Rustin: The man behind the man

He was the man behind the man. Martin Luther King’s chief lieutenant. Why is he only getting attention now?Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) was gay at a time in the ‘60s when he was shunned by MLK’s other associates. He regained his stature in the civil rights leader’s camp when he imagined, developed and completed a March on Washington. Rustin: “Do this Dr. King. Own your power.”That assembly of like minds became the largest civil rights gathering ever. On August 28th, 1963, 250,000 people, who had a heightened sense of social consciousness, descended on D.C. and changed the course of history. Rustin: “A demonstration made up of angelic troublemakers.”The script by Julian Breece (When They See Us) and Dustin Lance Black (Milk) gives and in-depth portrait of the man who endured continuous hazing, yet prevailed. Lovers, adversaries, arrests, achievements. It’s all on screen, manifested in a stunning performance by Domingo. Meticulous research has been turned into an energizing screenplay. All the characters are in place. Yet, too often their dialogue seems more suited for a modern novel than the way everyday folks talked back then.The most stirring drama is featured in scenes played by veteran actors who...