On the morning of the Academy Award nomination announcements, many were bewildered to find the film “Selma” received only two nominations, leaving director Ava DuVernay and lead actor David Oyelowo without a single nomination.

“Selma” is too excellent of a film to not have received several nominations.

Her sophomore effort, director Ava DuVernay paints a moving portrait of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches, an event which was not only a watershed period in American history, but also in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The film takes us behind the scenes, showing the power struggles within this nation-wide movement, as well as the intricate relationship between the government and the leaders of the movement.

British actor David Oyelowo, who plays MLK, gives a riveting performance reminiscent of Denzel Washington’s Oscar-nominated performance in the film “Malcom X.”

Not only does he masterfully portray the face of the Civil Rights movement, but he also works to portray the man that is MLK.

His fears, insecurities and personal troubles are all brought to life on screen by Oyelowo.

The supporting cast, which includes Oprah Winfrey as Annie Lee Cooper and Tom Wilkinson as Lyndon B. Johnson, are also worthy of praise for their delicate portrayal of key figures in this era.

Overall, “Selma” is a brilliant movie.

It is also the first film to dutifully portray Dr. Martin Luther King, as the film Lincoln did for Abraham Lincoln and the film “Malcolm X” did for Malcolm X.

I give this film a rating of 9.5 out of 10.