Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)

The Worst Film Ever

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is a film that's certainly sincere, well-intentioned and does make for a good tribute to the life of Nelson Mandela, especially with such a charismatic lead in Idris Elba. There's also a good feeling for the sixties during the early parts of the film, where Mandela, as a young lawyer in South Africa, trains, marries, cheats on his wife and becomes involved in politics through his position as a lawyer. Unfortunately, some events and people are written so thinly that we barely get to appreciate much that's going on around Mandela, as his presence is so very central to the story that other characters become one dimensional or quickly skimmed over as the story leaps forward almost episodically. Elba was certainly well cast as Mandela, whom he plays with strength, conviction, sincerity and with the physicality of the man, both bodily and verbally. When he speaks, it's with truth and a real sense of integrity. This is matched by the spark in Naome Harris's portrayal of Winnie Mandela, whose character isn't brilliantly written, but does provide a contrast with Madeba and opportunity to focus the narrative elsewhere. This soon adds touches of poignancy when Mandela is incarcerated on Robben Island and the emotions of husband, wife, father and mother become present amidst the racial turmoil. But with so much scope and ambition in a story that spans several decades, it's credit to the performances and the intention of the film that it does make an emotional connection. And whilst the final act is a more stately affair, with the employment of vintage footage adding both filler and a touch of realism, it's Elba who continues to engage as the elder Mandela, even if his tremendous physicality occasionally betrays him. And whilst this was a commendable project made with sincere intentions, it's Elba who holds the film together and makes up for the shortcomings of a narrative that's too by the numbers.

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I initially thought Idris Elba was a strange choice to play Nelson Mandela, arguably the greatest person of the 20th century. Thankfully Elba is just magnificent here, and although his physical likeness is never quite there his mannerisms and voice was spot on.The film itself does a good job of cramming this incredible story into 2 hours without omitting anything too consequential. It's pretty much all here, starting with a race through Mandela's childhood onto his career in law and first marriage. Then the film really gets into gear with his introduction to the ANC, his marriage to Winnie, his bombing campaigns, eventual capture, imprisonment and the soul destroying years spent on Robben Island. Well I say soul destroying, maybe for me as a viewer, but not for the remarkable Mandela, who didn't bow, bend or crack under this incredible pressure.Some of the scenes in Robben Island are utterly heart breaking, particularly when Mandela is told his first born son has died in a car accident, and is denied the opportunity to attend the funeral or grieve in any meaningful way. Elba is astonishing here, you can feel his pain so acutely you almost want to look away.The final third of the movie deals with Mandela's negotiations with the government and his eventual release, and this is maybe where the film falls slightly flat. The monumental events unfolding are underplayed and slightly underwhelming. Still, it's a very enjoyable movie and Elba really shines here.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is a movie that portrayed Nelson Mandela, the strongest opponent of apartheid, in an honest light. It showed Mandela as a good man with good values who wanted nothing but racial equality for South Africa. It also showed him as a man who was never home for his family and a man who put his country before his family, even though he loved his family. All of this combined is a wonderful biopic, perhaps a bit conventional at times. But the movie plays the cards well and is emotional at times. Plus we also get a really good song from U2. Justin Chadwick's film is a biopic about Nelson Mandela starting from the 1940's as a lawyer who joined the ANC to promote equality to his 27- year prison sentence to when he became the first black president in the history of South Africa. Idris Elba was just fantastic as Mandela. He really got everything right about the portrayal down to the accent. It shows the impressive range of Elba. Not only he can play a Norse god, but he can play an important historical figure. Naomie Harris as Winnie Mandela was also very good and she gave a moving portrayal of the woman who suffered sixteen months in solitary confinement. Overall, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is a very good film, even if it plays it safe at times. But racism has always been a worldwide issue and America's own racial problems can be compared to South Africa's, although apartheid was much more violent and oppressive. But this is a really powerful film about a man who fought valiantly for his people. This is also an honest, awards-worthy portrayal. I rate this film 9/10.

Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom tells of the lengthy path toward ending apartheid and the racial war in South Africa The title of the Nelson Mandela biopic is befitting of the arduous task faced by Mr. Mandela. Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom tells of the lengthy path toward ending apartheid and the racial war in South Africa spanning some seventy years from childhood to inauguration.Most people know Nelson Mandela as he was portrayed by the media later in life; the seemingly soft spoken man who emerged from prison, endearingly called Madiba by his people. The Nelson Mandela portrayed by Idris Elba in Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom is a far more complex person, realistic and humanistic. Idris Elba does a commendable job at portraying Mandela though I found his accent to be a bit distracting. The acting is sublime by Naomie Harris who plays Winnie, Mandela's second wife and I am disheartened that she was not formally recognized with a nomination for best supporting actress. There is something about the movie that feels slightly disconnected, as though character development was missing. I believe the issue with character development arises out of the inability to properly convey the urgency in needing change in South Africa. South Africa's desperation and growth from apartheid is just as important as a character, and being a story about Nelson Mandela, the plot's focus is lacking clarity. The story spans from Mandela's childhood to inauguration, some seven decades, and in the process feels a bit slow moving, a highlight reel of sorts.It is a difficult task but marvelous attempt leaving the viewer with a good drama that feels like a historical documentary. In the end you feel as though you know Nelson Mandela but only part of the story of South Africa.More reviews can be found in full at our website.