Title: Shirley
Release Date: March 21, 2024
Director: John Ridley
Production Company: Participant | Royal Ties Productions
Summary/Review:
Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to Congress, representing a district in Brooklyn from 1969 to 1983. In 1972, she ran for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. This film focuses on the campaign’s behind-the-scenes dealings and the emotional effects on Chisholm and her family and friends. The highlights of this movie are Regina King’s performance in the lead role and bringing awareness to Chisholm’s historical role. Scenes that stand out include Chisholm’s visit to segregationist candidate George Wallace (W. Earl Brown) after an assassination attempt and a meeting with Black Panther Party leader Huey Newton (Brad James) mediated by actor Diahann Caroll (Amirah Vann). The rest of the cast includes Michael Cherie as Chisholm’s patient husband Conrad, Lance Reddick, Terrence Howard, Lucas Hedges, and Brian Stokes Mitchell as Chisholm’s campaign advisors, and Christina Jackson as a young Barbara Lee. Unfortunately, this movie is highly formulaic like a lot of biopics, and a much of the dialogue sounds unnatural as if the characters are narrating from a history book.
Rating: ***
Panorama of the Mountains 