As today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we thought it’d be appropriate to review the recently released film “Selma,” since it was released a little over a week ago. The film also comes at a pivotal time in our society, as we are now seeing that we may have come a long way but we still have a long way to go.

The film is a depiction of King’s Civil Rights campaign in Selma, Alabama, that lasted three months in 1965 and led to President Johnson’s signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Directed by Ava DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Dr. King, “Selma” brings to light all aspects of that movement and even the flaws of Dr. King and how his work affected his life at home. The movie may be a celebration of his work, but DuVernay did not shy away from the realities that came with it. Throughout the film, we see the doubts and insecurities that came with persevering through such a turbulent time.

David Oyelowo has had an incredible past two years, but 2014 has been especially successful for him. He went from being in “Jack Reacher,” to being a supporting actor in “Interstellar” and is now portraying one of the most influential men in American history. It shows how versatile he really is. However, the film did not shine solely because of Oyelowo.

The cast involved in this film, both established actors and new faces, was absolutely phenomenal throughout. Carmen Ejogo eloquently shows the struggle that Coretta Scott King endured to stand by her husband through the threats and loneliness. Tom Wilkinson makes for a phenomenal Lyndon B. Johnson and the tension and admiration between him and Dr. King in the film is so palpable it feels real. Audiences will be hard-pressed to forget the performance by Henry G. Sanders as Oyelowo comforts his character Cager Lee.

The film came at a good time as a remembrance and celebration of Dr. King and the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, but it also comes at a time when our society has a multitude of important choices ahead of us. The film not only deserves but also needs to be seen by all those who believe in racial equality, but more importantly by those who may not. “Selma” is a beautifully done historical piece that, unlike most dramas, doesn’t aim to sugarcoat the subject or characters to beautify or glorify the main character. By portraying Dr. King as flawed, insecure yet still monumentally influential, “Selma” truly is an incredible film and a great breakout performance for all those involved.