Picture 55: Gandhi (1982)

The Academy has suffered a sudden dip in form. Can Richard Attenborough turn it around with his epic biography of Mahatma Gandhi? It won 8 Oscars and was listed by the American Film Institute as the 29th most inspiring movie of all time. Will Gandhi inspire greatness or be consumed to ash by the residual Chariots of Fire from the previous year’s entry?

We begin in South Africa in the 1890s. A young Gandhi (Sir Ben Kingsley) is travelling cross-country in a Victorian era, first-class train carriage. His ejection from the carriage on racial grounds triggers his intention to change the 21st century world through peaceful protest. The butterfly effect is in motion.

Gandhi’s epic fight against racial injustice is charted from campaigning for equality in a very racist South Africa, all the way to becoming the leading figure in Indian independence and toppling the British Empire. It is an engaging 3 hours and 11 minutes that maintains momentum and historical intrigue for its duration.

This is a tribute to the power of non-violent protest. Ben Kingsley’s character is a pioneer who turns seemingly impossible dreams into a reality. Sir Ben’s method acting pays off and he leads a cast who have near perfected their craft. He’s also backed up by a world-record 300,000 extras. One of the 21st centuries greatest lives is very well told and beautifully photographed. A top 20 effort. 

Look out for a young Daniel Day Lewis who puts on a South African accent.

Rating: 9/10

Reflections:

1. An eye for an eye makes the world go blind.

Oscar Best Picture Rankings:

1. The Godfather (1972)

2. Casablanca (1943)

3. The Apartment (1960)

4. Rebecca (1940)

5. The Godfather: Part II (1974)

6. The Sound of Music (1965)

7. Ordinary People (1980)

8. The Deer Hunter (1978)

9. A Man for All Seasons (1966)

10. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

11. Ben-Hur (1959)

12. Lost Weekend (1945)

13. Gandhi (1982)

14. Rocky (1976)

15. Annie Hall (1977)

16. All About Eve (1950)

17. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

18. Hamlet (1948)

19. How Green Was My Valley (1941)

20. Gone With the Wind (1939)

21. West Side Story (1961)

22. Mrs. Miniver (1942)

23. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

24. Wings (1928)

25. Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

26. You can’t take it with you (1938)

27. Patton (1970)

28. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

29. On the Waterfront (1954)

30. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

31. Midnight Cowboy (1969)

32. Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

33. Marty (1955)

34. Oliver! (1968)

35. Cimarron (1931)

36. Grand Hotel (1932)

37. The French Connection (1971)

38. An American in Paris (1951)

39. From Here to Eternity (1953)

40. It Happened One Night (1934)

41. My Fair Lady (1964)

42. Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

43. Cavalcade (1933)

44. The Sting (1973)

45. The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

46. Going My Way (1944)

47. The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

48. Chariots of Fire (1981)

49. All the King’s Men (1949)

50. In the Heat of the Night (1967)

51. Gigi (1958)

52. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

53. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

54. The Broadway Melody (1929)

55. Tom Jones (1963)

Previous or current ranking leaders are in bold.

With credit and thanks to the patrons of the Best Picture Film Club:

Dr Sophie Bloomfield – Fashion Correspondent

Dr Caspar Briault – Head of Cynicism

Dr Conrad Charlton

Dr Kate Diomede

Dr Fionnuala Durrant

Dr Josh Fisher

Dr Joseph Gallaher – CEO and Founder

Dr Joseph Hamilton

Dr Adam Holland

Dr Sid Mohan - Divisional Lead for the 1980s

Dr Hannah Morrison

Dr Meera Radia