Gandhi

Amazing acting by Ben Kingsley! Hats off!

What a GREAT man he was!

I watched this epic movie (which is by the way as old as I am) last night... and it got me thinking.
Isn't it incredible what ONE man can do!?
This little guy, this one man - really made a difference. Not only for his nation, but for generations to come.
If the world recognizes you & what you stood for just by you last name, then you did everything right (or everything wrong - like the guy from "Downfall").
Lincoln, Einstein, Jobs, Schwarzenegger, ... and of course Gandhi is one of the many.

This movie does not only serve as 3 hours of entertainment or as a history lessons, but also as true inspiration.
A reminder to what Ralph Waldo Emerson said:
What lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

A classic an brilliant biopic about the famous peaceful fighter for freedom.

Ben Kingsley is outstanding. The production values on this grand biopic are very high. It's very long but paced well.

You can almost feel the frustration of the South African government and the Bristish empire in this brilliantly portrayed historic retelling of the Gandhi story. Kingsley truely gave a believeable performance of a lifetime on this one. It's long and I personally watched it in two halves which the film has been partitioned in this way to tell the story in two halves.

**Gandhi** is filmmaker/actor **Richard Attenborough**'s most acclaimed work, who demonstrated passion for biopics -- Winston Churchill (**Young Winston**), Steve Biko (**Cry Freedom**), Charlie Chaplin (**Chaplin**), C. S. Lewis (**Shadowlands**), Ernest Hemingway (**In Love and War**), and Archibald Belaney (**Grey Owl**). And it is easy to see why. Despite its long running time of 3 hours 11 minutes (with intermission), the film moves pretty swiftly saved for the last 30 minutes or so.

Owing much to its success is impeccable cast, led by **Ben Kingsley**. Despite his iconic and potentially type casting performance, he has managed to produce prodigious and impressive output. Ben disappears into the role and becomes Gandhi himself. He speaks every words with charisma to avoid self-importance and reciting sound bites. Ben deserves all the accolades he received for most convincing portrayal of real life figure in cinematic history. It also greatly helps that he is surrounded by impressive cast of Indian, British, and American.

The film was criticized for painting hagiographical depiction of Gandhi, and for glossing over his earlier life. More problematic is the third act when Gandhi is mostly bedridden, slowing both pace and understanding of Gandhi's struggle.

Nevertheless, the film succeeds in three goals: (1) cohesively presenting history behind India's independence, (2) timelessness -- the film is even more relevant today, and (3) deciphering Gandhi's rise and charisma.

Mahatma Gandhi is definitely a historical figure who is deserving of an overlong biopic. The spiritual and political leader of the Indian independence movement led an eventful life and achieved a great deal, which is the best prerequisite for such a film. And with Ben Kingsley, a very strong actor was found who is really convincing here. It is certainly one of the best roles of his long career. From today's point of view, however, one would certainly have made a few different choices in terms of makeup.

I liked the fact that the whole production has a very elaborate look. There are regularly dozens of extras roaming through the frame, and the locations are also varied. What struck me negatively, however, was that the depiction of Gandhi is completely uncritical. He is almost sanctified here as a mystical figure, although there would have been some grounds for criticism despite all his merits. And also, the whole aspect of the division of the country could have moved a little more into focus, according to my taste. Overall, however, this is a good biopic.

I didn't expect it would age well but it's a great epic. They don't make it like this anymore.