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The current vogue for South African-focused cinema continues apace. With Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman applying A-list Hollywood polish to the figure of former president Nelson Mandela, Jennifer Hudson is now set to do the same for his ex-wife.
Rumors about this have been circling for some time, but yesterday Variety confirmed that Hudson has signed on for “Winnie,” a full-scale biopic of the controversial politician, most notorious for her alleged (ahem) involvement in the murder of a 14 year-old activist in 1989.
South African director Darrell James Roodt (an Oscar nominee for 2004’s “Yesterday”) is at the helm. He also co-wrote the screenplay, based on Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob’s 2003 biography “Winnie Mandela: A Life.” (Emma Gilbey’s superb “The Lady” would be a better starting point, in my opinion.)
I’ve always said that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s life would make for a more interesting film than that of her far more noble ex-husband, but the filmmakers have to be prepared to dig into the darker depths of her story. The Variety piece claims they “will tell the whole story, good and bad.” However, the presence of Roodt, whose 1990s filmizations of “Cry, the Beloved Country” and “Sarafina!” slipped into sentimentality, gives me pause.
It is, however, quite a coup for Hudson, who has struggled somewhat to find a suitable role to build on her Oscar-winning debut in “Dreamgirls.” We’ve yet to see whether she has the range and technique for such a vast dramatic role, though she’s certainly an apt physical match for the young Winnie.
So the 28 year-old singer-turned-thesp has a lot to prove here: if she pulls it off, it’s difficult to imagine she won’t be in the Oscar conversation once more. Hudson says:
I was compelled and moved when I read the script … Winnie Mandela is a complex and extraordinary woman and I’m honored to be the actress asked to portray her. This is a powerful part of history that should be told.
Interestingly, this news comes as British TV biopic “Mrs. Mandela,” starring British actress Sophie Okonedo in the lead, is shortly due to screen. It’ll be interesting to see which actress masters the character more authentically.
14 responses so far
1 11-18-2009 at 8:20 am
"Julianstark" said...
I’m also VERY skeptical about this, but I hope she pulls this off well.
Guilty: I loved her in Dreamgirls (deserved her Oscar despite some inconsistencies), and she was more consistent in The Secret Life of Bees, so I’m hopeful, but not completely sold that this is a good idea
2 11-18-2009 at 8:32 am
James D. said...
Are South Africans not allowed to play their own historical figures?
3 11-18-2009 at 8:40 am
Guy Lodge said...
Not if they want the rest of the world to pay attention, they’re not. But yeah, I’d pick Leleti Khumalo over Hudson in a heartbeat.
I guess Charlize Theron wasn’t considered for some reason.
4 11-18-2009 at 8:45 am
Nick Plowman said...
I love Jennifer Hudson, and I really hope she pulls this off, but this is going to be very touch and go as far as I’m concerned, whereas I’m almost positive that Ms. Khumalo would nail the role stunningly. But we’ll see.
5 11-18-2009 at 9:35 am
Nick Plowman said...
That comment was pretty amibiguous. I’m not sure how the film itself will turn out, not J-Hud’s performance. I’m not a fan of Roodt, even though Ms. Khumalo’s performances under his direction have always been spectacular in my eyes.
6 11-18-2009 at 9:40 am
Dustin said...
Im a huge Jennifer Hudson fan and believe in her wholeheartedly! All you people who are betting against her… Your just going to fuel her even more. She has gone through a lot since her Oscar win and has remained a strong puplic figure and kept a positive attitude, despite facing an absolute horrific hardship. Im betting she puts all this adversity into this role and absolutely kills it!!!
7 11-18-2009 at 10:01 am
Guy Lodge said...
I’m not “betting against” her. I’m just saying I need to be persuaded. There’s a difference.
8 11-18-2009 at 10:22 am
M.Harris said...
I know that she is not South African – but Sophie Okonedo came to my mind to play this part when I read this thread.And not because of “Hotel Rwanda” either.*laugh* okay a little because of “Hotel Rwanda.”
9 11-18-2009 at 10:40 am
James D. said...
I understand it as a business decision, but it just seems so condescending to see a film about Nelson Mandela directed by an American with Americans in the major roles.
People did see District 9, though. Just attach an arbitrary producer to the project.
10 11-18-2009 at 1:43 pm
Andrew L. said...
“I guess Charlize Theron wasn’t considered for some reason.”
HA!
But yes, skepticism.
11 11-18-2009 at 4:32 pm
Alex said...
It’ll allow people to see Jennifer in a different light with all the putting petrol filled tyres around people’s necks then setting them on fire. It’s just what her career needs.
12 11-18-2009 at 7:06 pm
Glenn said...
As someone who lives in a country who would love to have the world see the movies my country makes, I can understand the Hudson pick. You need a star to make people pay attention. It’s just business.
I hope she pulls it off!
13 11-18-2009 at 7:25 pm
Chad Hartigan said...
Obviously, this movie does not want to be taken seriously.
14 12-08-2009 at 1:49 pm
JR said...
I’m happy for Ms. Hudson that she’s getting so much love here. That said, in the Sex and the City movie, I found her performance flat. Granted, the script gave her next to nothing, but I saw none of the fire of her musical performances.