Monthly Archives: January 2015

Selma (Ava DuVernay, 2014)

Selma opens with a scene of the Kings (Martin Luther, played by David Oyelowo, and Coretta Scott, played by Carmen Ejogo) discussing whether or not his ascot tie is “right” for a Nobel Peace Prize acceptance ceremony. Armond White, in his otherwise brilliant review of Selma, argues that “to start with Nobel recognition keeps Selma […]

The Imitation Game (Morten Tyldum, 2014)

“The biopic is broken.” Every time a movie like The Imitation Game—that is, every time a biopic that is slated as a “prestige” or “Oscar bait” film, preferably about someone whose story is inspirational but tragic and not especially well known—is released, I hear something to that effect. These films, the detractors say, exist solely […]