REVIEW: SHIRLEY

3.5/5

She Had A Dream

107 Mins. Starring: Regina King, Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, André Holland & Terrence Howard. Director: John Ridley. On: Netflix.

Surely you can't be serious? And ladies and gentlemen, hold your 'Airplane' gags, with all due respect and love to the late, great Leslie Nielsen. But why is this movie buried on the more midweek, nuanced side of Netflix like an Academy afterthought, this March? Madness! 'Shirley', not to be confused with the fellow biographical drama of literally the same name starring Elizabeth Moss, gathering some of her best work as novelist Shirley Jackson just four years ago, she deserves better. Why was this not a marquee movie, dangling in the November rain waters as Oscar bait like Annette Benning and Jodie Foster's 'Nyad' team? Could it be due to the Civil Rights of Barry Jenkins' James Baldwin adaptation 'If Beale Street Could Talk' Best Supporting Actress winner Regina King's co-star Colman Domingo? That's a lot of names to get through, but as 'Rustin', Domingo deserved the Oscar, just like Bradley Cooper's 'Maestro' (also on Netflix). Although we are yet to see the great Cillian Murphy is the board sweeping 'Oppenheimer' as it finally gets released in Japan this very weekend. Still, why can't we have the rights of two similar, historical and groundbreaking movies passing at the same time? If justice could really talk in this day and age, 'Shirley' would sing. 

A hidden figure like Taraji P. no longer in the age of stories like 'The Color Purple' being retold to new eyes and ears. Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress. Barrier breaking like Thurgood Marshall, played beautifully by the late, great 'Black Panther' and James Brown and Jackie Robinson star Chadwick Boseman (rest peacefully) in the film of the same last name. She would have been President too. Mounting a monumental and moving campaign that charmed and compelled many until it was unfairly and unjustly derailed. Remaining in the margins as a footnote thanks to the same kind of ignorant disregard from those in power who should be clutching at straws, not holding the very lives and livelihoods of our children and future generations in their cruel, choking grip. Remind you of anyone? Even in the face of all this racist dismissal, Chisholm responded to her loss with grace, and saw it as the gift real winners and pioneers see a so-called defeat as. A moving of the needle. A push in the right direction. That will spur the next one on to bigger and better things. Reach one, teach one. As Jay-Z said on the beautiful election night, "Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked, so Obama could run. Obama's running so we can all fly." Well, Shirley ran too...and flew as close as she could to the sun. 

Take wing and spread the historical news of how it happened once you see her incredible and inspired journey of influence yourselves. Moved by the integrity. Maddened by the injustice. '12 Years A Slave' Best Adapted Screenplay winner and writer John Ridley (the man who gave us Andre 3000 as Hendrix in 'Jimi: All Is By My Side') directs his definitive movie with due diligence and dignity. Feeling like its seventies soul setting all the way down to the script and soul-baring soundtrack. This biographical blaring of a powerful, yet profound political statement is the best march to justice since 'Selma' and the 'Rustin' behind the scenes that orchestrated it all as Mr. Domingo goes to Washington...twice. Produced by the eponymous King, Regina, already one of TIME magazine's '100 Most Influential People In The World' proves she is queen with a classic, crowning role. A spectacle all the way down to the frames of her powerful prescription. The soaring speeches she makes to her public, the wise words she counsels to her closest in private. It all means so much. Just like the team behind this game changing 'Watchmen' and 'The Harder They Fall' star. Showing like Stallone, it's not how many times you fall, but...you know the rest.

Poetic justice comes for the 'Ray' star with that co-star and the 'Empire' of an always terrific Terrence Howard. Armed with his own intense and moving speeches, without so much as a stage to set them on (see the heartbreaking 'Hart's War'). Not to mention the bar exam legal counsel of a Dahmer looking, but just delightful Lucas Hedges who already has quite the career with 'Manchester By The Sea', 'Lady Bird', 'Three Billboards', 'Boy Erased', 'Ben Is Back' and the West End 'Brokeback Mountain' adaptation. Add a brilliant Brian Stokes Mitchell, classic Christina Jackson, mesmerizing Michael Cherrie and 'Moonlight's' own André Holland on the dark side, amongst other classic cameos, and this film is formidable. But it's the late, great star of 'The Wire' and 'John Wick' Lance Reddick who will really stay with you in one of his best and last roles. A pivotal one at that, with stirring second-billing. Revelatory in its defiant and dynamic delivery of definition. An actor like no other with a voice the same. Poitier poignant. Let's hear it for him. Long live in our movies and memories. Even with a pre-Netflix, limited theatrical release, nothing is failed here. Just like Chisholm's courageous and beautiful bid to be the first female, and at that time Black President in US history. Something we might see again with names like Kamala or Michelle. Call on this Shirley. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Rustin', 'If Beale Street Could Talk', 'Hidden Figures'.