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Poster for Endgame

2009 | 109 min | Crime, Drama

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans.
The mood
Dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 49 min.
What might put you off
Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.

The time is the late '80s, a crucial period in the history of South Africa. President P.W. Botha is hanging on to power by a thread as the African National Congress (ANC) takes up arms against apartheid and the country tumbles toward insurrection. A British mining concern is convinced that their interests would be better served in a stable South Africa and they quietly dispatch Michael Young, their head of public affairs, to open an unofficial dialogue between the bitter rivals. Assembling a reluctant yet brilliant team to pave the way to reconciliation by confronting obstacles that initially seem insurmountable, Young places his trust in ANC leader Thabo Mbeki and Afrikaner philosophy professor Willie Esterhuyse. It is their empathy that will ultimately serve as the catalyst for change by proving more powerful than the terrorist bombs that threaten to disrupt the peaceful dialogue.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsSolid

    71% on Rotten Tomatoes, 55 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 45K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Pete Travis

  • William HurtProfessor Will Esterhuyse
  • Chiwetel EjioforPresident Thabo Mbeki
  • Jonny Lee MillerMichael Young
  • Mark StrongDr. Niel Barnard
  • Clarke PetersNelson Mandela
  • John KaniOliver Tambo
  • Derek JacobiRudolph Agnew
  • Timothy WestP.W. Botha
  • Matthew MarshF.W. de Klerk
  • Michael HuffWillem de Klerk