Review - Rustin
Colman Domingo is magnetic as civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.
Directed by: George C. Wolfe
Written by: Julian Breece, Dustin Lance Black
Starring: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman
Running Time: 106 minutes
Rating: 3/5
They either believe in freedom and justice for all….or they do not.
Do you know the name Bayard Rustin? A long forgotten figure in the midst of the socialist and civil rights movement in 1960s America. A gay black man who tirelessly advocated for equality, justice and encompassing justice to marginalized families, communities and people across the United States. Bayard Rustin sought to tackle the oppressive forces in his world with the belief of non-violent resistance and peaceful protesting - armed with a relentless passion, charming charisma and an unwavering smile. George C. Wolfe’s Rustin is an inspiring exposé into a journey of perseverance that stands confidently on the towering performance of Colman Domingo.
Blaring with the sickly blues and thumping crescendos of southern jazz drawl; Wolfe’s follow-up to Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom reunites the director with star Colman Domingo in a moving biopic that both dazzles and plays it safe in its medocricty.
How many rousing monologues can you sit through without it feeling absolutely repetitive and kinda, sorta, bland? There is a lot of here yet - passionate, fiery speeches and definitively oscar-baity-clips that will be used as the front-and-centre of Netflix’s’ awards campaign. Domingo, anchoring almost every pivotal soliloquy is dazzling in his commanding charisma, charm and passion; it isn’t to say that his performance is overused, over-acted or even boring - it just feels like every single scene is a platform to push Domingo towards the Oscar gold, and nothing more. The conflict between Rustin and his so-called allies are interesting to a point, until it feels like a narrative obstacle to further propel Rustin’s journey into a powerful, cathartic climax. The film examines Rustin’s intersecting dynamics; one of his homosexuality and his relationship with his white colleague, Tom and a black preacher, Elias, and the other being his soul-driven purpose of defying inequality and justice for the oppressed men and women of American (and thus, the world). It becomes a juggling act, an unbalanced character arc that weaves distinct character worlds in and out of a cohesive bond. Sometimes, it feels like Rustin’s story is held back by his personal relationships and the overall narrative plot feels overburdened in its journey.
Rustin is as awards-baity as it comes - a forgotten story about a homosexual black man in the midst of one of the most powerful civil rights movements of the century; it may seem disappointing, but it checks off many of the boxes you may expect from this type of awards contender. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing against Wolfe’s Rustin, but it also doesn’t seem to change or dramatically evolve the historical genre as it may hope to. The shining star is Colman Domingo’s charismatic leading turn as the enigmatic Bayard Rustin; his soulful passion and commanding presence demands a thunderous reception, one that is bound to be headed to Oscar Gold come award season. Rustin graces the silver screen with an important story that has gone long-forgotten and untold, though disappointingly stoic and narratively, stylistically generic; the film finds itself floating on the strength of Domingo’s emotionally nuanced performance.
