Selma, 3 Stars

I liked this movie very much. It does drag in places but the action of the film, most of which is historically accurate, make it interesting to watch.

The portrayal of Martin Luther King, as a man with flaws, is done well. David Oyelowo (The Help) is good and measured, and he has King's speaking cadence perfected. Carmen Ejogo, whom I was not familiar with, does a very credible job as his wife. Tom Wilkinson (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), who consistently gives strong performances in film after film, does not disappoint as President Johnson. My understanding of Johnson's political moves, at that time, are that he pulled all sorts of strings and IOU's to get the Civil Rights legislation passed, and this film distorts both that effort and that support by him.

Still, the result is a well-done presentation of an important time in history. I'm not sure I'd rush to see it again but I do recommend it.