Rustin (2023)

Rustin

• What a powerful movie. It was pretty much what I thought it would be, which is a good thing. It’s a great story about someone who had such an impact on civil rights, but not someone who is always taught. I can honestly (and unfortunately) say that I’ve never even heard of Bayard Rustin before seeing this. It’s sad, because you can clearly see what he did for civil rights, but I can’t recall ever learning about him in school. So, being able to see his life in movie form is a true privilege. Especially since it was done really well. Colman Domingo killed it, and I think his Oscar nomination is pretty well deserved. What’s so awesome is that Colman is able to tell a (somewhat) unknown story with great passion, and you really come to believe that Colman IS Rustin. It’s such a great performance. The story, like I said, is about his life and his contributions to civil rights. The roads he went down to advance integration was so intriguing to watch, and though hard to sit through at times, it’s definitely worth seeing. I don’t think it’s anything too extravagant in terms of a critic sense, but it’s pretty well written. Now personally, I did get bored a few times. That’s not a hit against the movie, my mind just drifted off a few times. Overall, this movie has super strong performances, and tells a touching and educational story that everyone should know. I’d definitely recommend this to drama/history fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!