Rustin (2023)

The true story of gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo), who organized the March On Washington in 1963. Directed by George C. Wolfe (MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM), this is a solid movie biography (though it has that Stanley Kramer heavy handed social issues hammer hovering over it) that does what it's supposed to do but there's no greatness about it. As Rustin, Colman Domingo is very good but the overpraise for his performance is perplexing. As movie bios go, this is no GANDHI, MALCOLM X or even a MILK. Rustin's story needed to be told so I'm glad the film exists even if it's less than stellar. Wolfe's direction is by the numbers, the screenplay dutifully hits every noble "pat on the back" cliche. It's the kind of movie Hollywood makes every few years or so to make them feel good about themselves ("see, we do have a social conscience"). With Jeffrey Wright, Audra McDonald, Chris Rock, CCH Pounder, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Aml Ameen.