TIFF 2023: Rustin Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

There has perhaps been no more hyped performance than that of Colman Domingo in Rustin, a biopic of Gay civil rights icon Bayard Rustin. Moved from last year’s award season to this year’s, the film is likely to play a prominent role once that time comes despite the fact that it does not quite reach the heights predicted by the so-called hype machine. While Domingo’s performance is for the most part what it was shaped up to be, the film itself succumbs to the recent trope of focusing on a single event of its subject’s life. Though it had its moments, it fails to paint enough of a satisfying picture. Seemingly focused solely on getting the story to said event above all else, some vital character development is sacrificed as a result. Arguably taking on too much and trying to fit it across its 100+ minute running time, the film feels like a small piece of a larger story. Still compelling to watch, as the holes add up, many will be left wanting more from what was essentially a Cliff’s Notes version of the story. 

As mentioned, Rustin focuses on Bayard Rustin (Domingo) and his efforts to organize the historic 1963 March on Washington. Faced with constant discrimination for his sexuality, he remained undettered as the face of the operation which looked to bring various civil rights, religious, and labor organization together for what he hoped to be one of the biggest political rallies in history (it was). Proving to be a challenge in and of itself, being the face of the march and the organization behind it presented its own set of challenges as he and his lifestyle were tried in the media and the court of public opinion. From there, as his personal life threatened the future of his march before it even started and facing mounting pressure from within, his sheer determination to fight for what he believed in was admirable to watch for how he brought all these groups together. Filled with plenty of tension and drama, the inner dealings involved as the march come together was compelling but the complexity of it all, beyond logistics, is lost due to the film’s rushed nature. Trying to be a film about Rustin and a film about the March on Washington, it arguably is less successful at both and would have been better as one or the other. 

The best part of the film was the aforementioned performance by Domingo as Rustin. An absolute powerhouse, his tremendous range was on full display, bringing energy and a subtle layer of pain below the surface, balancing strength, determination, and tragedy. While it would have been better had it explored the character more, he was a scene-stealer, commanding every scene. Boasting an impressive supporting cast, they all contribute to the story but kind of get drowned out by Domingo.

At the end of the day, Rustin is a flawed yet powerful character piece limited by recent biopic tropes but Colman Domingo still shines through. 

*still courtesy of Netflix*

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.