Rustin

 

Rustin-Netflix

Rustin is a biographical drama about Bayard Rustin, the main organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. He was a close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was openly gay which caused friction with the other prominent civil rights leaders. He was a brilliant civil rights organizer who was not deterred by bigotry. His burden was greater because he was gay. In the ’50s and ’60s being black and gay was a perilous proposition.

Colman Domingo, as Rustin, gives a remarkable performance. He imbues his character with energy and passion. He is self-confident to the annoyance of the civil rights giants. He portrays Rustin as a fast talker and problem solver. Domingo, who is gay, handles the intimate scenes with passion and is hurt when a lover goes back to being husband and father.

Jeffrey Wright is Adam Clayton Powell Jr. He is way over the top and loves it. The man can strut in his chair. Wright is as slick as the real Powell and his arrogance is accurate. He is Rustin’s nemesis and Wright projects Powell as self-dealing and duplicitous.

Aml Ameen is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The resemblance is uncanny. He portrays King as a leader who has to manage conflicting opinions from the other leaders. He is a close friend of Rustin and their friendship is stressed by the anti-gay prejudice of the time.  

Chris Rock is Roy Williams. With a mop of grey hair, you almost feel he is going to burst out in his trademark jokes; he barely contains himself. He portrays Williams as a serious leader and not amicable to Rustin in the beginning. They say comics make good actors because of their timing and Rock does not disappoint.

The rest of the cast is fabulous. This is an important story and brings Rustin from behind the curtain of history. I am not sure if Rustin will be nominated for Best Picture but if Domingo is not nominated for Best Actor that would be a terrible snub.