Winnie (2011) Reviews

• A disappointing attempt to capture a significant episode of world history

  davidschatzky2011-09-17

  I viewed this at the Toronto International Film Festival where it premiered without a final soundtrack and with the end credits missing. But that's not what's important. Sadly, Winnie bites off more than it can chew due to weak, amateurish writing and clichéd action scenes, choppy story-telling and most of all, the casting of Jennifer Hudson, who is embarrassingly over her head as the love of Mandela's life. The larger historical,political and cultural context of this epic tale is missing, and although the basic 'facts' are there, it comes across as lifeless, wooden, artificial and often cloyingly sentimental. There are some bad choices in the story-telling in the interest of Hollywoodizing the saga for audiences who may not be knowledgeable about South African history or realities. Terrence Howard tries hard against the challenges of a lousy script and heavy-handed direction, and ages brilliantly as Mandela. He can't, single-handedly, save the film, so at the moment, the entire project feels as if it's headed straight to DVD.

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• Very Sad Attempt

  alexthewriter2012-06-16

  I saw this movie at TIFF and thought it was a very sad attempt to tell a very important story. Winnie Mandela herself is often a character that is larger than life, and the events surrounding Nelson Mandela's trials and incarcerations always deserve respect in how they're presented. Instead, this movie was choppy and disjointed and just a collection of hollow and pointless scenes, strung together with little reason or coherence. There is not much depth to any one scene, as if the director couldn't decide what to concentrate on and whose story it really was. Because of this, everything came across as empty and woefully underdeveloped. When dealing with a story as broad-reaching as Mandela's importance and impact with the anti-apartheid movement, you need to pick one point of view and stick with that; this director was all over the map, so that nothing was fleshed out properly. The acting, save for Terrence Howard, was embarrassingly stiff and disjointed. Jennifer Hudson never let you forget that she was just acting, that these lines were written for her by someone else. I would wonder if she did any research before shooting and really understood what someone like Winnie Mandela would go through, and what it would be like to have a flawed personality that wasn't always angelic and heroic. While her Oscar for Dreamgirls was well-earned, I would hesitate to actually call her a real actress with range and presence. She was definitely in over her head here. All in all, it was very unfulfilling and seemed to serve no purpose. It's no wonder that it has yet to be released in theatres or even to DVD, which, considering the amount of story that can be told about the Mandela family, is an inexcusable failure.

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• A gripping film

  rps-22013-09-06

  I was surprised at the negative tone of other reviews. I thought this was an excellent piece of work --- acting --- production --- accuracy. I wondered whether it was going to glamourize Mandella with an unrealistically positive spin. But no, it does a good job of illustrating the unfortunate turn her life took in the later years of the South African struggle. She ended up as a vindictive,foul mouthed, autocratic drunk. But you understand how that came to be after her long ordeal, which was powerfully portrayed. I also was surprised to find that this was largely a Canadian production. It had none of the pretentious unoriginality that marks so many Canadian films, especially those done for Canadian cable television. It was believable, watchable and informative!

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• uninspired and uninspiring

  SnoopyStyle2014-08-10

  Winnie Mandela (Jennifer Hudson) is the sixth daughter to a disappointed father hoping for a son. She tries to prove her worth chaffing at the paternalistic culture. Her father is the son of the chief and a ground breaking teacher. She studies to be a social worker and excels. She is fascinated by Nelson Mandela (Terrence Howard) and catches his eye. They are soon married but they are always hounded by the cruel De Vries (Elias Koteas). Mary Botha (Wendy Crewson) hires her despite the troubles and becomes her supporter. This is such a bland uninteresting biopic. With such an amazing complicated subject, this has no intensity. It has no life. The story has been simplified into a paint-by-number biopic. It's as if it's boiled down to highlights of a compelling life. It uses way too many montages. Terrence Howard is especially hamstrung by the script while Jennifer Hudson takes a backward step with her performance. Elias Koteas is a great actor but the movie appears to suggest that all of Mandela's problems stem from an over-zealous persecutor. Winnie is one of the most compelling characters in our modern history and this treats it all like a melodrama. I'm left a little uncertain about Hudson's skills after this. However I put most of it down to a bad script.

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• A Captivating Film

  michelle-790-7776222013-09-13

  Upon entering the theater I knew that I was coming to see a 2 hour movie which in no way, shape or form could capture every epic detail and nuance (historical and personal) over a 50 year period of Winnie Mandela's life story. What amazes me is the amount of negative criticism and unrealistic expectations that this film has received. Those types of lofty goals could only be accomplished in an 8 part miniseries not a 2 hour film. Keeping an open mind, I sat down not knowing what to expect. What I received was the privilege of witnessing a captivating film with outstanding performances. Ms. Hudson pleasantly surprises with her depth of character as Winnie Mandela (not the smirks, attitude and singing which won her an Oscar in Dreamgirls)... she was able to go there. Furthermore, I appreciate the fact that the film does not attempt to "sugarcoat" Winnie's journey. Mr. Howard was a brilliant choice to portray Nelson Mandela... he possessed both the strength and elegance of the icon. Supporting cast performances were also excellent. As the credits rolled the audience sat quietly almost as if glued to their seats. After the final credit rolled my experience was summed up by a fellow audience member who stood, stretched and said... WOW! I walked away from that theater in astonishment... they actually pulled it off! I see Oscar nods for both Howard and Hudson and possibly Mr. Koteas. The only thing working against this film and possible nominations is that it is not part of the "Hollywood Machine" which force feeds movies, reviews and awards. I truly hope that this lovely film does not fall victim to the "Hollywood Monster" lurking over it. Disregard the reviews... go see this movie, you'll be pleasantly surprised!

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