MovieChat Forums > Cry Freedom (1987) Discussion > Awesome movie, only major complaint is n...

Awesome movie, only major complaint is not enough Steve Biko

posted 13 years ago by Archeoterrex
2 replies | jump to latest

Yes, I'm aware that the source material is about Donald, but let's face it. Washington stole the show with his incredible performance as Steve Biko. As I understand it, Denzel Washington was not a big star at the time, but I think anyone with a properly functioning frontal lobe could see that he was a powerhouse of an actor.

I'm also a little bothered that they did not show Steve Biko literally being tortured to death. I know that it would have been too much for censors and viewers at the time, but it really was necessary to show the brutality of the South African regime. Torture is not pretty, and people need to see it with their own eyes in order to understand just how truly horrific the South African police and their government were.

Overall, great film.

[–] GreenGoblinsOckVenom86 12 years ago

I agree his performance was good. I can't believe he lost to Sean Connery in the Untouchables. If Sean Connery deserves an oscar for the Untouchables then Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone deserve an oscar for every action movie they were in.

"When I told you to go screw yourself I didn't mean for you to take it literally."
Adam Gibson

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

...only major complaint is not enough Steve Biko.

Likely to be the most common complaint about this technically very good film, though poorly balanced in a narrative sense.🐭