Each time Clint Eastwood makes a film, you just feel that it has an air of brilliance around it and he just does not disappoint. He has been very consistent since he started directing films and is one of the best directors around in the country today. His latest film “Invictus” is a film not just of historical meaning and terms, but it’s interesting how it connects with people of a once torn apart country to inspire them to be happy all thru forgiveness. This film is more than just a Nelson Mandela biopic. It’s more about how Mandela out of everything he could have done, sought the support of the country’s rugby team to inspire them and the people of South Africa which would eventually unite them against the fear of Apartheid.
Starting in 1990 when Mandela (Morgan Freeman) is released from South African prison to a country that’s still split by racial tensions and transitional violence. As for years the blacks have always had problems with the whites as the popular rugby team the Springboks are detested by the blacks. Yet Mandela showers love and learning about forgiveness which surprises his people and supports the team as this is his way to encourage the country to be more loving and compassionate.
The rugby team lead by captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) meets with Mandela and he becomes inspired to work harder so they can win the World Cup and prove to all South Africans that peace and love is possible for all as all of them no matter what as the team represents everyone. True this film is an inspirational one that’s connected to athletics yet deep underneath it’s more about the changing times of a nation. The film moves along well as Eastwood paces the action field shots well as the rugby scenes are entertaining as you cheer for victory even though you know the Springboks are gonna be winners.
With such performances by both Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, it will be interesting to see if either gets an oscar nod especially Morgan Freeman who I thought was the only person who could pull of such a great leader. His expressions and emotions in certain scenes are just amazing. This one scene when he enters the rugby field just after becoming the President of South Africa, he gets lot of boos, but the smile of his face despite all that shows the kind of person Mandela was and Morgan Freeman had really nailed that scene. The cinematography was well done, as the film was filmed entirely on location. Eastwood truly respects the audience’s intelligence by not shoving material or dramatic events down our throat. Instead, he backs off and lets us ingest the scenes, interpret them, and allow them to mean whatever we as the audience want them to mean. This film is a lesson in film directing at its finest.
[rating:9/10]
