Film Preview: Rustin (2023)

Film Poster

Page Revisions:

(September 3, 2023) Original
(October 29, 2023) New Trailer (#2) — New Posters (#1-#2)

Release Date:

November 17, 2023

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “Gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin organized the 1963 March on Washington.”

Poster Rating: C+ / C-

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Review: (#1) If you’re going to go for something so simplistic for a background, at least make sure the angle of the shadows matches. While that won’t be the only thing striking the viewer, those who study it for more than a few minutes (not that they’d linger for that long) might notice and that’s distracting. (#2) The same color scheme does not improve the design with a closer up view of the lead character> It doesn’t make it as striking as it could have been.

Trailer Rating: B / B

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Review: (#1) Bayard Rustin is a potent figure in the Civil Rights movement and this trailer certainly hits all the high notes that might entice viewers to the theater. The problem is that it also feels familiar and predictable. Not in the fact that it’s a historical document, but in the feeling that the structure and pacing are familiar and that could hinder its appeal.

(#2) The second trailer doesn’t introduce much in the way of new footage, but still manages to set a striking portrait of a significant Civil Rights figure and that could be just enough to draw a small, but dedicated audience to the theater.

Oscar Prospects:

This has been a potential Oscar contender since it was announced and while it hasn’t yet been seen, Colman Domingo is a contender for Best Actor if nothing else.