“Selma” was a very good but not phenomenal film. The movie is undeniably beautiful and the direction by Ava DuVernay in it is impeccable. The closing scene of the film especially is a cinematic delight, and you see why actor David Oyelowo is winning so much praise for his portrayal of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Selma” plugs us directly into the inner workings of Martin Luther King, Jr. and SCLC’s organizational efforts during the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. For such an important, broad subject matter, however, it was disappointing that the film did not discuss other landmark protests during the Civil Rights era, such as the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott or even include references to King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech that he made in 1963.

The Civil Rights Movement is so much more than the legacy we know from the history books, and “Selma” sadly didn’t challenge that in the way it could have.

Despite these issues, though, “Selma” is still a very important film for this moment in history, and it is definitely a movie people should see. I was disappointed to not see black women and black queer activists highlighted in the film in a way they should have been, but I still enjoyed it very much regardless. “Selma” is artistically done very well, and there are many points occurring in the movie that are happening today, from Ferguson to Oakland and Staten Island. We are at a crucial juncture in history and “Selma” provides us with much needed historical context to understand the circumstances we find ourselves in today.

I rate this movie three out of five stars.