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| Joel Edgerton & Ruth Negga (r) star in Loving |
Born in the Wrong Place
Rotten Tomatoes Plot: From acclaimed writer/director Jeff Nichols, Loving celebrates the real-life courage and commitment of an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving (portrayed by Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga), who married and then spent the next nine years fighting for the right to live as a family in their hometown. Their civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia, went all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 1967 reaffirmed the very foundation of the right to marry - and their love story has become an inspiration to couples ever since.
Nichols' Loving is one of those rare films that tells its (remarkable) story, without taking on the world in the process. No easy task, given the numerous indignities/obstacles set in front of its heroes (the Lovings.) What makes Loving so special (besides stars Edgerton and Negga, who are nothing short of spectacular) is its ability to remain on course, and stay simple. 116 minutes literally flies by, buoyed by the pursuit of fairness and love. Normally, that spells b-o-r-i-n-g (no sex, no violence?) but I loved it. Co-stars Marton Csokas and Michael Shannon shine too. Surefire year-end Top 10.
Grade: B+
