Review of Shirley

Shirley (2024)
6/10
solid
27 March 2024
This is a biopic of Shirley Chisholm (Regina King). In 1968, she became the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress. The former school teacher is dismissed and told to wait her turn. She decides to run for President in 1972.

This is a straight biopic. I don't think that a failed run to a Democratic nominee who got destroyed by Nixon is actually that compelling of a story. The most compelling aspect is her marriage. That could be something there. The movie does something similar with the sister, but it's not set up well enough. Maybe a flashback with the father would help. The actors are great. The movie needs more imagination. It needs a better entry point. Barbara Lee could be that doorway. The movie could be told from her point of view.
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