Review of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) by Orlando O — 20 Mar 2014
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is a biography film focusing on South African President Mandela narrating the beginning of his life until he rebuilds his country. Idris Elba and Naomie Harris gave strong performances as Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela but it falls terribly that most biography films struggle to succeed in such as a prolonging most of Mandela's life into a 2 and a half hour movie.
The plot feels convoluted with Mandela's life being crammed into an already long running time. It felt rushed and weak in certain parts of the story. It also had very slow moments in certain events that felt completely unnecessary but just drag the movie even longer.
The performances between the two leads Idris Elba and Naomie Harris were outstanding. It would be difficult to find someone else to portray the roles.
Justin Chadwick's film tried so much to include every bit of Mandela's life. It did have a purpose in some events, it was an inspirational story but other sub plots weigh down most of it. Mandela is an inspirational story that felt clustered into one movie with outstanding performances but leaves the results as a decent film.
This review of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) was written by Orlando O on 20 Mar 2014.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom has generally received positive reviews.
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