The start of 2015 is going to be a real treat if you are a fan of the biopic genre, as there are a whole host of great movies to enjoy… Selma is one of these movies and is a film that is already winning over the critics.
Selma
Selma is a historical drama that sees Ava DuVernay back in the director's chair, and follows Martin Luther King and the rise of the civil rights marches that changed America forever.
David Oyelowo is set to take on the role of Martin Luther King Jr, in what could well be the biggest role of his career to date. The British actor is no stranger to the big screen with an acting career that has already spanned over fifteen years and seen him star in movies such as Interstellar, The Butler, Jack Reacher, Lincoln, and The Help.
However, this is set to be a movie and a role that will well and truly put him on the acting map and given him the major exposure and praise that his talent deserves. We have seen a whole host of actors play Luther King Jr over the years, and I am looking forward to seeing Oyelowo's interpretation of this iconic figure.
An all-star cast has been assembled for the film, as Giovanni, Ribisi, Tim Roth, Allessandro Nivola, Martin Sheen, Cuba Gooding Jr, Oprah Winfrey, and Tom Wilkinson are all on board; Wilkinson is set to take on the role of President Lyndon B. Johnson in the film.
Ava DuVernay is one of the female filmmaker to watch out for in 2015, as she returns to the director's chair with Selma, which is the third feature film of her career. She made her debut with I Will Follow back in 2010 before retuning with Middle of Nowhere in 2012: this is her first feature since then as she has been working on short and television projects.
Much like Oyelowo, Selma looks set to truly establish DuVernay as a filmmaking force to watch out for and this is a movie that could well send her star rocketing as well. Paul Webb is on board as he has penned the screenplay, in what is his first script that has been adapted into a movie.
Selma is the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people - a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and led to President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Selma received its premier at the American Film Festival back in November and was released in the U.S. on Christmas Day. Sadly, we are going to have to wait a little longer to see what all the critics seem to be raving about, as Selma will not hit the big screen until the beginning of February. However, it does look like it is going to be worth the wait.
Selma is just one of the biopic movies that is going to be heading our way in recent week - the likes of Wild, Foxcatcher, and The Theory of Everything are other high profile movies that we will be enjoying this January - and it really going to be an exciting few weeks for this genre.
Selma is another film that is being tipped as a possible outsider to pick up an Oscar nomination or two - we all know how much the Academy loves a biopic film, so don't be surprised to find it in the mix.