When Clint Eastwood directs or stars in a movie I can't wait for a dvd release. It's rare that an effort from Clint leaves me disappointed. Since Unforgiven in 1992, the quality of Mr Eastwood's films has been remarkable. The last seven years in terms of consistency is unrivaled by any director of any era. Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Flags Of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima, Changeling, Gran Torino and now Invictus. That is one film per year - nobody has even come close to that in the history of cinema.
Invictus is one of those stories that is so compelling it makes you wonder why it has taken this long to reach the silver screen. The film illustrates Nelson Mandela's effort to have the South African rugby team called the Springboks win the World Cup. The country was deeply divided and Mandela saw an opportunity in which he could bring people together. The Springboks were a symbol of Apartheid to the black population of South Africa and to the white population a source of pride. Nelson Mandela realized he needed to defy what the majority of those who voted for him wanted - to change the colors and emblem of the Sprinboks jerseys. The newly elected President felt he needed to embrace the very same people who imprisoned him for 27 years. The reasoning behind this was that he needed their economic support as well as military and police support in order to rebuild the country and unify it's people.
Morgan Freeman is excellent in his portrayal as Nelson Mandela. He brings the grace, charm and serenity to the screen that I believe only he alone is capable of. Matt Damon plays the captain of the Sprinboks named Francois Pienaar. Damon is well suited for the role and I found his accent to be quite realistic. The film is shot beautifully by Tom Stern and of course wonderfully directed by Clint. He has the ability to let the story unfold at it's own pace. He acknowledges that serious movie goers want a story told simply and without fanfare. There isn't a need for frenetic editing and gratuitous sex and violence when you have a structurally sound script and great actors. Musicians strive their whole life to learn what not to play. I believe that Clint's love of music and his own musical abilities have informed his directing prowess. In the hands of a master there is no wasted motion or unnecessary effort.
My only issue with this magnificent film is that I knew nothing about rugby. I certainly could comprehend what was going on in the story but I think even a cursory understanding would raise the level of excitement. The rugby sequences are great to watch and the brutality is well captured on the screen.
I believe Invictus will be regarded as one of Clint's best directorial efforts. He manages to tell the story without preaching or over dramatizing. It's as if he puts himself in the theater while he directs and lets the film play in his own head. Invictus is also a terrific sports movie. It captures what we all are trying achieve in our own lives - how to perform above even our own expectations
