'Selma' Movie: How To Watch Civil Rights Drama On Martin Luther King Jr. Day [VIDEO]
Ava DuVernay's Selma is the perfect movie to watch on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Selma chronicles one of the most important moments of the civil rights movement in the 1960s: the march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. Led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (played by David Oyelowo in the film), the march for voting rights helped lead to the Voting Rights Act months later.
King's impact is present throughout the film, and Oyelowo's performance was very acclaimed, receiving a Critics' Choice and Golden Globe nomination. Selma was nominated at the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Original Song for John Legend and Common's song "Glory", which won the award.
In addition to its many award nominations, it received almost widespread acclaim from critics. The New York Times was particularly impressed with the portrayal of King, whose heirs did not give the rights to his famous speeches.
"Ms. DuVernay turns it into an advantage, a chance to see and hear him afresh. Mr. Oyelowo, a British actor of Nigerian background, has mastered the Southern inflections and preacherly cadences that have become part of the permanent soundtrack of our educational system, and the script offers credible paraphrases of his character's unmatched eloquence," The New York Times review says. "But this version of Dr. King is less an orator than an organizer. He is also, in his mid-30s, a man trying to navigate his public role, his private life and the expectations of his allies and friends."
Selma is available to watch in a variety of ways. In addition to DVD and Blu-ray, Selma is available to stream for free with an Amazon Prime subscription or a Hulu subscription. The movie is also available to rent or buy on Amazon.
