Conventional but solid biopic, with an immortal central performance

Rating: 8/10 (23 April 2008)

Lawrence of Arabia, Amadeus, Bird... those biopics just can't be under two hours, can they? Not that there's anything wrong with that: those three films are all masterpieces, justly revered by film-lovers of all ages and origin. Gandhi does not really qualify as a masterwork (it does have a few defects), but it's consistently interesting and well acted, to the point you won't even notice it's over three hours long.
As is expected, the movie starts at the end: while greeting a crowd of followers, Mahatma Gandhi (Ben Kingsley) is assassinated by a fanatic. As the funeral starts, director Richard Attenborough takes us back in time, so we can witness the man's career: from the time Gandhi, a newly appointed lawyer, was thrown off a train, to his decision to boycott English rules in a non-violent way, his entire life is shown to the audience, with particular focus on his struggles with British authorities (Trevor Howard, John Mills, John Gielgud) and his relationship with an American journalist (Martin Sheen).
The long running time is justified by Attenborough's need to tell a complete story, one he planned to make for decades before someone actually agreed to produce the project. The time he spent waiting was well used, though: he got to meet and cast Kingsley, who delivers a powerhouse turn - quiet, calm and wise, he is so reminiscent of the real Gandhi it's no wonder the film's Indian extras believed the actor to be the Mahatma's reincarnation. But the film isn't a mere one-man show: the supporting cast is superlative (Gielgud especially), and the wonderful cinematography and locations do nothing but confirm the director's passion for the subject.
However, it is absolutely clear Attenborough's utmost respect for Gandhi prevents him from doing something really extraordinary with the film. Don't get me wrong, it never becomes boring, it's just that at times the direction is too by-the-book to make the picture any different from a standard biopic. There is also the slight problem of Kingsley having some initial trouble to fully convince as the aged Mahatma, but that's a minor issue that is quickly forgotten.
Still, the movie deserves its high reputation and most of the Oscars it won. Calling it the best film of 1982 is a bit of a stretch, though, a fact even Attenborough has acknowledged (he reportedly took the role of Hammond in Jurassic Park because he felt bad about stealing the top prize from E.T.). Kind of overrated, then, but quite worth your time.