Review: 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom'

Then the narration skips to Johannesburg 1942 to give a glimpse of him as a shrewd and ambitious lawyer. The scene starts off dramatically showing him as a sought after lawyer. And to support his claim, the following scene shows him brazenly defending his client, accused of stealing her mistress's undergarments. This jocular scene definitely boosts the spirit of the narration but unfortunately immediately after this, the film just plateaus.

Usually the best biopics tend to be those which use unremarkable moments to showcase why that person was remarkable. 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom' has these elements, but unfortunately the passion in portraying it is missing.

For instance, Mandela's entry into politics, one of the earliest milestones in his life, is justified by a single scene where a drunken black is killed in police custody, after which Mandela lands up burning his identity papers and making revolutionary speeches at public places.

What it fails to reflect is Mandela's angst, considering he is not strong morally towards his wife and kids.

But once he is in prison, it is Winnie's story that keeps the audience glued.

Read More:
Duchess Kate Finds Blue Blood in Her Own Family
9 Hollywood Cinemas With Mind-Flipping Climaxes