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Every January, Americans take a day to recognize the contributions and life of Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His life was tragically and suddenly cut short in April 1968 in Memphis, TN, but Dr. King was part of a movement to bring equality among the races and help usher in a new era of acceptance and peace. Chances are, your local city is planning something to honor the life of Dr. King on this federally observed holiday of MLK Day, but if you're looking to dig into a few films to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., we have a few suggestions here.
From the 2014 critically acclaimed historical drama Selma, to classic films starring Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, and Gregory Peck (which are readily available on Netflix and other video streaming systems), there are many well-done movies about civil rights, African-Americans, and black history that are great ways to celebrate the life of MLK.
While nearly 50 years has passed since Dr. King's assassination, his words and message live on today. So while we continue to keep his dream alive, take a couple of hours out of your day to watch a film or two that embody the spirit and legend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
http://www.ranker.com/list/martin-luther-king-jr-day-movies/derrick-deane,
4 Little Girls
This Spike Lee HBO documentary centers on the murder of four African-American girls in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, AL in September 1963. Though released in 1997, Lee first became interested in the event while a student at New York University in 1983 and was moved to write one of the fathers for permission to tell the story on film. Though he initially turned Lee down, the father eventually changed his mind after learning the depth of Lee's research saying, "It's very important that this be done accurately and correctly." The documentary was nominated for an Oscar in 1998.
A Raisin in the Sun
This adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's play finds Sidney Poitier giving one of the best performances of his career. The film centers on a large insurance payment that a black family living in the Southside of Chicago must decide on paying and frankly tackles the subject of racism.
Gandhi
Martin Luther King Jr. was influenced by the non-violent protests and civil disobedience exhibited by Mahatma Gandhi. This Richard Attenborough film took home eight Oscars in 1983 including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Ben Kingsley.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Yup, another Sidney Poitier movie. This one centers on white parents whose daughter brings her black fiance home for dinner. The tense take on the classic meet-the-parents tradition won two Oscars (Best Actress for Katherine Hepburn and Best Screenplay) and picked up eight additional nominations.
In the Heat of the Night
This classic crime drama centers on a black police detective trying to solve a murder case in the Deep South during the 1960s. The film won multiple Oscars, helped further the legend of actor Sidney Poitier and gave his co-star Rod Steiger a serious gum-chomping jaw workout.
Mississippi Burning
Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe star as a pair of FBI agents who arrive in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of some civil rights activists. Based loosely on the real FBI investigation of three civil rights workers who were murdered in Mississippi in 1964, the film went on to win an Oscar for cinematography while also earning Best Picture, Best Director, and acting nominations.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Gregory Peck stars as the moral center in this classic adaptation of Harper Lee's novel about a falsely accused black man in the 1960s. The film won three Oscars in 1963 including Best Actor for Peck along with five other nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress.
The Butler
Spanning several decades, including the tense days of the Civil Rights Movement, this critically lauded biopic stars Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, a man who serves as the butler to eight presidents during his tenure in the White House. During his time as a butler, he witnessed first hand the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, and other major events in American history.
Dear White People
This 2014 satirical drama centers on African-American students attending an Ivy League college and was inspired by writer/director Justin Simien's experiences in college. The film was met with critical acclaim at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and stars Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, and Dennis Haysbert.
Selma
2014's Selma, the historical drama directed by Ava DuVernay stars David Oyelowo, who turned in a haunting performance as Dr. King. The film earned universal acclaim from critics, posting a 99% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes despite controversies regarding historical accuracy.
Clik here to view.
Every January, Americans take a day to recognize the contributions and life of Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His life was tragically and suddenly cut short in April 1968 in Memphis, TN, but Dr. King was part of a movement to bring equality among the races and help usher in a new era of acceptance and peace. Chances are, your local city is planning something to honor the life of Dr. King on this federally observed holiday of MLK Day, but if you're looking to dig into a few films to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., we have a few suggestions here.
From the 2014 critically acclaimed historical drama Selma, to classic films starring Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, and Gregory Peck (which are readily available on Netflix and other video streaming systems), there are many well-done movies about civil rights, African-Americans, and black history that are great ways to celebrate the life of MLK.
While nearly 50 years has passed since Dr. King's assassination, his words and message live on today. So while we continue to keep his dream alive, take a couple of hours out of your day to watch a film or two that embody the spirit and legend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
http://www.ranker.com/list/martin-luther-king-jr-day-movies/derrick-deane,
4 Little Girls
This Spike Lee HBO documentary centers on the murder of four African-American girls in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, AL in September 1963. Though released in 1997, Lee first became interested in the event while a student at New York University in 1983 and was moved to write one of the fathers for permission to tell the story on film. Though he initially turned Lee down, the father eventually changed his mind after learning the depth of Lee's research saying, "It's very important that this be done accurately and correctly." The documentary was nominated for an Oscar in 1998.
A Raisin in the Sun
This adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's play finds Sidney Poitier giving one of the best performances of his career. The film centers on a large insurance payment that a black family living in the Southside of Chicago must decide on paying and frankly tackles the subject of racism.
Gandhi
Martin Luther King Jr. was influenced by the non-violent protests and civil disobedience exhibited by Mahatma Gandhi. This Richard Attenborough film took home eight Oscars in 1983 including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Ben Kingsley.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Yup, another Sidney Poitier movie. This one centers on white parents whose daughter brings her black fiance home for dinner. The tense take on the classic meet-the-parents tradition won two Oscars (Best Actress for Katherine Hepburn and Best Screenplay) and picked up eight additional nominations.
In the Heat of the Night
This classic crime drama centers on a black police detective trying to solve a murder case in the Deep South during the 1960s. The film won multiple Oscars, helped further the legend of actor Sidney Poitier and gave his co-star Rod Steiger a serious gum-chomping jaw workout.
Mississippi Burning
Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe star as a pair of FBI agents who arrive in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of some civil rights activists. Based loosely on the real FBI investigation of three civil rights workers who were murdered in Mississippi in 1964, the film went on to win an Oscar for cinematography while also earning Best Picture, Best Director, and acting nominations.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Gregory Peck stars as the moral center in this classic adaptation of Harper Lee's novel about a falsely accused black man in the 1960s. The film won three Oscars in 1963 including Best Actor for Peck along with five other nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress.
The Butler
Spanning several decades, including the tense days of the Civil Rights Movement, this critically lauded biopic stars Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, a man who serves as the butler to eight presidents during his tenure in the White House. During his time as a butler, he witnessed first hand the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, and other major events in American history.
Dear White People
This 2014 satirical drama centers on African-American students attending an Ivy League college and was inspired by writer/director Justin Simien's experiences in college. The film was met with critical acclaim at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and stars Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, and Dennis Haysbert.
Selma
2014's Selma, the historical drama directed by Ava DuVernay stars David Oyelowo, who turned in a haunting performance as Dr. King. The film earned universal acclaim from critics, posting a 99% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes despite controversies regarding historical accuracy.