Very disappointing...

Powerful

Best movie ever!

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

In the Color of Freedom we have Dennis Haysbert and Nelson Mandela in just the way I think of him, and Joseph Fiennes who was his guard for many years. Along the way we see what man is capable of at his best and that is the ability to see the truth when it is before him every day of his life, day after day, year after year. In the case of Color of Freedom we are expose to why Nelson Mandela was, and is, who he is. I suggest watching this movie first and the watching Invictus as a follow up as they tie together using the lines of the poem Invictus which, if only possible, should be the motto for everyone. As the movie slowly evolves you'll be exposed to much about the thinking of South Africa of the past, where as in Invictus you be expose to it in the future. I don't know if there is a movie which tells the story of Nelson Mandela's like before he was imprisoned, but there needs to be.

This is a workmanlike, routine study of James Gregory, (Joseph Fiennes) the prison guard assigned to Nelson Mandela on Robben Island and his burgeoning relationship with the ANC leader, seen then as a trouble- making terrorist.The title comes from the young black boy that Gregory played with and whose bond was underpinned by an exchange of a bracelet. This long and faintly boring film never really sparkles or initiates, nor engages. Fiennes, however, is believable as the racist Afrikaner who, along with his materialistic wife gets a posting to Robben Island. She wants him promoted, he soon sees his job as a challenge and find that he mellows toward Mandela and then tries to help him. Diane Kruger, as Gregory's wife is even more racist than he is and she often tries to shape her husband's career into what she sees as traditional white superiority.Unfortunately, Dennis Haysbert, who plays Mandela, neither looks the part nor radiates the personality that he's now renowned for. True, much of the story though does involve him being under the strict conditions where communication is difficult. The film then progresses onto Mandela's transfer to Pollsmoor Prison, then to Victor Verser prison and then onto freedom. What is undoubted is that this story will be remade. With a bigger budget, better script and a more carefully chosen cast. Robben Island, seemingly located within sight of Table Top Mountain is akin to Alcatraz and we well know how Hollywood has eked screenplays out of that. As a film lover rather than a apartheid historian, but a respecter of Mandela I look forward to that and would suggest that the majority do the same.

The BBC recently referred to Nelson Mandela as 'the most revered man on planet Earth.' That is not an exaggeration, and it is that reputation that permeates Goodbye, Bafana and provokes an emotional response. I went on the journey with the film, and was moved, but I suspect more by the evocation of Mandela himself than by the craft of the filmmakers.Fiennes is James Gregory, an unreformed bigot whose life is turned around by close proximity to Mandela. Fiennes handles the role comfortably, if unspectacularly. The less recognisable Diane Kruger is more convincing as a venal apologist for apartheid. The major question mark is Dennis Haysbert. He is never more than a competent actor playing Mandela. He never inhabits the role, the way Will Smith does Ali or Jamie Foxx Ray. Indeed, Mandela deserves to be portrayed the way Ben Kingsley portrayed Ghandi. No doubt such a film will come, and with it the eclipsing of Goodbye Bafana.The film is not a failure, but neither is it a success. It is a decent attempt at telling a remarkable story. However, given that story, I expected so much more.

The story offers great insight into the recent history of South Africa and the general attitudes of the time. This is great since it hasn't been as widely acknowledged as it should be. Personally, I thought more movies would have been made on this topic. Perhaps even one based on current attitudes and life in South Africa.The acting by many, if not all, the actors was appalling. Dennis Haysbert was OK considering there wasn't too much emotion needed for his part as the cool-headed and calm Nelson Mandela. However, everyone else just over-acted. Diane Kruger was not a good choice. And why hadn't the chief from Prettoria aged at all in the 20 years that the movie takes place in? The only reason I stayed until the end was for educational purposes only.