'Rustin' Review: A Rousing Crowdpleaser About a Forgotten Civil Rights Figure [TIFF 2023]
Thanks to a fierce lead performance from Colman Domingo, this passionate and urgent biopic is able to balance typical biopic cliches with strong entertainment
Over the years, there have been many biopics and films centered on African American figures in the Civil Rights Movement that not only shed light on the historic impact this event has had on our culture but to give a wide audience a look at what they may not have known about a turbulent historical period as a way of showing how far we’ve come and how much work there still needs to be done. Some focus on the more upbeat and inspirational aspects of that movement such as Hidden Figures, The Butler and The Help while others paint a more dramatic and bleak view of what Blacks went through like Selma and Till. 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of the legendary March on Washington which remains the singular moment of the entire movement garnering 250,000 people and where Dr. Martin Luther King made his now iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Although King and John Lewis are rightfully remembered for their contributions to the March, one man has often been wrongly forgotten despite the fact he was a crucial reason why the event took place.
Now, George C. Wolfe(Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) is bringing the true story of Bayard Rustin to the screen and Colman Domingo’s mesmerizing performance as the openly gay civil rights activist elevates what could have been a generic biopic into an incredibly entertaining and impactful motion picture whose themes are as prevalent today as they were 60 years. After a powerful and silent opening scene that showcases many moments of prejudice young African Americans faced following the 1954 Supreme Court ruling the declared racial segregation in school to be unconstitutional, we’re introduced to Rustin and other important figures of the Civil Rights Movement at the time including MLK(Aml Ameen), NAACP leader Roy Wilkins(Chris Rock), Senator Adam Clayton Powell(Jeffrey Wright) and union organizer A. Phillip Randolph(Glynn Turman). In 1960, Rustin is hoping to start a peaceful protest during the Democratic National Convention following successful ones in the past. Wilkins, knowing of Rustin’s sexuality, talks King against going for the idea which causes a great rift between the two friends.
Three years later, he quits working a desk job at the War Resisters League after a debate with his boss(Bill Irwin) over his white co-worker’s privilege. Inspired by both the continued attacks on African-Americans and a group of young radicals led by his white boyfriend Tom(Gus Halper), Rustin comes up with the groundbreaking idea to hold a two day march with 100,000 people. With Wilkins and Powell being against the idea for both the logistics and Rustin’s personal life, he has a strong supporter in Randolph who urges him to rekindle his strained relationship with King. As he is able to meet and exceed his goal of securing all the people needed to make the march a success, his personal life starts to unravel as he becomes infatuated with an aspiring preacher Elias (Johnny Ramey) despite the fact that Rustin is still with Tom and Elias has a wife. As the film progresses, Rustin uses his charisma and passion to fight against prejudice and become a huge part of history.
The story of Bayard Rustin is absolutely ripe for cinematic potential given what a powerful and influential figure he was despite his accomplishments going relatively unnoticed for decades. Wolfe does a solid if not remarkable job capturing the time period as there are points where you can see his stage background come through in certain scenes that make it feel less cinematic then it perhaps should be although he does a fantastic recreation of the actual March. The screenplay by Julian Breece and Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black, whose script for Milk also dealt with an influential gay figure in politics, never contains too many surprises but it is filled with so much snappy dialogue and impactful speeches that capture the type of character Rustin was that makes it feel authentic and vibrant in comparison to to other biopics. Perhaps the biggest voice behind the film is that this is the first major film form Higher Ground Productions, the production company run by Barack and Michelle Obama and the similarities between Rustin and the former president are very apparent on the screen.
If there is one reason to recommend this film, it is due to the extraordinary performance of Colman Domingo in the title role. Having worked with Wolfe on Ma Rainey and given memorable supporting performances in If Beale Street Could Talk and Zola, Domingo is finally given the much deserved opportunity to be the leading man of a motion picture and does he ever knock it out of the park with this one. With each scene, he embodies Rustin’s physical and emotional attributes to his character and disappears into the role. The man was known for his unique style and flamboyant personality and Domingo brings his all by making Rustin brash and opinionated but also a sensitive and witty soul who has everything stacked against him at a time when being black and gay was about the last thing society looked positively on. Whenever he delivers a powerful speech, he does it with such splendor and gravitas that its hard to take your eyes off him. It’s the sort of role actors dream of playing their whole life and Domingo will no doubt find himself a serious contender in this year’s awards race and open more doors for him.
The rest of the cast may not deliver the crackerjack performance Domingo does but there are many standouts that help make the film great. Glynn Turman, another Ma Rainey alum, is always reliable as Randolph being Rustin’s well spoken ally that stands by him even when others are trying to put him out to pasture. Halper and Ramey are decent as Rustin’s love interests although the liberties taken with their characters prevent them from being memorable. Audra McDonald and CCH Pounder as Ella Baker and Dr. Anna Arnold, respectively, provide solid female support and the always great Jeffrey Wright gives a real nastiness to Powell by making him an obstacle in Rustin’s way. The one distracting casting choice is Chris Rock as Wilkins. This character is supposed to be a big threat to Rustin yet Rock never really makes his portrayal believable or sinister enough to be taken as such
Passionate in its message and exploration of a figure who deserves more attention for his accomplishments, Rustin is a terrific biopic with a charismatic and phenomenal leading man that will appeal to a wide range of moviegoers. It may not change the genre like its subject matter did but it gets message out in a sensitive and entertaining way.