Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Freeman This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Jackson Booth-Millard I mainly knew about this film because of the leading actor playing the real-life character of the film, based on the famous autobiography I was hoping this film would be interesting, directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl). Based on the true story, Nelson Mandela (Golden Globe nominated Idris Elba) is a South African lawyer, in the 1940s he joins the African National Congress, and marries Winnie Madikizela (Naomie Harris). Mandela is forced to abandon peaceful protesting for armed resistance following the Sharpeville Massacre, but Mandela pay the price, he and his comrades are sentenced to life imprisonment for treason and conspiring to overthrow the state. During his time in prison, his wife Winnie is abused by the authorities, but she eventually escapes this, Mandela's spirit is not diminished over the decades, his struggle goes on in and beyond his captivity. Mandela's cause for political change and racial equality becomes international, Winnie's determination to help her husband hardens over the years, with violent ruthlessness, eventually there are concerts, a song and other events, all campaigning to "Free Nelson Mandela". Mandela is freed from prison after 27 years in 1990, his stature rises from the renowned leader of his movement to being inaugurated as the first democratically elected president of South Africa, and he works hard to find a peaceful victory for his country, and all its peoples. Also starring Tony Kgoroge as Walter Sisulu, Riaad Moosa as Ahmed Kathrada and Jamie Bartlett as James Gregory. Elba certainly has statuesque manner to play the famous revolutionary and philanthropist, but he doesn't quite nail the accent, and Harris is good as his challenged wife, the length of the film is mostly taken up by the prison time, the film is a similar structure to The Iron Lady, just highlighting the most memorable moments in the life and career of the great man, but it is a fairly interesting and alright biographical drama. It won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song for "Ordinary Love" by U2 (it was also Oscar nominated), and it was nominated for Best Original Score for Alex Heffes, and it was nominated the BAFTA for Best British Film. Worth watching!

SteveResin 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.

MR T R Barnes For years now we've wondered if Steven Seagal will ever again achieve the heights of Under Siege 2: Dark territory. Well put your pants back on because in 'Mandela: Long walk to Freedom', Seagal is back to his sofa-faced best. Synopsis: Steven Seagal plays Mandela, a ship's cook framed for a crime he didn't commit and sent to jail by the south African rugby team. Mandela (Seagal) is furious about this – so furious in fact that he comes dangerously close to changing his facial expression. What they don't realise is that Mandela used to be a highly decorated Navy Seal. Mandela engages in an epic battle for the freedom of the nation, eventually forcing the incumbent head of state and South African Rugby captain President Botha into a show down in a multi story car park. Botha gives it the big bananas, but ultimately is no match for the flappy hands of the great Seagal – eventually succumbing to a Judo open handed neck jab behind the ear which sends the unfortunate racist plummeting through a glass ceiling into a spike factory. Boring? A little. But sometimes that's the price you pay for historical accuracy. 5 stars.

Nicole of ArchonCinemaReviews.com 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.