Year of Release: 2009Country of Origin: USA
Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon
Plot outline: The true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team, Francois Pienaar, to help unite their country (IMDb).
Continuing a startling renaissance, 79-year-old Clint Eastwood delivers yet another tub-thumping classic - a sports drama that'll have all but the most cynical cheering from their seats. Aside from leaving the cinema with a huge grin on your face, chances are you'll be marvelling at how Dirty Harry is still churning out movies of such high quality. The setting is early 90s South Africa as exiled ANC leader Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) is at last released from Robben Island to become the country's leader. Presiding over a population of vengeful blacks and nervous whites, the new president must bring about racial unity. Cannily, he seizes upon the nation's rugby team, the Springboks, to do just that. Mandela impresses upon the struggling, all-white side's captain François Pienaar (Matt Damon) that winning the 1995 Rugby World Cup will be just the thing to bring the country together. Taking its name from William Henley's poem, which Mandela quotes here and there over the action, Invictus may occasionally be corny, but then there's no genre better suited for cheese than the sports drama. As Damon leads his team charging onto the field, we want our buttons to be pushed - the harder the better - and Clint doesn't disappoint. Even those unfamiliar with the game will be cheering the tries and booing when the side fail to convert. Also, Morgan Freeman gives a magisterial performance. This guy never feels less than the real deal, while the muscled-up Damon is just as convincing. Some may criticise the movie for never delving too far into the players' lives or personal stories - Winnie Mandela is nowhere to be seen, while Pienaar's own political views are kept secret. But that's forgetting the story is an allegory for tolerance and forgiveness, not a character piece. It all adds up to yet another victory for Clint. (DE)
My judgement: *** out of 4 stars
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