shocking dark comedy and psychological drama, Cheap Thrills. Guaranteed to land on my Top 10 Films of the Year list which is coming soon, the movie uses the chief motivator of money to tell an unrelenting story of modern day survival. Pat Healy gives a gutsy turn as Craig, a husband and father who loses his job and receives an eviction notice all on the same day. Attempting to drown his misery at a local bar, Craig reconnects with an old friend (Ethan Embry) and a new wealthy couple that offer a night the two buddies will never forget. With a climbing stakes of "fear factor" challenges, Cheap Thrills shows you just how far people are willing to go for financial stability. There are definitely some squeamish moments throughout the film's brisk 88 minute running time, but if you can stomach it, Cheap Thrills is undoubtedly a twisted good time.

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2014's Most Underrated Performances

One of my annual year-end staples is to outline the most overlooked performances of the past year. It always begins with a preliminary list that I conjure up after scouring my database for all the films I've seen from that specific year. So far, in 2014, I have 95 films to choose from. And since this list focuses on the "underrated" performances, anything in Oscar contention is automatically nixed. More so than in the past, my preliminary list was quite lengthy this year with 17 exceptional roles that needed to be whittled down to 10. It was a difficult process, but here are my Most Underrated Performances of 2014.

#10. Riz Ahmed - Nightcrawler

Everyone seemed to enjoy Dan Gilroy's directorial debut, Nightcrawler, and it's leading star, Jake Gyllenhaal, has reaped all of the benefits from the feature's success. However, I took things even further when I proclaimed the film as having one of the best ensembles of the year. One of my biggest reasons for doing so was the breakout performance from Gyllenhaal's onscreen right-hand man, Rick, played brilliantly by Riz Ahmed. As a character essential to the film's success, Ahmed played a wide array of deviating emotions, all of which made him a very noticeable performer in a universally adored film.

#9. Pat Healy - Cheap Thrills

I've devoted plenty of time this year raving about the Drafthouse Films diamond in the rough, Cheap Thrills, and at its center is a knockout performance from the movie's leading star, Pat Healy. In a self-proclaimed game of modern day "fear factor", we watch a loyal and hard working husband engage in unfathomable acts in order to sufficiently provide for his wife and child. Financial fears loom over all of us and Healy is able to capture these psychological burdens with such pinpoint accuracy that everything ends up falling into place brilliantly in one of the year's finest offerings.

#8. Rory Culkin - Gabriel

Although Lou Howe's mentally unstable drama, Gabriel, has only made its way around the festival circuit and bypassed a theatrical release in 2014, Rory Culkin (the youngest of seven siblings) gives too impressive of a performance to overlook. Culkin brings to life a multi-dimensional and troubled character who's begging for acceptance and normalcy in life. That's why after he's released from his psychiatric institution, Gabriel seeks out his first true love in hopes that it will finally bring balance to his world. Culkin is mesmerizing and perfectly unpredictable in a career defining role that truly sets him apart as one of the finest young actors in Hollywood.

#7. Kristen Wiig - The Skeleton Twins

We all know and love Kristen Wiig as the Saturday Night Live alumni who made us laugh hysterically in the female-centric comedy, Bridesmaids. However, 2014 proved to be a huge breakout year for the actress with her dynamic performance in the Sundance dramedy hit, The Skeleton Twins. As the female half of a pair of twins who reconnect under unfortunate circumstances after being estranged for nearly a decade, Wiig's sincere role demonstrates her impressive ability to transcend comedy and deliver in the dramatic ranks. Much like the superb trans-formative talents that came before her, such as Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and many others, Kristen Wiig uses The Skeleton Twins as a platform to bolster her rapidly-rising career.

#6. Angus Sampson - The Mule

I caught one of the most surprising movies of the year at the 2014 Philadelphia Film Festival. The Mule, a "based on a true story" piece of Australian cinema, takes us into the world of drug smuggling, where a timid and friendless Ray Jenkins (Sampson) reluctantly agrees to be a first time drug smuggler in order to gain some semblance of social acceptance. But after he begins to act a little strange in the airport, the authorities take him in for questioning and are granted one week's time to hold the suspect in custody. This week-long showdown pits Ray against the police in a match of psychological and physical restraint as he struggles to hold his bowels for seven days. It's a bizarre concept that translates mightily well to the big screen thanks to a highly committed performance from the film's leading stars and co-director, Angus Sampson.

#5. Juliette Binoche - Clouds of Sils Maria

In an over-extended and undeniably drawn out affair that still manages to resonate well, Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche gives another remarkable turn in the drama Clouds of Sils Maria. Binoche stars as an aging actress forced to overcome father time and her ego as she reluctantly accepts a role in the revival of a play that sparked her career. Only, this time, she will be taking on the character of the older manipulated female in the play, something she struggles to come to terms with. Action-less and heavy on dialogue and emotion, Clouds of Sils Maria paints an honest portrait of experiencing the other side of the proverbial "hump". And what could have been an utter disaster and bore-fest, actually unravels as a complex and genuine story thanks to towering performances from Binoche and her onscreen sidekick played by Kristen Stewart.

#4. Tom Hardy - The Drop

In what's become an understandably polarizing film, The Drop is best known as the late James Gandolfini's final feature. And while Gandolfini delivers another fine role in his last go-around, the film is actually an opportunity for Tom Hardy to showcase his talents. Hardy stars as Bob Saginowski, a bartender in a rough neighborhood who's robbed at gunpoint while closing up the shop. Through the repercussions of this incident we discover all of the many secrets revolving around people in the neighborhood, including Bob. Hardy offers up a multi-layered character that's utterly fascinating and he dominates every second of screen time he's given. No matter how you felt about the film, you can't deny Hardy's unique ability to perfectly capture his character.

#3. Sam Rockwell - Laggies

Another year and another spot on my Most Underrated Performances list for the great talent, Sam Rockwell (2012 for Seven Psychopaths and 2013 for The Way, Way Back). This time around it's a much smaller role in Lynn Shelton's Laggies, but an almost equally effective result. It's really Keira Knightley's film as a twenty-something woman who's oddly thrown for her loop when her high school sweetheart and long-time boyfriend proposes to her. In an attempt to sneak away during this crucial time in her life, she makes up a lie and spends a week shacking up with a new high school-aged friend she meets on a random evening. This is where Sam Rockwell is introduced and the entire film begins to take off. Laggies is a soul-searching effort that benefits greatly from Rockwell's energy and charisma. He's one of Hollywood's most overlooked actors and his role here is yet another example of just how spectacular he really is.

#2. Ansel Elgort - The Fault in Our Stars

One of 2014's most profitable features was the worldwide phenomenon, The Fault in Our Stars. Adapted from a best selling novel of the same name, teenagers flocked to theaters to see what is actually a really impressive film from Josh Boone. At its core are a pair of spectacular lead performances from Shailene Woodley and her lesser known counterpart, Ansel Elgort. While Woodley has the longest of shots at an Oscar Nomination, Elgort's name has been virtually absent from the awards season discussion. Although it's slightly understandable since the Best Actor race is flooded with superb talent, I will admit that I was floored at just how fantastic he is in The Fault of Our Stars. The film follows a pair of unlikely lovers in teenage cancer patients who are unsure of what the future holds for them. Clearly this spells a recipe for sentiment that is handled with extreme care thanks to the onscreen brilliance of Elgort and Woodley, both of which are unquestionably excellent.

#1. Jeremy Renner - Kill the Messenger

Finally, my list concludes with the two-time Oscar Nominated talent, Jeremy Renner. This year Renner captivated audiences with the conspiracy thriller, Kill the Messenger. While I'm not the type of person to fall for a government conspiracy theory, I am always interested in viewing Renner's work. In the film he stars as journalist Gary Webb, who printed a blistering news story that accused the U.S. government on knowingly aiding the crack epidemic that swept across major cities during the 1980s. Afterward, Webb's flip-flopping sources and paper-thin story was ripped to pieces by the news community and a devastating smear campaign ruined Webb's career. But was the story really fabricated, or did the government orchestrate a public destruction of Webb's work? Although the truth will never be known to a certainty, it's a cold-hard fact that Jeremy Renner delivers a fully committed turn as a man with conviction, one that does justice to Webb's legacy. Even though all of the awards season voting blocks managed to completely ignore Renner's unbelievable work in Kill the Messenger, I simply refuse to.

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Rapid Reviews: Big Eyes and Top Five

As the cinematic year rushes towards its finale, the Oscar buzz surrounding Tim Burton's latest endeavor, Big Eyes, has certainly faded. While Amy Adams, a perennial awards season name, stands as the film's most likely contender, even she finds herself with a bit of a hill to climb now that Jennifer Aniston (Cake) has valiantly postured for that coveted fifth and final spot in the Best Actress race. Although I can't speak on behalf of Aniston's performance, mainly because her festival circuit film has somehow eluded me this year, I will say that Amy Adams gives yet another finely tuned and endearing performance in Burton's new true-story tale.

Big Eyes is a bit of a break from the norm for Tim Burton, It's the director's first live-action film since 2003's under-appreciated release, Big Fish, where he isn't featuring his usual sidekick, superstar Johnny Depp. Instead, Burton relies on the talents of two more than capable replacements, Amy Adams and the always phenomenal two-time Academy Award winner, Christoph Waltz. Together the duo bring to life the incredible true story of painter Margaret Keane (Adams) and her decade long struggle to claim credit for her artwork after her then husband, Walter Keane (Waltz), had assumed public responsibility for her nationally beloved "Big Eyes" paintings.

The naivety of Margaret and the borderline sexist time period of the 1950s through the 1960s is captured extremely well and helps set the table for this intriguing story of manipulation. Waltz also delivers a fabulous turn as the charismatic and attention-craved husband who indirectly forces his wife into an ever-growing web of lies. However, Burton's Big Eyes fumbles along this fairly superficial tale at an irritatingly slow pace. And while the story is interesting enough to carry you to the finish line, the level of enjoyment along the way is certainly capped. Furthermore, much like the eyes in Keane's signature paintings, the dramatics in the film are highly exaggerated. Yet, either way, Big Eyes is still a much better representation of the types of film Burton should continue to make.


Stars: 2 stars out of 4

Grade: C+





Another film sill currently out in theaters is Chris Rock's critically adored comedy, Top Five. Despite its head-scratching snub at the Golden Globes where comedies are given the rare chance to shine, Top Five is a well crafted passion project in which Rock writes, stars in and directs. The comedian's talents are on full display and his creativity proves limitless with a highly insightful and honest depiction of Hollywood stardom.

In what may sound like a semi-autobiographical premise, Chris Rock stars as a revered comedian and actor named Andre Allen who's sobered up and determined to transition to a more "serious" actor. But as he returns to his home town in New York City to promote the release of a new film and hold an interview with writer Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson), Andre begins to open up to the reporter and gain a deeper perspective into his own life. Yet, with a wedding to a reality TV superstar quickly on the horizon and surfacing news of a brutal debut for his film, Andre is forced to make some rash decisions in his life.

As someone who has always had an affection for Chris Rock's stand-up comedy, the mature and sophisticated writing evident throughout Top Five is an absolute game changer. Rock mixes the perfect concoction of comedy and drama to cover all grounds necessary. His feature is guaranteed to elicit laughs as well as demonstrate some sincere vulnerability to the superstars we constantly place in the spotlight. But if I had to highlight a particular issue with the movie, it would definitely focus on the contrived subplot of Andre Allen's alcoholism. However, no blemish is large enough to derail Top Five, as it remains a huge step for Rock's filmmaking career and we can only wish for more of the same in the future.


Stars: 3 stars out of 4

Grade: B

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Unbroken

Film: Unbroken

Starring: Jack O'Connell (Starred Up) and Domhnall Gleeson (About Time)

Director: Angelina Jolie (In the Land of Blood and Honey)

U.S. Release: December 25th, 2014 (Rated PG-13)

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 137 minutes


Perception and reality are two completely different things. And unfortunately for Angelina Jolie's once-upon-a-time Oscar frontrunner, Unbroken, reality has officially set in. Based on the remarkable true story of an Olympic runner turned prisoner of war during the course of World War II, an adapted screenplay by the Coen brothers had all of Hollywood buzzing about the film's potential. Sadly, though, Unbroken culminates as little more than a "what could have been" experience.

Growing up as a trouble-making youth in California, Louis Zamperini (played by Jack O'Connell) is recruited to join his school's track team by his brother Pete. Louis goes on to compete in the Olympics as a distance runner and breaks the official record for the fastest final lap time. Years later he ends up as a member of the U.S. Air Force, where a failed recovery mission lands the soldier and a few of his crewmates lost at sea for a nearly month an a half. After being spotted by a Japanese vessel in the middle of the ocean, Louis is transferred to a brutal internment camp where he's pushed to physical and psychological limits by the prison overseer Watanabe (Miyavi).

I've heard countless recollections of the impressive story told throughout Laura Hillenbrand's biography of Louis Zamperini. What's more surprising, however, is how empty Angelina Jolie's sophomore effort, Unbroken, feels. After a rapid introduction that never adequately develops the constantly harped-on relationship between Louis and his brother Pete, it becomes quickly apparent that almost all subplots will be ignored. Instead, Jolie takes the audience on an abusive-centric ride battered with religious undertones. In a Christ-like manner, Louis welcomes the punishment on such a regular basis that you almost become desensitized by the beatings, and unphased when the prisoner is able to withstand more torture than his villainous nemesis, Wanatabe, can physically offer. And throughout this unnecessary and visceral brutality, a depth-less screenplay by the usually reliable Joel and Ethan Coen submits to this unjustifiable mishandling of a truly heroic tale.

Of all the clear blemishes made visible throughout Unbroken, one bright spot does reside in the film's leading star. Newcomer Jack O'Connell gives a fully committed performance and does the best he can with what he's been given. Yet, rudimentary dialogue and a one-dimensional vision from the movie's high-profile director overshadow an otherwise valiant portrayal from O'Connell, leaving Unbroken as a hollow and unworthy potential Oscar contender.

It's generally a curse being thrusted into the early spotlight of awards season, and Jolie's latest effort is no exception. Elevated expectations only make matters worse for this devastatingly run-of-the-mill film. Yes, you'll witness the heroism and struggles that Zamperini is forced to endure, but you'll leave the theater far more curious about the ramifications of his experiences and what happens next in his life. I guess I'll have to turn to Hillenbrand's biography for those answers.


Stars: 2 stars out of 4

Grade: C

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The Interview

Film: The Interview

Starring: James Franco (This Is the End), Seth Rogen (Neighbors) and Randall Park (HBO's Veep)

Directors: Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen (This Is the End)

U.S. Release: December 25th, 2014 (Limited Release - Rated R)

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 112 minutes


By now the enormous controversy surrounding the Sony hack and the theatrical release of The Interview is old news, therefore, catching the latest effort from the team that brought us This Is the End was right at the top of my Christmas morning wish list. Yet, rather than mocking themselves like they did in their 2013 end of the world comedy hit, the trio of James Franco, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg set this new film's focus on North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un. The rest is about as crazy and ridiculous as one might expect.

When producer Aaron Rapaport (Rogen) decides that he wants the face of his news show, David Skylark (Franco), to deliver more respectable news stories, the duo end up landing a coveted face-to-face interview with North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un (Randall Park). After news of the upcoming interview begins to spread, Aaron and David are approached by the CIA to assassinate the U.S. enemy. However, with these two dimwits as the mission's only hope of success, a disaster is all but inevitable.

After the entire circus surrounding The Interview's release, needless to say, Sony Pictures must be thrilled over the publicity its film has received. And now that I've finally viewed the highly anticipated comedy with my own two eyes, this cash cow is a major letdown on just about every level imaginable. Outside of a sluggish second half that's beyond far-fetched and over the top, The Interview is barely anything more than a tiresome compilation of "dick" jokes and Lord of the Rings references. The film's R-rating is earned solely through raunchy humor that is neither clever nor developed. James Franco constantly spews such ridiculous nonsense, hence,  those rare instances where he actually makes a comical retort are quickly squandered by his next rapid fire of  clear "misses". Randall Park has a few shining moments as Kim Jong-un, but still he and Seth Rogen are hardly bright spots to the film, making The Interview one of 2014's biggest comedy duds.

In fairness, The Interview is a tale of two halves. The first is an engaging precursor which does a commendable job of setting up an abomination of a second portion. And since this Christmas movie theaters are packed with plenty of other prominent titles to choose from, I highly suggest picking something different. But if you're desperately seeking a legitimate source of laughs, then Chris Rock's Top Five would be a much better option. Or if an Oscar-bound drama could do the trick, then I'd highly recommend checking out either Wild or The Imitation Game.

There's no doubt that the media hype circulating The Interview will drive audiences to the limited number of theaters releasing the film as well as the streaming options all over the internet. Sony Pictures is in for a huge payday with this one. However, you'd be better served skipping on this over-extended and minimally funny effort from a usually reliable team of comedians and looking elsewhere for your holiday cheer.


Stars: 1 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: C-

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True Story and In the Heart of the Sea Trailers

In 2015 This Is the End stars Jonah Hill and James Franco headline the Sundance drama, True Story. Based on the real interconnection between Michael Finkle (played by Hill), a recently fired news journalist, and accused killer Christian Longo (Franco), an FBI's Ten Most Wanted who was found in Mexico living under the alias of Finkle. After Longo was finally captured and brought back to the U.S. to stand trial in the murders of his wife and three children, he met with Finkle and asked the unemployed reporter to tell the world what really happened. True Story appears to be a chilling drama we may want to keep an eye on throughout 2015.





Academy Award Winner Ron Howard's 2013 surprising Formula 1 racing hit, Rush, reminded audiences just how spectacular of a filmmaker he can be when working under the right set of circumstances. In 2015 Howard re-teams with his Rush star, Chris Hemsworth, in the story that inspired the literary classic, Moby Dick. Hemsworth stars as a crew member of an 1820s vessel whose encounter with a gigantic sperm whale leaves the surviving members stranded at sea for 90 days. Here's the first extended look into Ron Howard's next release, In the Heart of the Sea.

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Knight of Cups and Mad Max: Fury Road Trailers

Filmmaker Terrence Malick possesses a loyal cult following, so the niche crowd clearly rejoiced at a glance into the upcoming 2015 film, Knight of Cups, starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and Natalie Portman. There are very few people who view the world and artistic expression like Malick, evident from his mind blowing 2011 Oscar Nominated film, The Tree of Life. But with this latest project, Malick finally appears to be tackling a modern-day setting for once, something which could be a nice change of pace for the director. I'm eager to see how it translates, but if you're looking for a practical plot to the film, odds are you'll never get one. That isn't Malick's style, so you should see it for yourself.





Another cult classic franchise is getting a jump-start in 2015 with the long-awaited prequel, Mad Max: Fury Road. What makes this journey into the futuristic setting of a broken down wasteland so unconventional is original director George Miller returns after a three decade-long absence to revive the story. Move over Mel Gibson, because a superbly talented Tom Hardy takes over the title role of "Road Warrior" and the film, which Miller describes as one long "feature-length chase scene", has loyal fans stoked for its release.

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Selma

Film: Selma

Starring: David Oyelowo (Lee Daniels' The Butler) and Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)

Director: Ava DuVernay (Middle of Nowhere)

U.S. Release: December 25th, 2014 (Limited Release - Not Yet Rated)

Genre: Drama

Running Time: 127 minutes


Timing is everything. The current state of racial turmoil in the United States is abundantly clear and, much like the central figure in Ava DuVernay's freight-train of an Oscar contender, Selma, I'm a believer in universal peace and unconditional love. But with relatively recent outcomes in the deaths of unarmed African American individuals such as Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and Michael Brown, where much controversy has been boiling up for some time, DuVernay's timely picture leaves us pondering how far we've really come since the violence-plagued Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

David Oyelowo stars as the charismatic preacher, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., during his fearless crusade to the hotbed of racial animosity in Selma, Alabama. After local authorities continue to reject voter registration applications from African Americans trying to exercise their rights, Dr. King shifts the focus of the Civil Rights Movement to the heart of the south where he's greeted by hate-fueled law enforcement and state politicians. Desperately seeking the support of a reluctant President Lyndon Johnson (Tom Wilkinson), Dr. King decides to lead a peaceful 54-mile march from Selma to the state capitol in Montgomery in hopes of achieving legislation granting African American's the uninhibited right to vote.

Analyzing the latest emotional Civil Rights drama, Selma, purely on its qualities as a film, there are many aspects that are worthy of fair criticism. Many strong performances aside (I will touch on each of them later), DuVernay's breakthrough feature is hampered by a noticeably weak first-time screenwriter, Paul Webb, and some serious issues with pacing. While Webb's screenplay has been lauded by many in the early going of the year-end awards run, the writing is actually bogged down with mild cliches and very little depth. What you see is what you get and, outside of a few justly included facts surrounding Dr. King's known infidelity, most of the film's characters and situations are quite superficial and without complexity. As for the movie's long-winded and repetitive feel, I understand that the entire production team stays true to the historical timeline and the three marching attempts needed to achieve their goal, but the manner in which the story unravels is punishingly slow. These mitigating factors place Ava DeVernay's Selma much closer to Lee Daniels' The Butler than last year's gut-wrenching Best Picture winner, 12 Years a Slave.

Despite over-extending itself and merely scratching the surface with a majority of its characters, Selma offers many exceptional performances. While David Oyelowo's courageous turn as Dr. King will almost assuredly land him an Oscar Nomination in the Best Actor category, I was most impressed by supporting stars Carmen Ejogo, Tim Roth and Tom Wilkinson. Ejogo is given the most multi-dimensional character as Coretta Scott King and she handles the role mightily well. Roth is convincingly despicable as segregationist Alabama Governor George Wallace and Wilkinson walks on egg shells adequately as President Lyndon Johnson. Furthermore, DuVernay gives a superb directorial effort in her own right. The auteur's whole-hearted devotion is evident as she truly captures the essence of these iconic moments in U.S. history. Some naysayers will declare DuVernay's assumed Oscar Nomination for Best Director as nothing more than a flashy headline, as she'd be the first female of color to ever be nominated. Yet, truth be told, she does a remarkable job and would be worthy of any such recognition.

I will close by stating that I typically try to avoid political discussion because of the insensitivity it generally promotes, but Selma makes it difficult to ignore. And while I certainly understand the authenticity dedicated to showing physical brutality and visceral images that undoubtedly occurred during this real-life struggle for freedom, however, putting such a large focus of the film on the unforgivable rage that transpired in Selma is the wrong message to send to audiences. Although I will not speak on DuVernay's behalf and claim this as her intention, I can guarantee that there will be factions of viewers who leave the movie theater feeling bitter and enraged by the story. For example, at last night's screening in the city of Philadelphia, a select few clapped and cheered during the final moments when screen text revealed that racist politician George Wallace was left paralyzed by an assassination attempt in 1972. This is by no means the message of peace that the great Dr. King lived and died for, and that's the message our country needs right now.


Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4

Grade: B-

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