Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Among the most anticipated and admired films of 2014, Selma depicts the epochal series of marches by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo) in Selma, Alabama, which led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Brought to the screen with power and sensitivity by director Ava DuVernay, this Oscar-nominated docudrama features a host of inspired and often intimate acting and noteworthy musical selections, which include the Oscar-winning song “Glory.”

Unfortunately, production values don’t match the aspirations of Selma’s subject matter. The color palette, predominantly earth tones, is muted and flat. Fleshtones tend toward saturation, while fine details of clothing, hair, and skin seem homogenized and nondescript. Architectural subtleties—brick walls, for example—lack precision and sharpness. Blacks lack depth and resolution, making it difficult to delve some of the film’s darker scenes and compromising shadow detail. Whites, at least, possess a textural richness. Overall, Selma appears soft and drab, delivering images that rarely pop.

Sonically, Selma fares much better. Given the film’s reliance upon the spoken word, it isn’t surprising that vocals are natural and articulate. Throughout the countless scenes of heavily modulated dialogue, it is easy to identify each voice with pinpoint precision. Just as impressive is the presentation of Selma’s musical selections, which are perfectly blended into the mix yet rarely call attention to themselves. From weighty bass to wispy trebles, the entire frequency range is cannily balanced. Though there are few hard surround effects, there are plenty of atmospheric effects to occupy the surround channels. Like image quality, however, audio lacks dynamic impact. The film’s lone explosion, as well as its scattered gunshots and Foley effects, lack the percussive thwack that distinguishes the best modern soundtracks.

As befits this film’s historical significance, the assortment of extras is notable for its quantity, if not always its quality. Two full-length director’s commentaries offer some worthwhile information hidden among four hours of self-congratulation. Two making-of shorts become a paean to producer Oprah. Most of the half-dozen deleted and extended scenes feature superb acting and are worthy of study by movie buffs and historians alike. In the end, Selma honors both its hero and history, but it deserves a better Blu-ray.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Paramount, 2014
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 128 mins.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Ava DuVernay
Starring: David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo