The film “Selma”, which opened nationally on January 9th, details the Civil Rights efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the small city of Selma, Alabama, as he and his followers sought voting equality.
The movie has achieved critical acclaim, even earning an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Yet, for all the praise that the film has received, it is not without it’s critics — many of whom will cede that the film is good, but point out its failings.
Count Portland Trail Blazers big man Robin Lopez among them, as he viewed the film on Wednesday and expressed his concerns regarding how it portrays a central character in the story.
Watching “Selma” with Joel, the beard and the guys. And the staff. #AndA MushroomSwissBurger pic.twitter.com/hxSvhz6GFR
— Robin Lopez (@rolopez42) January 21, 2015
Selma is a great flick. Unless you’re related to Lyndon B. Johnson.
— Robin Lopez (@rolopez42) January 21, 2015
What I mean is Selma is a good movie & pretty accurate, w/the exception of the representation of LBJ. But I guess it’s not a documentary.
— Robin Lopez (@rolopez42) January 21, 2015
One fan asked for clarification, which Lopez would provide.
@rolopez42 How was he portrayed? Have seen multiple docs where he was considered pretty much an a-hole.
— Donovan in PDX (@capnkeystone) January 21, 2015
@rolopez42 @capnkeystone I’m sure he could have been an jack@$$ but I mean how he was portrayed as such an obstacle.
— Robin Lopez (@rolopez42) January 21, 2015
For those who are into American history, or those that lived it, Lopez is correct.
The film does incorrectly portray President Lyndon B. Johnson. New York magazine film critic David Edelstein shared such criticisms with NPR upon the film’s release.
The movie suggests LBJ, played by Tom Wilkinson, tacitly authorized Hoover’s dirty trick to mess up King’s plans. He’s sympathetic to King, but his agenda for the year is his war on poverty. And he’s infuriated King would go to Selma without his say so.
“The movie says that King needs to provoke violence against peaceful protesters to push LBJ. First, to stand up to the belligerent Governor George Wallace, played by Tim Roth, and then to declare himself on the protesters’ side – is this then fair?
“Based on several LBJ biographies, I’d say not entirely. It’s true that early on Johnson told King he didn’t want to drive off support for Great Society legislation by inflaming southern allies, but he was a persistent and masterly behind-the-scenes manipulator. He fought passionately for voting rights without any push from King.
“‘Selma’ is still a great movie.”
Props to Lopez for not just saying something just to do so, but for actually knowing his history.
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The makers of the movie deserve to be chastised, as doing so may discourage other movie makers from trying to re-write history.
The Director (who didn’t get an Oscar nomination) has openly admitted to having an agenda. She typifies the angry woman who wants others to believe that our society is still deliberately repressive and Racist. And after what happened due to Ferguson (Including the President scolding police at the United Nations) all turned out to be false (The Feds today cleared the officer of any wrong doing), lots of people have a bitter taste in their mouths. And then Rev. Al Sharpton made the Oscars into another Race Quota debate, after he has had a Zero batting average over the course of his career of getting attention for himself. And although LBJ may have been an A_hole, Hillary Clinton can be accused of the same. It doesn’t mean they can’t do good things for others (and take credit). LBJ’s personal close adviser, Joseph Califano, wasn’t as kind as this movie critic (who was 5 years old at the time), with his criticisms.
Also, I’ve read that people speak in paragraphs in the Selma movie, which is totally unrealistic. It sounds like a propaganda film, just as was “The Interview” (which was very painful to sit through the sick humor, although the last 20 minutes was a little entertaining).