SUNDOWN - Tuesday 12th July 2022.

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'SUNDOWN' earlier this week, and this Mexican, French and Swedish Co-Produced drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Michel Franco whose previous film making offerings include 'After Lucia' in 2012 that won the Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes, 'Chronic' in 2015 with Tim Roth and 'New Order' in 2020 with Diego Boneta. The film has garnered generally favourable reviews, and has so far grossed US$372K since its release in the US at the end of January having seen its World Premier as the Venice Film Festival back in September last year.  

Neil Bennett (Tim Roth, who also Executive Produces here), a quiet introverted man from London, is on vacation in Acapulco, Mexico with his sister Alice (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and her two young adult children, Colin (Samuel Bottomley) and Alexa (Albertine Kotting McMillan). They stay in a luxurious resort hotel overlooking the ocean and eat at up market restaurants. Day after day, the family participates in a variety of fun activities, or just lounging beside and in their own private pool. Neil, however, is seemingly not enjoying himself. 

One day, Alice receives a phone call telling her that her mother is being taken to the hospital back in England. Following this news, the family immediately prepares to go home. On the way to the airport the next morning, Alice takes a second call informing her that her mother has passed away. Alice bursts into tears while Neil remains very calm and matter of fact. At the airport, Neil says he left his passport at the hotel, so the rest of the family are forced into flying out without him.

Neil lied about the passport, as it was in his suitcase the whole time, and he decided to stay in Acapulco, at least for the next few days. He gets to know a local taxi driver named Jorge Campos (Jesus Godinez), who takes him to a small cheap downbeat hotel. Neil whiles away the day by eating at cheap beachside restaurants, drinking beers and visiting the very crowded local beach. Alice calls him repeatedly to come home but he soon gets tired of her insistence and starts to ignore her calls and messages left. Instead he starts dating a friendly local named Berenice (Iazua Larios). One day he returns to his hotel room to find his belongings have seemingly been stolen, but he exhibits very little reaction to this, accepting it for what it is. The next day while he and Berenice are at the beach, he observes two men approaching the beach at high speed on a jet ski. They pull up and one gets off and walks up to another guy and shoots him dead at point blank range in broad daylight, and then departs immediately afterwards from whence they came. They both witness this, as did numerous others at the time, yet Neil remains apathetic to the whole affair.

Some two weeks later Alice returns to Acapulco and confronts Neil at the beach in a heated one sided conversation about him abandoning her in her days of need. She promptly leaves when she has said all she is going to. As it turns out the Bennett family is extremely wealthy because they are in the meat processing business with farms and abattoirs up and down the country back in the UK. Neil calls Alice and asks if they can meet. After briefly talking about the family business and saying it was never about the money, Neil signs a document relinquishing his assets and inheritance in the presence of the family lawyer, Richard (Henry Goodman). Alice however, agrees to a monthly stipend of £10,000 for as long as he shall live, which should set him up very nicely in Acapulco. 

Later, on the way to the airport Alice is shot and killed by a gang of three car jackers, driven by Jorge. The Police arrest Neil, believing he ordered the assassination as he was seen talking to the three on several occasions down by the beach. Neil bursts into tears upon learning about his sister's death from a newspaper article. His representatives arrive and tell him that the company is now his. After Richard gets him out of prison, after being locked up in very cramped conditions with half of Mexico's low life crims for a few days, Richard orders their driver to take him and Neil straight to the airport. Neil however, has other plans and asks to be returned to his hotel, much to Richard's bemusement. He continues seeing Berenice and spending time at the beach. Sometime later, Richard, Colin, and Alexa confront him in his hotel room unannounced. Alexa hits Neil in the head with an empty beer bottle. Later, Neil signs off the rights to the family company to Colin and Alexa. Neil, in return, will still receive his monthly pension, £100,000 as a once off down payment and have his private health insurance maintained until he dies. After the meeting, Neil returns to Berenice, with the other three departing straightaway back to England. Neil, once again shows no emotion or empathy at all. 

Sometime later, after Neil and Berenice return to her apartment Neil collapses down a flight of stairs carrying an esky full of beers. Berenice takes him to the hospital, where she learns Neil has advanced cancer that has metastasised to his frontal lobe and the Doctor recommends beginning chemo therapy immediately at a specialist hospital in Mexico City. After Berenice falls asleep by his side, Neil collects up his belongings, abandons her and walks down the streets of Mexico City alone at night. Abruptly we cut from his sullen face to an image of the beach's waves breaking on the shoreline some days following, the glaring sunshine, and the shirt and shoes Neil was wearing the night he walked away from the hospital, left unattended on the back of a chair with a beer bottle on a table nearby.

'Sundown' is a film that won't be for everyone that's for sure, and I'm not even sure it was for me! There is no doubt that Tim Roth's understated introverted and bored millionaire Neil Bennet is meticulously played out with all the nuances of a man who has reached the end of his tether and who doesn't really care about anything or anyone. This is hardly an uplifting film either, it's a slow burn, leaves numerous questions unanswered, and when the ending comes after a brisk 82 minute run time I was left thinking where's the final ten minutes that would tie all those unanswered questions together and provide for a less unambiguous conclusion. On the positive front there is Tim Roth's and Charlotte Gainsbourg's performances, the cinematography which depicts both the richer and the poorer side of Mexican life, the random acts of violence that are seemingly all too real in that part of the world, and as a character study it works. 

'Sundown' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 14th - 20th May 2017.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Tim Roth does on 14th May - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 56, at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 14th May

• Francesca Annis - Born 1945, turns 72 - Actress
• Cate Blanchett - Born 1969, turns 48 - Actress | Producer | Director
• Sofia Coppola - Born 1971, turns 46 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actress
• George Lucas - Born 1944, turns 73 - Producer | Writer | Director | Editor 
• Robert Zemeckis - Born 1952, turns 65 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Tim Roth - Born 1961, turns 56 - Actor | Producer | Director  
• Danny Huston - Born 1962, turns 55 - Actor | Director

Monday 15th May

• Chaz Palminteri - Born 1952, turns 65 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Grant Heslov - Born 1963, turns 54 - Actor | Producer | Writer | Director  

Tuesday 16th May

• Danny Trejo - Born 1944, turns 73 - Actor | Producer
• Pierce Brosnan - Born 1953, turns 64 - Actor | Producer 
• Jim Sturgess - Born 1978, turns 39 - Actor | Singer
• Debra Winger - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actress | Producer  
• Tori Spelling - Born 1973, turns 44 - Actress | Producer | Writer | Singer

Wednesday 17th May

• Trent Reznor - Born 1965, turns 52 - Composer | Songwriter | Actor | Writer  

Thursday 18th May

• Hugh Keays-Byrne - Born 1947, turns 70 - Actor | Director
• Yun-Fat Chow - Born 1955, turns 62 - Actor | Writer
• Miriam Margolyes - Born 1941, turns 76 - Actress 
• Tina Fey - Born 1970, turns 47 - Actress | Writer | Producer | Singer  

Friday 19th May

• Grace Jones - Born 1948, turns 69 - Singer | Songwriter | Actress
• Claudia Karvan - Born 1972, turns 45 - Actress | Writer | Producer 
• James Fox - Born 1939, turns 78 - Actor
• Peter Mayhew - Born 1944, turns 73 - Actor 
• Morten Tyldum - Born 1967, turns 50 - Director | Producer  

Saturday 20th May

• Anton Corbijn - Born 1955, turns 62 - Director | Photographer
• Timothy Olyphant - Born 1968, turns 49 - Actor | Producer
• Louis Theroux - Born 1970, turns 47 - Writer | Producer | Television Personality
• Cher (aka Cheryl Sarkisian) - Born 1946, turns 71 - Singer | Actress | Producer 

Timothy Simon Roth was born in the south London suburb of Dulwich to mother Ann, a painter and teacher and father Ernie, a Fleet Street journalist, painter and a member of the British Communist Party until sometime in the '70's. His father was born with the surname of 'Smith' in Brooklyn, New York and he later changed his surname to 'Roth' as used most commonly by those of German and Jewish decent in the 1940's out of support for the Holocaust victims, and because the English were less welcomed in the countries to which he travelled with his work.  The young Tim attended the boys grammar Strand School in south London's Tulse Hill area before studying sculpture at London's Camberwell College of Art from which he dropped out to pursue an acting career instead.

At the age of 21 Roth scored his screen debut in the made for television film 'Made in Britain' playing white supremacy skinhead Trevor in 1982. Next up was another made for television film 'Meantime' in 1984 as Directed by Mike Leigh and also starring Gary Oldman and Alfred Molina. More of the same followed in 1985 with the Agatha Christie whodunit 'Murder with Mirrors' starring also Bette Davis, John Mills and Leo McKern, an then 'Coppers' in 1988. In between time there were feature films including Stephen Frears 'The Hit' with Jim Broadbent and Terrence Stamp, 'A World Apart', 'To Kill a Priest' with Ed Harris, Christopher Lambert, Timothy Spall and Pete Postlethwaite, and then closing out the decade was Peter Greenaway's 'The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover' with Helen Mirren, Michael Gambon and Ciaran Hinds. In 1986 he also starred in 'King of the Ghetto' - a four part BBC2 television series about racial tensions in London's East End in the '80's.

The new decade launched with Robert Altman's 'Vincent & Theo' in which Roth starred as Vincent Van Gogh and later that same year Tom Stoppard's 'Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead' with Gary Oldman playing Rosencrantz and Roth playing Guildenstern alongside Richard Dreyfus and Iain Glen. 'Jumping at the Boneyard' followed in 1991 with Samuel L. Jackson. In 1992 maverick Writer and Director Quentin Tarantino cast Roth in his debut film 'Reservoir Dogs' as Mr. Orange, which kicked off a collaboration that has spanned up until QT's latest offering, taking in 1994's 'Pulp Fiction' and 1995's 'Four Rooms'. It was 'Reservoir Dogs' that really exposed Roth to an American audience, from which he has never looked back.

The rest of the '90's saw the likes of 'Bodies, Rest & Motion'; period piece 'The Perfect Husband'; Brooklyn Soviet Jewish crime drama 'Little Odessa'; then 'Captives';  Scottish historical biographical adventure film 'Rob Roy' with Liam Neeson, John Hurt, Brian Cox, Eric Stoltz and Jessica Lange; Woody Allen's 'Everyone Says I Love You' with Goldie Hawn, Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts and Edward Norton; 'Gridlock'd' with Tupac Shakur and Thandie Newton; 1930's Harlem set gangster film 'Hoodlum' with Laurence Fishburn, Andy Garcia and Vanessa Williams; murder mystery 'Deceiver'; fantasy romance offering 'Animals with the Tollkeeper' with Rod Steiger, John Turturro and Mickey Rooney; and then in 1998 'The Legend of 1900'. 

In 1999 Roth Directed his first feature film - 'The War Zone' a grim and gritty look inside an English family plagued by incest and sexual violence. The firm starred Ray Winstone, Tilda Swinton and Freddie Cunliffe and received much critical acclaim for its portrayal of the subject matter and picked up nine award wins and ten more nominations.

The 2000's clicked over with Roland Joffe's historical biographical drama 'Vatel'; Nora Ephron's 'Lucky Numbers' with John Travolta; Tim Burtons' reimagining of 'Planet of the Apes' as General Thade; Werner Herzog's 'Invincible'; a new spin on 'The Three Musketeers' with 'The Musketeer'; English Civil War drama 'To Kill a King' with Roth portraying Oliver Cromwell; John Sayles American political satire 'Silver City'; Wim Wenders road movie drama 'Don't Come Knocking'; gambling crime drama 'Easy Money' featuring an ensemble cast; Francis Ford Coppola's 'Youth Without Youth'; Michael Haneke's English language remake of his own earlier 1997 Austrian version of 'Funny Games' with Naomi Watts; and Louis Leterrier's Directed second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe 'The Incredible Hulk'.

'Pete Smalls Is Dead' opened up 2010 with Peter Dinklage and Steve Buscemi, followed up by 'Arbitrage' in 2012 with Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon; 'Broken' with Cillian Murphy and comedy crime thriller 'The Liability' both that same year. In 2013 espionage thriller 'Mobius' was released and this was followed by 'Grace of Monaco' with Nicole Kidman as Grace and Roth as Prince Rainier. In time for the 2014 World Cup 'United Passions' was released about FIFA - footballs governing body, with Roth playing FIFA President Sepp Blatter who was the eighth President of the Association from 1998 through until 2015. 'October Gale' came later that year as did highly acclaimed historical biographical drama 'Selma' with David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Oprah Winfrey, and Tom Wilkinson. Mexican drug cartel drama '600 Miles', then 'Chronic' and then first person actioner 'Hardcore Henry' with Roth playing Henry's father. Action comedy 'Mr. Right' with Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick and then Quentin Tarantino's post American Civil War Western 'The Hateful Eight' featuring an ensemble cast that included Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Michael Madsen, Walton Goggins, Bruce Dern, Damian Bichir, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Zoe Bell.

Bringing us up to date is just released in the USA '1 Mile To You'. In between time there have been notable television series appearances on 48 episodes of 'Lie to Me' with Roth playing the lead character of Dr. Cal Lightman in this mystery crime drama series in which Roth is a world leading expert in facial expressions and involuntary body language. The series ran for three season from 2009. There was also the two part television mini-series 'Sea Wolf' in 2009, the six part historical mini-series 'Klondike' in 2014, and the three part mini-series 'Rillington Place' with Roth playing the role of John Christie the infamous 1940's and early '50's London serial killer.

Next up for Roth is an appearance on the next season of acclaimed television series 'Twin Peaks' which picks up 25 years after the events of the first two series, and due to go to air later this year. Currently in post-production is 'The Jesuit' - an action crime drama offering with Ron Perlman, Brian Cox, Neal McDonough and Paz Vega; gambling debt crime comedy 'The Brits Are Coming' also in post-production with Uma Thurman, Stephen Fry, Maggie Q and Sofia Vergara and 'The Padre' currently filming and due in 2018 with Nick Nolte and Luis Guzman.

All up Roth has one hundred Acting credits to his name, three as Producer and one as Director. In his time he has been nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award and a Golden Globe for 'Rob Roy' but he did win the BAFTA for his performance. All up Roth has accumulated a total eighteen award wins and a further 22 nominations. Roth has been married to Niki Butler since 1993 with whom he has two sons - Timothy born in 1995 and Michael born in 1996. He has an older son Jack who is also an Actor, born in 1984 to Lori Baker. Roth survived years of child sexual abuse at the hands of his paternal grandfather which he didn't reveal until the time of his Directorial debut with the release of 'The War Zone' which dealt with similar issues within a family.

Tim Roth - part of 'The Brit Pack' back in the '80's with Gary Oldman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Colin Firth and Paul McGann; has an ever increasing number of tattoos marking significant events in his life; often plays in historical dramas; often plays in Quentin Tarantino films (four and counting) but missed out in 'Inglourious Basterds' due to scheduling conflicts; often plays slightly twisted unhinged characters; is often convinced that he'll never score an acting gig again in between roles; and despite his London accent can do various accents very well which has helped him secure many a film with European and American auteur Directors. Never dull, never predictable, never repetitive, Happy Birthday to you Tim from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE HATEFUL EIGHT : Saturday 30th January 2016.

Quentin Tarantino's 8th film - 'THE HATEFUL EIGHT' is set in Wyoming, in the depths of Winter around Christmastime, about ten miles or so from the town of Red Rock and for the most part in a little mountain stagecoach stopover called Minnie's Haberdashery. Plagued by some controversy early on this QT penned and Directed film was leaked to the media in script form in January 2014 having announced some months earlier that his next film had been written and it would be another Western, but not, as many had thought, a follow up to 'Django Unchained'. As a result QT cancelled the movie and let it be known in a lawsuit against those who leaked his screenplay, that they were to blame and that he was none too pleased! However, time is a great healer, and within a year, and after a successful live read of the script to a gathered audience in LA, filming began near Telluride in Colorado in early December 2014. Made for US$44M and so far raking in US$103M after its release in the US in late December, in the UK on 8th January and here in Australia on 21st January, the film has already scored 22 award wins and 70 nominations including three Oscar and three BAFTA nods still pending for Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, Best Score and Best Cinematography.

With a running time of almost three hours, this is a long drawn out film, but rest assured your patience will be rewarded. Split into six distinct chapters and featuring frequent collaborators including Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Madsen, Tim Roth, Zoe Bell and James Parks, the first half of the film is a characters study where little happens other that learning about the characters back stories, what drives them, and how they all come to be together at Minnie's Haberdashery caught in a blizzard that prevents their onward journey. Set sometime in the mid 1870's this is post US Civil War - but only recently, and the scars of that war still run deep amongst those we are about to meet.

In a snow covered mountain landscape we are introduced first up to a six horse drawn stagecoach where driver O.B.Jackson (James Parks) is at the reins, with only John Ruth a.k.a 'The Hangman' (Kurt Russell) inside and he is shackled to Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) who he intends to bring to justice at the end of the hangmans noose in Red Rock and collect his $10,000 bounty reward on her head. En route the Stage encounters Major Marquis Warren a.k.a. 'The Bounty Hunter' (Samuel L. Jackson) on the road having lost his horse but sitting atop three dead bodies he is taking to Red Rock to claim an $8,000 bounty reward. He negotiates with John Ruth to let him aboard to escape the bitter cold and continue the journey, and it turns out they share some history going back eight months or so to a dinner party.

As the three get acquainted along the way and exchange war stories and tales of bounty collection, because the two are in the same business after all, it turns out that Warren is the recipient of a personal letter from President Abraham Lincoln that instantly makes him a point of interest as a black man in a white mans world. Later on through some mishap involving the letter and Domergue, the Stage comes to an abrupt halt and they find themselves with another stray caught in the snow and a long way from home - Chris Mannix 'The Sheriff' (Walton Goggins), who is seeking a ride to Red Rock where he will be sworn in as the new Sheriff. Reluctantly Ruth agrees, and again further back story is revealed of Mannix's family history and his war time stance against the blacks, and despite his ill feeling toward Warren, he is grateful for the ride.

In time with the blizzard conditions worsening, the Stage draws up at Minnie's Haberdashery which is known to Warren, but not the others. Minnie is however, nowhere to be seen which raises the suspicions of Warren instantly, but he is accepting (for now) of the explanation of the man left in charge, Bob, a.k.a. 'The Mexican' (Demian Bichir). Whilst O.B. and Warren tend to the horses with Bob outside, Ruth and his hostage Domergue and Mannix take refuge inside. Here we are introduced to Englishman Oswaldo Mowbray a.k.a.'The Little Man' (Tim Roth), Joe Gage a.k.a 'The Cow Puncher' (Michael Madsen) and General Sanford Smithers a.k.a. 'The Confederate' (Bruce Dern). And now our eight, are assembled!

Again, our characters stories are explored and unfolded as pieces of the jigsaw puzzle come together and we learn more of the dynamic of these eight individuals thrown together by circumstance and chance. The slow burning unfolding storyline continues as Ruth sets his ground rules for bringing Domergue to justice at Red Rock. Mowbray we learn is the official hangman who will see Domergue swing in a few days time once the blizzard eases, by which time Mannix will be instituted as Sheriff of Red Rock to oversee the proceedings, and pay out the rewards owing to Ruth and Warren for their collective $18,000 for which the two have made their own pact to safeguard each other to protect their investments. Who can they all trust and are there hidden agendas amongst this bunch of miscreants thrust together?  Ruth is very untrusting of just about everyone, and Warren has his suspicions already with Minnie being absent from her beloved mountain Haberdashery - where ordinarily Mexican's are not allowed to tread, yet there is a Mexican in charge!

As we ease in to the second half of the film cowpoke Gage has been alienated by Ruth, Warren has fallen out with 'The Confederate' because they were on different sides of the field at the Battle of Baton Rouge during the Civil War, Mannix has a distrust for Warren because he's black and believes his letter from Lincoln is a forgery, Warren's suspicions of Mexican Bob grow deeper, and Domergue needles away at Ruth, Warren, Mannix and Mowbray because they all potentially have a hand in her upcoming hanging. As the tension rises, sides are taken, truths are revealed and personalities exposed so there is the first blood letting, but, in self defence, which makes it OK in such august law abiding upstanding company!

By now the tension is ramped up as the body count slowly but surely begins to rise and Warren's suspicions are confirmed over Mexican Bob, Gage and Mowbray but to what end he still does not know except that they all seem to be in that one place at that one time with Domergue, so who is she in cahoots with?

At this point after further bloodletting, we have to go back to earlier in the day with a voice over narrated by QT himself to plug in some story gaps and introduce us to several new characters. These too have a major part to play in the story that unfolds later that day and some of which we have already seen, but this time from a different perspective. Here as the Stagecoach rolls in to Minnie's with Six Horse Judy at the reins (Zoe Bell) complete with Kiwi accent which is quickly explained, and Jody Domingray (Channing Tatum) the agenda slots into place as does the connection with Domergue and those others in the Haberdashery that we have met already.  Here once more the tension mounts and the body count rises leaving just three standing (well, hardly, as they all have bullet wounds that in fact prevent them from standing!), but ultimately justice is served but not in the way that was originally intended, and an unlikely bond is forged, but, will it stand the test of time given the wounds inflicted . . . fade to black!

Once again QT has delivered a great story with razor sharp dialogue, quick wit, and strong performances from Russell who chews up the first half, giving way to Jackson who owns the second half. Each character is allowed the time to evolve and unfold as we become acquainted with their history, personalities, motivation and incentives, and each is as colourful and diverse as the next. Goggins as Mannix is your archetypal cowboy that he portrayed also in 'Django Unchained' and looked at ease in his role and delivers it with conviction, Madsen as Gage as is laid back as ever and plays the smiling assassin, and Roth grated on me a little and was trying too hard for my money to emulate 'Dr. King Schultz' - the Christoph Waltz character from 'Django Unchained' but with an English aristocratic accent and mannerisms, that I though was just too familiar! Jennifer Jason Leigh as Domergue spends the whole film chained to the arm of Ruth and is well & truly put thorough the wringer at his hands being punched, smashed with a rifle butt, scalded with a bowl of steaming hot stew, shot, and mostly blood soaked with either her own, or someone else's. Worthy of all the Best Supporting Actress nominations she has so far garnered - she plays it stoic, menacing and emotional all at once.

With Ennio Morricone's score (his first Western soundtrack in 35 years), stunning snow scenes, his trademark eye for detail, award worthy dialogue, a rich story, strong performances and believable characters, QT has crafted another great film that you should see on the big screen while you can. With two Westerns in the can, will he surprise and delight us with a third - this Reviewer certainly hopes so!

-Steve, at Odeon Online

SELMA : Wednesday 25th February 2015.

I got around to seeing 'SELMA' last night - the US$20M story that has so far grossed US$54M as Directed by Ava DuVernay recounting the true life events of the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965 that was a catalyst for positive change to  the equal voting rights of oppressed, victimised and harassed black African American citizens in the state of Alabama where this film is set, and where the events depicted in the film largely unfold. This film was nominated at the recent Academy Awards for Best Motion Picture and Best Original Song - for which it won the latter, and all up can boast a total awards haul of 35 wins and a further 71 nominations to date.

Telling the story of Martin Luther King (David Oyelowo in fine form as MLK) who after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 focuses on the racial hardships endured by black African Americans, particularly in Alabama where segregation, discrimination, and acts of violence were commonplace at that time. The small town of Selma has has its fair share of oppression handed down by its townsfolk, the local rangers and sheriff's office and the mayor himself toward any black individual who dares to register to vote or who does not follow the local acts of segregation - despite what the law might otherwise say. Extreme acts of violence are meted out on a frequent basis resulting in numerous deaths that go unpunished, unpublicised and largely unnoticed in the northern States. But as the civil rights movement gathers momentum, so King travels to Selma to support the oppressed locals and add weight to the cause, given his direct line to President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson).

President LBJ though has more important things on his agenda than helping out the personal crusade of MLK - he recognises what's going on down south, he recognises that it is wrong, and he recognise that something needs to be done -  but it is not on his priority list given that he had been in office only a matter of months and he has 101 things on his radar compared to MLK's one!

Supporting James Bevel (Common) who had called for a non-violent protest march from Selma to Alabama's capital, Montgomery (50 miles away) with the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference of which King was the leader) the first attempt was made on 7th March 1965 but ended violently when local Selma whites, the police, and rangers turned on the peaceful demonstrators with guns, batons, clubs, tear gas to squash the protest. This however, was televised to 70 million people including the President, MLK, J.Edgar Hoover, and George Wallace (Tim Roth in excellent form as the bigoted Governor of Alabama) who watched these events unfold on national television. 'Bloody Sunday' as it came to be known, and as tragic as it was, was a turning point in the civil rights movement.

Advocating at all times non-violent protest as a demonstration of force, will & sheer determination by the blacks, King as his growing followers in the wake of Bloody Sunday, regrouped and attempted to march again on 9th March 1965. Taking his ever expanding followers to Edmund Pettus Bridge that day, he halted the gathered group behind him and paused mid-way across the bridge. Kneeling down in prayer, his group followed suit and did the same at which King then stood, turned around and headed for whence he came, even though the law enforcement officers, local rangers and sheriff's department had retread this time. King was however, still fearful of reprisals and a repeat of Bloody Sunday despite the media coverage.

On 25th March 1965 the full march went ahead with the knowledge of LBJ and George Wallace who sat by and watched the huge non-violent demonstration march on Montgomery from Selma fifty miles away. By now the worlds media had turned their attention to this civil rights campaign that was joined by growing numbers of white sympathisers, clergy, dignitaries and celebrities of the time (Sammy Davis Jnr., and Harry Belafonte for example, are shown in real footage of the time). Upon arriving at the steps of state capitol building in Montgomery, King delivered another rousing speech that later became known as the 'How Long, Not Long' speech in which he states that equal rights for black African Americans would now be not far away.

As a result of this and the growing pressure on LBJ from MLK, his ever growing followers and advocates, and from escalating numbers of white followers in the aftermath of Black Sunday, the President of the United States passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to law on 2nd July that year and received an over whelming majority of support.

This is a solid film offering recounting that true story that changed the course of history. It is not an MLK bio-pic by any stretch, but, it educates, illuminates and demonstrates the black/white divide of the time, the violence of the era and the oppression suffered by so many who were just seeking what was constitutionally theirs anyway. The performances are top notch especially from David Oyelowo as MLK, from Carmen Egogo at MLK's wife Coretta Scott King, Common as James Bevel, Tim Roth as George Wallace, and Tom Wilkinson as LBJ. Along the way there are further lesser roles that nonetheless add gravitas including Giovanni Ribisi as Lee White (advisor and aide to LBJ), Oprah Winfrey as Annie Lee Cooper, Cuba Gooding Jnr. as Fred Gray, Martin Sheen as Federal Judge Frank Minis Johnson and Dylan Baker as J. Edgar Hoover looking to discredit and unsettle the King family as only he knows best.

At times the film plods along, and at just over two hours running time, it could have perhaps been abbreviated just a little, but in the final analysis this is a strong, powerful, riveting and occasionally disturbing film that you should watch to see just how far we have come as we approach the 50th anniversary of that march, and just how far we have still left to go!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-