David Oyelowo plays Dr. King in what looks more like a tense thriller than an introspective character study, with the three 1965 marches from Selma to Montgomery as the backdrop. King turned his attention on the Alabama cities to secure voting rights there, leading demonstrations that helped convince President Lyndon Johnson to sign the Voting Rights Act. Also starring are Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common and Oprah Winfrey.