SHIRLEY doesn’t pull any punches. It details how difficult getting people to believe in Shirley Chisholm’s campaign  Plus, it shows how betrayals hurt the Chisholm success. It even sheds some disturbing light on Shirley’s husband and other family members.       

Time for a  poem.

Brooklyn teaching,

then campaigning.

First Black woman Congressman!

Shirley Chisholm, I was a fan.

Shirley then wanted President.

Off again to campaign she went.

Her ups and downs this movie shows.

Leading lady good at those blows

The tough campaigning life is here,

While watching, it’s not something dear

Oscar winner Regina King

oozes courage in every scene.

Supporting actors give their all.

This one’s a winner I would call.  

In addition to Regina King’s fine acting, others in the cast deserve recognition. For example, Michael Cherrie as her unhappy husband heads the list. I think that role may be the most difficult one, but he pulls it off. Lucas Hedges as the student who works on a national basis to involve students in the campaign is quite interesting to watch. And Reina King (Regina King’s sister) as  Shirley’s angry sister makes us believe her with absolutely no questioning. Actually, the entire supporting act crew should get recognized when the next award season rolls around.     .   

Kudos also to director/writer John Ridley and cinematographer Ramsey Nickell  Making a docudrama instead of a usual biopic seems a brave decision – and it worked for me.  

I’d like them to say that Shirley Chisholm had guts. That’s how I would like to be remembered. --- Shirley Chisholm

America has the laws and national resources it takes to insure justice for all its people. What it lacks is the heart, the humanity, the Christian love it would take. --- Shirley Chisholm.

(Released by Netflix. Rated “PG-13”)