Rustin is simultaneously important and formulaic. It covers ever-pressing topics of prejudice, activism, inequality, police brutality, and politics. The acting (especially the central performance) enlivens each scene with infectious range, layers, charisma, body language, chemistry, intensity, and vulnerability. There's humor, biopic tropes, battling ideologies, self-acceptance, adversity, a focused scope, and informative honesty. Its dialogue drives the plot with memorable lines, heavy exposition, clever retorts, and occasionally stilted speechifying. Some might find it overly external instead of an internal character study, but Rustin is intimate enough to maintain investment.
Technically, Rustin is conventional. The cinematography adds some framing, movement, angles, and black-and-white flashbacks. Its editing offers a tight pace, montages, inserts, and archive footage. The sound has silence, split cuts, smash cuts, voiceovers, muffling, and symbolic diegetics. Its effects supply detailed makeup and prosthetics, but with iffy digital support. The cast is skilled, representative, and star-making. Its production design creates a sense of time, place, and scale. The music uses diegetic needle drops and swing jazz throughout (fitting the mood, culture, and era). Overall, Rustin isn't particularly artistic, but it's a valuable story with key passion.
Writing: 8/10
Direction: 6/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Acting: 10/10
Editing: 7/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 7/10
Overall Score: 7.7/10
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