Selma

The Gist: In his quest to secure equal voting rights for African Americans, Martin Luther King found himself staring down the forces of discrimination and racism in Selma, Alabama.

Directed with focused intensity by Ava DuVernay, this is one of those movies that makes you shake your head in despair and astonishment at what people had to go through just to be seen and treated as equal by their fellow citizens and by the law.

An excellent cast is topped by David Oyelowo, who incredibly wasn't nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the civil rights icon.

He's joined, among others, by Tom Wilkinson, Oprah Winfrey, Common, Tim Roth, and Wendell Pierce.

The Bottom Line: Selma is a must-see film for anyone. It educates you about important historical events that are, unfortunately, still very timely.

Grade: 9