Idris Elba: best movies to watch online

The cost of war is not measured in dollars lost, but in lives lost. Lives lost on the battlefield, or in those forever scarred by the pain of conflict. This original Netflix film dives deep into this issue, revealing all the truth of a conflict at the heart of Africa. A traumatic story, yet still visually stunning (thanks to director Cary Joji Fukunaga) and with a great performance by Idris Elba. Recommended for those who like war films or for those seeking the truth out there.

This movie is a biographical drama adapted from the autobiography 'A Long Walk to Freedom' by South African anti-apartheid revolutionary movement leader Nelson Mandela. Emotionally embodied by Idris Elba ('Luther'), 'Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom' is a conventional, low-risk but emotional adaptation. Its protagonist's life was as inspiring as it was extraordinary. Directed by Justin Chadwick ('Love and Tulips'), starring Naomie Harris ('Moonlight') as Winnie Mandela and with an original soundtrack composed by Bono and performed by U2, the movie provides a partial view of Mandela's life and civil struggle in South Africa (due to the nature of the original material) but works as an entry point to learn about its protagonist.

Jessica Chastain in the role of a woman who risked it all - literally - by organizing exclusive poker games for people with extremely high purchasing power. Based on the life of Molly Bloom, a former skier who became a millionaire and famous when she got involved with gambling. Chastain is amazing in the character - so much so that she was nominated for a 2018 Golden Globe for her performance. The film was nominated for the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, the same year, for being inspired by Molly Bloom's book. 'The Big Gamble' is very well built, has a good cast - besides Jessica Chastain, there is Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Chris O'Dowd -, rhythm and also an engaging plot.

Directed by George Miller ("Mad Max: Fury Road"), "Three Thousand Years of Longing" is definitely an unusual and unexpected movie. After all, the story, which is nothing more than a contemporary fable, tells the journey of Alithea (Tilda Swinton), a lonely woman who lives almost exclusively for her profession: the study of letters, characters and narratives that cross history. But during a conference in Turkey, her life changes. A new love? A new job? A tragedy? None of that: inadvertently, she finds a genie (Idris Elba) who grants her three wishes. From then on, Miller, who signs the script alongside Augusta Gore and based on the story by A.S. Byatt, does magic. As if it were nothing, he puts the Genie - who has nothing to do with the blue creature from "Aladdin" - to tell stories. A contemporary and intelligent rereading of "One Thousand and One Nights", mixing different elements and images and thus creating a story that brings the fable into a new context. It's pure Miller, surprising in form and language, with performances that make everything even tastier, frank and unusual. Click here to read the full review.