"Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"- Justin Chadwick-2013
The title comes from Mandela's autobiography. Chadwick is known primarily for his work in British TV, However, he directed films between 2008-2017. The writer, William Nicholson, is known for some prominent films: Shadowlands, Les Miserables, Hyde Park on Hudson, and Gladiator. In "Hyde Park on Hudson" once you get over the shock of Bill Murray playing FDR; you see that both films attempt to show us the personal life of huge historical figures. Neither Murray, nor Elba pass the basic look test; this is my problem,but it detracted from my appreciation of the films.
Idris Elba is best known for his TV work most prominently "The Wire." Morgan Freeman was the original first choice, but he lost out after he made "Invictus" with Clint Eastwood. Trying to be fair, Elba is very solid in the role. I have more problems with Naomie Harris as Winnie Mandela. I admit that this is a crushingly difficult role; Harris stated she found seven Winnie's. She is best with the young and sexy Winnie. Elba gets stronger as the film goes on. He makes the transformation into the heroic Mandela believable. The trial sequence in the film is not the only time he was tried for treason. He and 28 other ANC leaders were tried between December of 1956 and March of 1963. They were acquitted.
I think that the film tries to cover too much ground. "Invictus" fares better with its more limited scope. Still for all my carping; this is a solid film. Serious biopics are a very difficult genre. They are unlikely to be big at the box office either. This is well worth viewing.
The title comes from Mandela's autobiography. Chadwick is known primarily for his work in British TV, However, he directed films between 2008-2017. The writer, William Nicholson, is known for some prominent films: Shadowlands, Les Miserables, Hyde Park on Hudson, and Gladiator. In "Hyde Park on Hudson" once you get over the shock of Bill Murray playing FDR; you see that both films attempt to show us the personal life of huge historical figures. Neither Murray, nor Elba pass the basic look test; this is my problem,but it detracted from my appreciation of the films.
Idris Elba is best known for his TV work most prominently "The Wire." Morgan Freeman was the original first choice, but he lost out after he made "Invictus" with Clint Eastwood. Trying to be fair, Elba is very solid in the role. I have more problems with Naomie Harris as Winnie Mandela. I admit that this is a crushingly difficult role; Harris stated she found seven Winnie's. She is best with the young and sexy Winnie. Elba gets stronger as the film goes on. He makes the transformation into the heroic Mandela believable. The trial sequence in the film is not the only time he was tried for treason. He and 28 other ANC leaders were tried between December of 1956 and March of 1963. They were acquitted.
I think that the film tries to cover too much ground. "Invictus" fares better with its more limited scope. Still for all my carping; this is a solid film. Serious biopics are a very difficult genre. They are unlikely to be big at the box office either. This is well worth viewing.