As with other films, the background I have about this film was limited. South Africa -- nada. Rugby -- less than nada. But, it's an Eastwood film and it has two of my favorite actors, so what the heck. And, boy, what a great film. Morgan Freeman does a spectular job of playing Mandela...he's less about the looks of the Nobel Prize winner and more about the persona. So, at the start of the film in the early 1990s, Mandela gets out of jail and is elected to president. Apartheid is over. Mandela sees rugby and it's "whites" only popularity as a way to try and help some of the white South Africans that he determined to unite his racially divided country. Matt Damon plays the rugby team captain who is in awe of the inspiring Mandela. Some believe (both black and white) that Mandela's focus on rugby as a uniting tool is fooling. The blacks want to know why he is focusing this much attention on a white sport. And the whites don't believe he is sincere and feel he has some sort of ulterior motive. South African politics are a big part of this film, as is rugby. Knowing next to nothing about those subjects did not hinder my enjoyment here. The story is intense and passionate enough sustain interest throughout. This film is about heart and friendship. It's about determination and spirit. It's a movie for all -- not only political or sports junkies.
2 comments:
Invictus is a good film. Moran Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Daman as Francois Pienaar the rugby team captain give convincing performances. Cline Eastwood ties the action together neatly for a film with a meaningful story.
The sport shots of the bloody bone crunching sport of rugby are realistic and the film ends of course with the “Big Game”. This is a film with depth since it clearly pictures the presidency of Nelson Mandela as he tries to unite South Africa after the horror of apartheid. Shots of his actual prison cell jar the viewer into the realization of the greatness of one individual who could forgive so much to unite his beloved country.
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