Rustin

Grade: D+

I so rarely see film critics admit in their bad reviews that they just don’t like that genre. Most of the time, they blame the movie, and rattle off a laundry list of what was “wrong” with it, tap-dancing up to that word minimum. I’ve been guilty of this. Surely these critics don’t enjoy EVERY kind of movie they have to see. Where’s the shame in throwing up your hands in surrender and honestly saying “it’s probably fine for what it is – it just isn’t my thing?” It’s the film reviewer’s equivalent of “it’s not you, it’s me.”

Rustin belongs in the historical drama/biopic classification – always an uphill battle with me. I usually don’t care. I had never heard of Bayard Rustin. He was an African-American leader for multiple social movements such as civil rights and gay rights. He died in 1987 at age 75. The film jumps around a little bit in time, but for the most part, is in 1963, as he is organizing a peaceful protest – the March on Washington. Rustin laboriously marches us through the biopic thing with woefully little personality. My favorite parts were the exploration of his homosexuality. That was quite the controversial issue back then, and I liked every few and far between scene that dealt with the struggle and internal battle. Anyone can look up facts in a history book. Let’s have more drama.

I didn’t think it was possible to simultaneously dislike a movie so much, and really admire a performance in it – but that happens here. Colman Domingo is electrifying as the title character. I’d nominate him for an Oscar. It’s obviously a character voice and not his own way of speaking, but he has a command of the language and gives meaning and gravitas to everything he delivers. His diction is impeccable, and it’s easy to relish it oozing from his lips – even while you’re checking out to look at your watch every minute to see how long is left. He has been busy; his work in The Color Purple was different and equally memorable.

Chris Rock is effective as a small supporting character, reminding us that he can be a valuable actor. Lilly Kay was one of my favorites in the cast. She looked familiar. Turns out I gave her a shout-out as one of the best in August at Twenty-Two – one of the most amateur, low budget, indiest movies I’ve ever seen. It’s nice to see someone from there in a high profile Netflix Original like this. I was so disinterested and apathetic that I completely missed that Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction) and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) are also in this large, difficult-to-keep-track-of ensemble. I really didn’t like Rustin, and I was glad to have it over with. But it’s not the movie. It’s more me.

Grade: D+