Film Snail

Shirley
Shirley

6.9

Shirley

PG-13·2024·117m

Summary

Shirley Chisholm makes a trailblazing run for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination after becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress.

Cast

Regina King

Regina King

Shirley Chisholm

Lance Reddick

Lance Reddick

Wesley McDonald 'Mac' Holder

Terrence Howard

Terrence Howard

Arthur Hardwick Jr.

Lucas Hedges

Lucas Hedges

Robert Gottlieb

Michael Cherrie

Conrad Chisholm

Brian Stokes Mitchell

Brian Stokes Mitchell

Stanley Townsend

Christina Jackson

Christina Jackson

Barbara Lee

André Holland

André Holland

Walter Fauntroy

Dorian Missick

Dorian Missick

Ron Dellums

Reina King

Muriel St. Hill

Amirah Vann

Amirah Vann

Diahann Caroll

W. Earl Brown

W. Earl Brown

George Wallace

Brad James

Brad James

Huey Newton

Charlene R. Willis

Ruby St. Hill

Ken Strunk

Ken Strunk

Congressman McCormack

Becca Kravitz

Beth

Cory Hardin

Cory Hardin

Klosterman

Rob Grant

Arnold Pinkney

Gregory Mallios

Gregory Mallios

Oly Clark

Micaela Wittman

Micaela Wittman

Maggie

Brandon Knabe

Brandon Knabe

Scott

Derrick Aguis

Assailant

Loren Escandon

Rose

Mario Rocha

Mario Rocha

Labor Rally Goer

Richard Hagerman

Carlson

Mike Seely

Mike Seely

Sweeney

David Vegh

Officer Brant

Elliott Young

Leroy

Terry Tocantins

Terry Tocantins

Gorman

Chad Willett

Chad Willett

Bill Ryan

Marcellus ''Bassman'' Shepard

MC

Nate James

Derrick

Abdul-Khaliq Murtadha

Shirley Supporter

Kevin Garbee

Wallace Reporter

Shannon Chappell

Gina

Rupert Spraul

Rupert Spraul

Tom Asher

Brandon Meeks

Nat

Samantha Russell

Samantha Russell

Aide #1

Amber Hutchins

Aide #2

Destiny Turner

Campaign Volunter #1

Xavier Mikal

Campaign Volunter #2

Caleb Farley

Campaign Volunter #3

Ashlyn Porter

Campaign Volunter #4

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson

Campaign Volunter #5

Dalton Knoffer

Campaign Volunter #6

Tony Renee Bush

Terri

Luis Sebastián Borges

Luis Sebastián Borges

Edgar

Shawntae Hughes

Shawntae Hughes

Photographer

Jessica Abrams

Jessica Abrams

Carol

Chet Grissom

Chet Grissom

Russ

Michael Petrone

Michael Petrone

Chuck

Aaron Coleman

Aaron Coleman

Reverend

Tiberius Byrd

Jerry

Tandi Fomukong

Tandi Fomukong

Nicole

Rodney J. Hobbs

Rodney J. Hobbs

Lewis

Jason Ridley

Fisher Yoshida

Chad Hessler

DC Police #1

Jared Corum

DC Police #2

Robert Gallegos

Dancer #1

Jackie Nova

Jackie Nova

Dancer #2

Allan Anthony Smith

Dancer #3

Jessica Brown

Dancer #4

LaShan Anderson

Dancer #5

Miguel Norwood

Dancer #6

Clayton Belcher

Clayton Belcher

Pilot

Crew

Director, Writer

John Ridley

Reviews

B

Brent_Marchant

April 7, 2024

6

Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (Regina King), the first African-American woman elected to the House of Representatives, was an inspiring, trailblazing politician, particularly in the areas of race and gender politics. After winning her seat in Congress in 1968, she later went on to run for the Democratic Party nomination for President in 1972. And that impressive background, one would think, should provide the basis for an engaging, uplifting film biography. Unfortunately, writer-director John Ridley’s take on this groundbreaking, often-unappreciated pioneer misses the mark in a number of ways. The biggest problem is a script that tries to cover too much ground in its 1:58:00 runtime, addressing an array of elements from Chisholm’s personal and political life and not covering either area particularly well, most notably in the film’s first half before settling down in the picture’s back end. The narrative jumps around so much that the picture becomes choppy and unfocused – almost incoherent at times – primarily due to some inexplicably mystifying film editing and a lack of sufficient explanation and back story, especially for those who may not know much about the protagonist’s life going in. The film also features some rather questionable casting choices, such as the selection of actor W. Earl Brown to portray Alabama Governor George Wallace, who neither looks nor sounds anything like the conservative Southern Democrat who also ran for President in 1972 and was subsequently shot during the campaign. Even King’s performance is somewhat uncharacteristically lacking as she struggles mightily to definitively capture Chisholm’s singular demeanor and vocal inflections, qualities that sometimes don’t always resonate, despite the actress’s strong physical resemblance to her character. The real standout here is Lance Reddick, who gives one of his career’s best portrayals (as Chisholm’s political mentor) in one of his last screen performances. It’s disappointing that this inspirational social and political leader hasn’t received the worthy cinematic tribute she truly deserves. Perhaps “Shirley” might have worked better as a miniseries than as a standalone vehicle, as that format likely would have provided a better option for more fully telling her story in all of the detail it seeks to depict here. Indeed, for someone who endeavored to rise up to the challenges she faced, it’s disheartening that the film seeking to depict that effort doesn’t match what she so earnestly sought to accomplish.

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Keywords

inspirational
provocative
informative