Although there is much sceptacism surrounding the actual 'truth' in this true story (Mandela claims he hardly ever spoke to Gregory and that the memoirs the film is based on are mainly fictional) a lot of the issues surrounding the film hold true. Obviously the struggle for Black people to be seen as equal in South Africa is one most people are aware of, but the struggle of white people who believe in black equal rights in a time when it wasn't the accpeted thing to do is an insight we don't often see. The struggles Gregory and his family face when he starts to see things from the black persons point of view, when he sees past the propaganda and learns that they do not wish to run the white people out of their land (which is something his wife falsely believed to start with) but just wish to have equality for all is something that should be remember. Because without those who stood up for the rights of others when they did not have the history of South Africa might have played out differently.
It was also interesting to see things from Mandela's point of view - everything from violance and terrorist actions to get his voice heard, to his respect he gave political leaders who failed to do the same for him. It goes beyond the simplistic look that he was either a terrorist or a hero, rather simply showing him as a man with great intellignece, fighting for something he believes is right - he becomes more than just a black and white figure and ou see the different layers of his character. I also loved the dipiction of two of the most famous pieces of that time in South Africa's history - the speech Mandela's daughter gave on behalf of her father, in which she quoted that what would setting him free do if his people were not also free people. And the final moment that defines the recent political history in South Africa, when it was released from the clutches of civil war with the simple realse of one man.
The acting on the whole was excellent - Dennis Haysbert (who I usually love anyway) did a fantastic job playing such a famous figure. Joseph Fiennes also put in a star peformance as the prison guard who came to respect him. The only thing I was a little unsure of was their Xosa accents and language (and occasionally I thought Fiennes' South Africa accent slipped) as I wasn't sure it was spot on. But then again when I worked in South Africa I worked with mainly Afrikkaans speaking people, I'd have to ask friends their opinion to be sure.
Overall although the actual story of the relationship between Gregory and Mandela may be built on a fabrication, it represent the struggle of the white people of the time who were prepared to see past the colour of a persons skin and see the human within. And that I think is a truely inspiring message which should be remembered.

I was quite pleasantly surpised by this film, as it was a vast improvements on the others (except for maybe 'Prison of Azkaban', which I do still like for the way it is put together) with the acting from the younger cast members being much better than it has been. and from what I can remeber from the book - it actually kept quite true to the story.
The tension was built well, the members of the audience behind me in the cinema had clearly never read the book and were therefore on the edge of their seats and whispering rapidly about what might happen next, and it ended in exactly the right place to keep people excited and in suspense for the next film.
It is however a shame they had largely ignored Dobby as a character in the last few films, as it meant your emotional reaction to the events surrounding him were just not as strong. Even when you've read the book it is hard to have a fraction of the same amount of emotional response to him in the film as you do in the story - and therefore you can't ask those members of the audience who haven't read the book to care that deeply for a charater you've never bothered to developed, so I feel in that sense it lost out on a great opportunity to build up real emotiion.

Certainly one of my favourite films of last year, sci-fi at its mind turning best - bringing up key philosophical questions, and linking it with a brilliant cast, a well directed and engrossing story, and one of those endings that leaves you questioning whether everything was as it actually seemed.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt proves once again that there isn't any genre, or any character, that he cannot excel at and bring flawlessly to life, and Leo is as brilliant as always.
Beautifully put together, with some amazing effects that do not take away from the storyline, but instead inhance - certainly one I will revist again, and again.

Billy Wilder's directorial debut would probably be met with outrage if released today - and in fact a lot of todays modern audiences will probably see it as something much more sinister than it is - a sweet and light hearted film from a much more inncocent time when we didn't have to look upon every little thing with the brain washed mind of a Daily Mail reader.
The film isn't perfect, I mean you really, really have to suspend belief to even begin to imagine that Ginger Rogers could pass as a girl just coming up to her 12th birthday. But the film had a certain charm and it made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. Ray Milland was quite sweet and Diana Lynn was fantastic as the smart sister, who could tell Ginger was not the child she was claiming to be.
Certainly not a bad choice for a lazy Sunday night.

Brillant, beautiful, moving and well acted - this film instantly became one of my favourites. The cinematography is fantastic, the music is haunting, and the final scenes were both moving, and beautifully directed. The film also unearthed several layers of emotions - from pity and anger, to slight humour - and I think part of that was down to how believable the characters actually were.
The casting was spot on, and Hailee Steinfeld far and away outshone everyone else on screen, which is saying something.
I would recommend this film in a heartbeat, as in my humble opinion it is a cinematic masterpiece.