Paramount announced that they are re-releasing 2014’s award-winning historical dram Selma, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march on which the film is based. The movie will return to select theaters March 20th. At those theaters, moviegoers who purchase a ticket will get an additional ticket for free.
The Ava Duvernay movie chronicles the planning and execution by Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo), civil rights leaders, and activists who marched from Selma, Ala. to Montgomery in protest of unconstitutional restrictions placed by local government to prevent African Americans from voting, which eventually led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
While it was widely acclaimed, the movie was subject to criticism over its historical accuracy, particularly the depiction of President Lyndon Johnson (Tom Wilkinson). The movie also drew attention for being mostly ignored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences when it came to Oscar nominations despite nods for Best Picture and Best Original Song; it won the latter. Many attributed the lack of nominations due to Paramount’s failure to send screeners to Academy members before nomination votes were due. The re-release should allow more people to get out and see it.
In a discussion posted on mxdwn upon its initial release, we praised the movie, highlighting the depiction of King’s personal life as well as David Oyelowo’s performance, and Ava DuVernay’s direction. Audiences can find theaters showing the movie and purchase tickets at the movie’s website.