Invictus

Normally, a based on a true story with huge historical ties mixed with a sports movie gets me all pumped. Combine that premise with an absolutely loaded cast, I am in.

Morgan Freeman to play Nelson Mandela? Spot on.
Matt Damon dyeing his hair blond for a South African rugby player? Intriguing.
Clint Eastwood directing? Promising.

Invictus is the latest feature from acclaimed Director Clint Eastwood (Mystic River, Flags of the Father, Letters to Iwo Jima, Unforgiven, Gran Torino) which tells the story of how Nelson Mandela, South Africa President, uses the rugby national team to unite a country ailing from inter-racial pains.

I cannot make my mind up if Invictus is a sports movie, or a historical one. While it has bits and pieces of how Mandela rose from being a 27 year prisoner due to his apartheid convictions, the whole movie still screams sports story. It has the predictable thematic of feel good yet the over-all treatment is subtle on the political undertones, and the general theme of forgiveness, unity and peace.

Lost in all these are the sports scenes. I admit I am not a rugby fan, scratch that, I have not even watched a rugby match nonetheless, I was half-heartedly expecting to learn a bit or two or the least be able to follow the rugby scenes. Instead, I am constantly relying on a simple glimpse at the score, or the two bodyguards' reaction to the game. Did they win or not??? This simple absence of sports narrative (hell, even a commentator wasn't even there!) can be concluded as Eastwood's style to differentiate it from a Jerry Maguire, or an Invincible movie, which tries and goes for the dramatic and slow motion last second victory effect. However, in this case less is not more, that is my only gripe.

Overall, Eastwood has the ability to take a predictable story look understated yet still cleanly crafted. Not to mention that Freeman and Damon, as expected, give out solid performances. Invictus in this premise, delivers the points, err goals, see?!



One Response to “Invictus”

1. Kristian Mattias says:

   January 29, 2010 at 12:18 am

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