The Square - A-

Unrated, 104 minutes

"The Square" a riveting documentary on Eqyptian unrest

One of the images captured in the Oscar-nominated documentary "The Square"

The compelling documentary "The Square" was first released in the fall of 2013, but since then it has garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary. The complex but inviting documentary is a powerful look at a revolution still occurring in Eqypt and is still worth a look (find it on You Tube or Netflix) before the Academy awards on March 2. Directed by Egyptian filmmaker Jehame Noujaim, "The Square" is the inspirational story of young people claiming their rights, struggling through multiple forces: from a brutal army dictatorship willing to crush protesters with military tanks, to a corrupt Muslim Brotherhood using mosques to manipulate voters.  In particular, its focus takes place between the winter of 2011, when crowds of protesters gathered in Tahrir Square demanding the removal of President Hosni Mubarak, to the summer of 2013, when the army ousted his successor, Mohamed Morsi, and began a violent campaign against his followers in the Muslim Brotherhood. Noujaim's relevant immediacy is what makes this documentary so riveting, even if you don't fully understand the events taking place. It's also a bittersweet look at those with hope that things will change and go their way (but essentially do not), taking them back to square one. Worthwhile and satisfying but oftentimes dense and heavy handed, I wouldn't be surprised if this walks away with the Oscar for Best Documentary, though it will be hard to beat the ladies from "Twenty Feet From Stardom."

Wes's Grade: A-