Selma

Selma is currently streaming in Australia on MUBI, and in the US on Hulu and Paramount Plus Premium, and it rewards the patience it asks of you. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 2,333 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. David Oyelowo anchors it with a performance that rewards close attention. Put it on tonight on MUBI and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Selma earns its spot. The writing in Selma treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. "Selma," as in Alabama, the place where segregation in the South was at its worst, leading to a march that ended in violence, forcing a famous statement by President Lyndon B. Johnson that ultimately led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act. David Oyelowo and Carmen Ejogo lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2014. The performances in Selma do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with Selma. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. David Oyelowo carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.