Review of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) by Bethany N — 18 Jan 2014

Lets face it, any story on the life of Nelson Mandela was gonna be a interesting watch but being such a legendary figure and a man of great importance, if the wrong person was cast in the role then none of it would ever matter.

Many big actors could have been considered for the role but thank god they got it right this time! Ever since I first got to know him in BBC's Luther I thought he was a actor of incredible talent and you can see why he has even been considered as the first black 007!

Well they definitely picked the right guy and the film dose a cracking job in telling the mans life story from his beginning in his family life, his political movement, his change into more extreme ways to fight for his peoples rights, being captured and sent to prison, the fight for freedom and ultimate release and doing what he can for his people now free...

The Acting all round is fantastic and and the film flows great but there are a few flaws to it.

At just over two hours it actually feels a bit too short if anything, some things wrap up a bit too quickly and could have done with filling out along with going into a bit more details on other people outcomes.

And although Elba is fantastic and the makeup work is amazing as he grows ever old it is just stunning how much he looked like the man himself. yet at the end of the film they showed pictures of the younger Mandela and he looked very much the same as he did in real life so they should have either narrowed down the real look makeup and just made him look old or made Elba more like the real Mandela from the start of the film to match the later look on screen.

But over all it's powerful stuff that would be hard to miss up even if it is slightly flawed and just thank god this was not in the same hands as the producers/director as the Film "Alex Cross" as we could have had Africa's legendary President played by Tyler Perry!!!!!