Selma

In 1965, Selma, Alabama was the epicenter of the Civil Rights controversy. Seeking to get blacks the right to vote, Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo), comes to Selma to serve as alightning rod following the bombing of a church that took the lives of four young girls. Having failed with President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson), King rallies the locals to march from Selma to Montgomery to force Governor Wallace’s (Tim Roth) hand.

ClearPlay In Action!

ClearPlay cleans references to infidelities, as well as some of the brutal police violence. Also cut are about 50 profanities and racial epithets. Though it’s the police who are committing the violent acts, the relevance of the story makes for compelling story-telling and essential viewing for teens and above.

Should I march to my video outlet for Selma?...

Perhaps because it was seen as obvious Oscar fodder, Selma was largely ignored for major film awards. Nevertheless, it masterfully recreates an era and adeptly portrays the various politicalfactions in force at this explosive time. Aided by occasional documentary footage, Selma is gut-wrenching, moving, and spell-binding. It may not have been the best film of 2014, but could very well be the most important.

Marty Nabhan, ClearPlay Agitator

Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including violence, a suggestive moment, and brief strong language; 128 min; Directed by Ava DuVernay