Nelson Mandela

CHICAGO – The memory of South Africa freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, who passed away on December 5th, is filled with deserved accolades and iconography. Director Justin Chadwick and actor Idris Elba brings the man to human life in the essential “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.”

CHICAGO – When South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela died on December 5th, there was a sense in the media that yes, he was a “great man,” but how he affected social change seemed lost in platitudes. Director Justin Chadwick fills in those gaps in his film adaptation of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.”

CHICAGO – Nelson Mandela, the father of modern South Africa who died two days ago, has a new film coming out soon. In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 50 pairs of advance-screening passes up for grabs to “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” starring Idris Elba (“Prometheus”) as Nelson Mandela.

CHICAGO – It’s difficult to imagine an awards season without Clint Eastwood. Ever since 2003’s “Mystic River,” he’s released all of his directorial efforts during the last months of the year. Sometimes his films deserve to be contenders (“Million Dollar Baby,” “Letters From Iwo Jima”), and sometimes they don’t. “Invictus” is Eastwood’s most unimaginative Oscar bait yet.

CHICAGO – Director Clint Eastwood has given up on subtlety, choosing instead to tell old-fashioned, direct stories with as much technical skill and dramatic competency as possible.