Matt Damon stars as Springbok captain Francois Pienaar and Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in this Clint Eastwood directed true story of Mandela's attempt to unite his countrymen via the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Invictus follows Mandela's release from prison, his election as President of South Africa through to the World Cup. You may well recall how it ends.
Rather than show Nelson Mandela’s phenomenal but well-known ascent from prisoner to President of a reformed South Africa, Invictus his leadership style in action. He thought the 1995 Springbok World Cup campaign was a way to encourage unity between whites (staunch rugby followers) and the blacks (who viewed the Boks as a symbol of white ignorance). Mandela ignores his advisors, beats his own path and becomes obsessed with the game and success at the tournament. This is the film’s highlight as it offers a glimpse of what made him so great. Morgan Freeman is equal to the task. Despite our familiarity with Mandela, Freeman creates his own screen character with the gravitas to inspire.
Invictus makes an interesting choice by fusing a biopic with a sports drama, but the sports half is less successful. While there is a highly entertaining novelty to seeing familiar things on screen (even Jim Bolger gets a look in), many of the rugby scenes will seem tame and bizarre to New Zealand’s well-trained rugby-eyes. The Haka is mispronounced and as fearsome as a jig, while the All Blacks themselves are a motley bunch, out of place on a rugby field where the action feels awkward.
A bigger problem is Clint Eastwood’s heavy-handed sentimentality. He’s a straight-laced director who rarely misses the mark, but here a weepy soundtrack, hammy dialogue and blatant symbolic imagery (like a black hand and a white hand grasping the World Cup, in slow motion) undermine any of the film’s subtlety.
By Paul Scantlebury, Flicks.co.nz
Some of you just dont know good movies.
A pretty average film which conveniently leaves out the poisoning of the All Blacks. Quite interesting to learn about Nelson Mandella and the lead up to the World Cup, though.
The movie wasnt written for the kiwis it is a part of south african history which had drastic affects on the entire nation. Seeing as you probably have never been to africa or where there during the apartheid you have no idea, all you know is the NZ perspective. there are two sides to every story. It isnt't all about the all blacks its the bigger picture of racial discremination.I was at the world cup and although it didnt solve all South Africas problems it was a stepping stone in the right direction. there was no proof the all blacks where poisoned and stop living in the past they lost in 2007 all by themselves.
from Damon and Freeman and just another terrific Clint Eastwwod directed movie.Gave me a much greater understanding of Nelson Mandela as a man. Leo, not sure what the blah,blah,blah is all about, obviously this comment comes from someone who has not viewed the movie.
Great story! it's not only Rugby, story about history of SA & Apartheid, how he has forgiven the people after 30years prison.
Clint Eastwood, a master director, orchestrates all of these notes and has us loving Mandela, proud of Francois and cheering for the plucky Springboks. A great entertainment. Not, as I said, the Mandela biopic I would have expected.
A temperate, evenhanded perhaps overly timid film about an intemperate time in South Africa.
It’s an exciting sports movie, an inspiring tale of prejudice overcome and, above all, a fascinating study of political leadership.
Freeman's Mandela is something but rugby is not the winner on the day.
Invictus might not erase the debilitating effects of apartheid, but it does help heal the wounds of letting the '95 world cup slip - even if Suzie the waitress is conveniently absent.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 28th Jan 2010.
Release date: January 28th 2010.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
