Excellent Biopic

Rating: 9/10 (2 July 2008)

Spoilers ahead
Richard Attenborough's biographical film on Mohanndas K. Gandhi is one of the best movies I have seen. Ben Kingsley is superb as the Indian statesman, and his Oscar was well-deserved. This movie focuses on the most important points in Gandhi's political career, from his struggle to bring social equality for Indian indentured laborers in South Africa; to his desire for British India's political independence, and the nonviolent means by which he does this; to his bitter fight to end the civil war between Pakistan and India, for which he ultimately paid with his life. While not totally historically accurate, the film treats the major events, including the Amritsar Massacre and the Partition War of 1947, with great sensitivity and intelligence.
All of the actors in this movie did an excellent job. The Indian actors who portrayed Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammed Jinnah, the founding fathers of India and Pakistan, respectively, were brilliant, although most viewers probably would not know who these actors are. Martin Sheen is good as the photojournalist who befriends Gandhi and participates in his Salt March, and the lovely Candace Bergen is also wonderful as Time-Life photographer Margaret Bourke-White.
In short, this is one of the finest movies ever made, even though many of the actors are unknowns. It is ironic that some of the best acting I've seen in the "Godfather" movies and in "Gandhi" were by relatively obscure and unknown, and hence "non-famous" actors. It just goes to show that being a big "A-list" star does not ensure that you are the best actor there is. Watch "Gandhi". You will not regret it.