Martin Luther King's tumultuous 1965 campaign is recreated, beginning with his acceptance of the Nobel Prize and the 16th Street Church bombing and culminating with a march on Montgomery, Alabama and the Voting Rights Act. Ava DuVernay's Selma is unsubtle, heavy handed, and pretentious with David Oyelowo effective during powerful moments but failing to create a character and get into the the skin of his idolized subject. Famous historical roles are badly miscast and Oprah Winfrey is perfectly nauseating in a supporting part.
** out of ****
