Rustin (2023) Review!!!

Synopsis – Activist Bayard Rustin faces racism and homophobia as he helps change the course of Civil Rights history by orchestrating the 1963 March on Washington.

My Take – The 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, also known as simply the March on Washington or The Great March on Washington D.C., holds an important place in American history, as it saw more than 200,000 demonstrators take part to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans all over the country

. And while it was successful in pressuring the administration of John F. Kennedy to initiate a strong federal civil rights bill in Congress, the march is mainly remembered for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who while standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech in which he called for an end to racism.

However, the event never would have occurred without the herculean efforts behind the scenes by a team lead by civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who despite being the lead organizer of the event along with A. Philip Randolph, found himself pushed out of the leading face role due to his homosexual status. Making his life a story worth telling.

Produced by Barack and Michelle Obama‘s production company Higher Ground, here, director George C. Wolfe (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) has compiled an informative period piece feature that is solidly staged and backed by a skittering jazz score that adds energy and brisk editing that does its best to keep the story moving smoothly.

But only if the screenplay co-written by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black (Milk) was something more than a dutifully just plodding through the facts for 106 minutes kind of write up. Making it yet another extremely conventional biopic about a person who was anything but that.

Thankfully, the experience remains good thanks to the thrillingly dynamic central performance from the versatile Colman Domingo who single-handedly carries the film. Also, while the film may not be everything it could have been, it nevertheless reminds us of what so many people fought so hard to achieve. Even if the film is not perfect, the story it carries is nonetheless an important one.

The story follows Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo), civil rights activist who is a staunch advocate of nonviolence, and instrumental in a number of mid-century movements ranging from the New York City school boycott to gay rights. Beginning with his ousting from the NAACP and subsequent split from Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Aml Ameen), due to the non-support regarding his pitch of a protest to correspond with the 1960 Democratic convention, an idea which is soundly rejected by the movement’s homophobic old guard, represented by NAACP leader Roy Wilkins (Chris Rock) and Harlem Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (Jeffrey Wright).

The film moves forward a few years to 1963 when Rustin kept himself busy with in a crummy office, working for a ban-the-bomb group. But when President Kennedy’s proposed Civil Rights Act gets tangled in political red tape, Rustin inspired by his young charges and aided by his mentor A. Philip Randolph (Glynn Turman), begins envisioning a protest which could see 100,000 people being bussed to D.C. and camping in tents for a two-day nonviolent rally.

By being bestowed the title of executive director for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Rustin assembles a crew who work the phones, organize transportation, raise money and recruit swaths of people to attend the march as Rustin rouses labor unions and leaders and politicians to back him for an event that will change the course of history.

The best aspect of George C. Wolfe‘s direction is the pacing. As he tries to make the film itself feel energetic with his frequent use of hand-held camera work, and the snappy, frenetic energy he manages to capture in some of the busier scenes, but there’s only so much that can be done when the script is this dull.

Yes, every interaction where Rustin is forced to be a fierce advocate for himself is gripping to watch. Whether it’s his boss when he quits or when he responds to Powell’s pressure to leave, every moment of fiercely calling attention to his humanity in the face of those that would deny it whether because he is Black or because he is a gay man is moving to watch.

Sure, it doesn’t move you to clap for his actions, but it fills you with a visceral need to fight for him, to stand up, to defend him so that he doesn’t need to defend himself. But the film never utilizes the rare opportunity to thoroughly discuss what it was like for Rustin to live his unique life. As at almost every turn, it falls back to the standard biopic formula. With the largest letdown being March on Washington.

Visually, it’s dull and it relies heavily on close-ups, never giving the audience a chance to feel what should be an incredibly powerful moment that the story has been building up to for the entire runtime. While the usage of archival footage is often a smart choice, it’s a difficult one here. At times, it enhances the experience of the film, and for other scenes, it detracts from the obviously manufactured nature of the setting. It is not bad by any means. In fact, it deserved more than what was done for the settings.

Despite all of this, the film should still be seen, especially if you’re unfamiliar with Bayard’s contributions. While it isn’t doing anything new, this Netflix original film is very informative and tells a side of American history that deserves to be told. The best aspect being of course, Colman Domingo‘s endlessly charming performance.

The passion, reverence, and even intimacy that he brings to this role is captivating and compelling. He pulls you in, he makes you want to fight for him, and in that, he is able to push this standard biopic into a call to action. Aml Ameen plays the energetic icon as a toned down version. Chris Rock gets to flex his dramatic muscles.

Jeffrey Wright is notable as the indomitable Adam Clayton Powell Jr. In other roles, Glynn Turman, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, CCH Pounder, Audra McDonald, Gus Halper, Lilli Kay, Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Powell, Ayana Workman, Grantham Coleman and Da’Vine Joy Randolph are astounding. On the whole, ‘Rustin’ is a standard biopic bolstered by Colman Domingo’s Searing Performance.