Summary

Rustin sheds light on the forgotten figure responsible for the success of the March on Washington, highlighting Bayard Rustin’s importance in history despite obstacles he faced. The film captures the chaotic planning stages leading up to the march, but the execution feels more like a stage play, ultimately lessening the impact on the big screen. Colman Domingo delivers an exceptional performance as Rustin, deserving of an Oscar nomination, and the supporting cast also shines in this truthful portrayal of buried history.

When people reflect on the 1963 March on Washington for jobs and freedom, they think of the famous and historic “I Have a Dream” speech from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., not of Bayard Rustin, the central figure in director George C. Wolfe’s biopic Rustin. The march is also credited with assisting the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. With all the important moments that came from the march, it’s hard to imagine (depending on your knowledge of buried U.S. history) how one man’s influence and direct involvement could have been erased until only ten years ago. In 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Bayard Rustin with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

A decade later, the rest of the world will finally know just how important Rustin (played by Colman Domingo) was to that historic march on August 8, 1963, and many more civil rights movements thereafter thanks to Netflix. Wolfe’s biographical drama, which was written by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black, premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. The biopic chronicles Rustin’s role in organizing the March on Washington. Because he was a gay man, and due to old ties with the communist party, Rustin was forced to take a supporting role, which ultimately erased his large contributions in history. Thankfully, the team behind the feature is here to set that straight.

Audra McDonald and Colman Domingo in Rustin

As a whole, Rustin gets the point across in terms of establishing the historical figure as the key to making the March on Washington a success, so the film accomplishes what it sets out to do. Important agendas aside, there are too many messy sequences and shoddy storytelling decisions that happen up until that point. Perhaps it was a way for the screenwriters to capture Rustin’s saucy personality and take-no-shit mindset from his peers or enemies. However, to examine the full importance of a figure like Rustin is to do so fully with no limits and with the intent to cross comfort zones. This? Well, the film is merely stylized gibberish.

Every decision leading up to the March on Washington is executed by Rustin or a member of his team, and the film does well in capturing the mayhem of these planning stages. But these sequences come off as organized chaos akin to what you’d see on a stage play instead of what is needed on the big screen. There’s an even larger problem that stems from this: After so much build up to the event, the march actually only gets minor screen time, which ultimately lessens the visual effect. The script could have called for fewer love triangle scenes — as a means to showcase Rustin’s sexuality — and instead opted for an honest embrace of his ethic, values, and comfort in being himself wholly.

If nothing else, Rustin serves as a wonderful showcase of Colman Domingo’s exceptional talents. This is a true Oscar-worthy performance if I’ve ever seen one. Domingo is perfectly cast as he plays this beautiful human being with assurance. From the symphony of his vocal intonations to that toothless, sleek smile, Domingo is a true performer and will command your attention from the second he shows up onscreen. Of course, the supporting cast brings their A-game. Specifically, Glynn Turman as A. Philip Randolph, CCH Pounder as Dr. Anna Hedgeman, and Gus Halper as Tom all do a wonderful job. But this is Domingo’s show by and large.

I am very certain about several things when it comes to this film. First, Rustin will finally shine light on the man responsible for making the March on Washington come to fruition. Second, Wolfe and company get their point across in highlighting Bayard Rustin’s importance in history despite the obstacles and people standing in his way. Finally, Domingo is a national treasure and deserves an Oscar nomination for this role. It may not be the best biopic ever told, but people will certainly walk away from Rustin more educated, inspired to be the change they want to see in the world, and grateful that movies like this are willing to tell the truth about buried history.

Rustin screened at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. The film will be in limited theaters November 3 and will be available to stream on Netflix November 17. It’s 99 minutes long and rated R for some violence, sexual material, brief drug use, racial slurs, language, and thematic material.