By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

“Selma” the movie has received rave reviews from some of Hollywood’s most notable film critics, as well as Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Song.

Despite the positive reviews and the possibility of Academy Award nominations on the way, others are criticizing the film for its portrayal of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“This characterization of the 36th president flies in the face of history,” said Mark K. Updegrove, the director of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Library and Museum, in a column for Politico. “In truth, the partnership between LBJ and MLK on civil rights is one of the most productive and consequential in American history.”

Updegrove and Joseph A. Califano, one of LBJ’s top assistants, are accusing the filmmakers of trying to portray Johnson as an antagonist against the Civil Rights Movement.

“‘Selma’ misses mightily in faithfully capturing the pivotal relationship — contentious, the film would have you believe — between King and President Lyndon Baines Johnson,” Updegrove said in his article.

Updegrove’s piece was released just days before the film’s Christmas release, and he argued that the film gets Johnson’s stance on voting rights wrong because he is depicted as resisting King’s urges to sign a voting rights bill.

Days later, Califano released a column of his own in The Washington Post, sharing a similar opinion on what Califano called a “glaring flaw.”

“Contrary to the portrait painted by ‘Selma,’ Lyndon Johnson and Martin Luther King Jr. were partners in this effort,” Califano said. “Johnson was enthusiastic about voting rights and the President urged King to find a place like Selma and lead a major demonstration.”

Califano backed up his criticism by citing a telephone conversation between LBJ and MLK from Jan. 15, 1965. In his article, Califano questioned why producers and writers did not “check the facts.”

On Dec. 28, the film’s director, Ava DuVernay tweeted, “Notion that Selma was LBJ’s idea is jaw dropping and offensive to SNCC, SCLC and black citizens who made it so.” In another tweet, DuVernay said, “Bottom line is folks should interrogate history. Don’t take my word for it or LBJ’s rep’s word for it. Let it come alive for yourself.”

While both sides debate how Johnson was portrayed in the film, moviegoers can decide for themselves on Jan. 9 when the film is released nationwide. It will be shown for free in January at the Walton Theater in Selma. Ticketing information is expected to be finalized Monday.