‘Selma’ Returning To Theaters
Martin Luther King Jr. is marching back into theaters. Paramount Pictures has announced an encore presentation ofAva DuVernay’s Oscar-nominated historical dramaSelmato begin this month, with a buy-one-get-one-free ticket promotion to sweeten the deal.
Which means if you missed the film last year, now’s the perfect time to catch up; if you did see it, here’s your chance to bring along that friend who never got around to it. As far as opportunities for dialogue about race relations go, it definitely beatsthat awkward Starbucks initiative. Get all the details on theSelmare-release after the jump.
Paramount hasSelmaback in theaters startingMarch 20. The timing might seem odd, consideringSelmadidn’t open all that long ago. (Heck, it’s still in theaters at some locations.) But there’s a good reason for the encore engagement — it is timed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the events depicted in the film.
Scripted byPaul Webb,Selmafollows Dr. Martin Luther King (David Oyelowo) over three months in 1965. In a campaign for civil rights, King leads the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965. His efforts culminate in the signing of the Voting Rights Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson).
Selmawas considered by many (usincluded) to be one of the best films of 2014. DuVernay’s direction and Oyelowo’s performance bring a searing immediacy to these long-ago events. Of course, so does the film’s depressing modern-day relevance —Selmareminds us of how long we’ve come, but also how long we still have to go.
Additionally, Oyelowo is surrounded by an excellent supporting cast that includesCarmen Ejogo,Tim Roth,Oprah Winfrey,Common,Keith Stanfield, andCuba Gooding Jr. It also boasted a powerful anthem by Common andJohn Legendthat won Best Original Song at this year’s Oscars.
Still not sure? Maybe this excellent trailer will help you make up your mind.
Actually, that trailer is missing one of the key pieces of the movie, namely Common and John Legend’s “Glory,” so here’s a video of that.
