'Invictus': It's got game, needs more Mandela
Morgan Freeman, left, and Matt Damon recreate South African history. (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Noble and well acted, "Invictus" is the captain of its creative soul.
Perhaps a co-captain was in order.
Surprisingly, to me at least, director Clint Eastwood devotes long periods of valuable screen time focusing on the grunts and dropkicks of rugby while Morgan Freeman, as revered South African leader Nelson Mandela, wagers a case of wine with his New Zealand counterpart up in the stands.
"Invictus" is a good film. In fact, it excels at times. It barely scratches the surface when it comes to fertile Mandela history, however. After all, this is the man who spent 27 years in prison for opposing apartheid.
When he was elected president a few years later in 1994, Mandela worked tirelessly to unite a bitterly divided country. He didn't just fight to soothe the ravaged souls of the overwhelming black majority, either. Mandela forgave the whites, who locked him away for the best years of his life.
From this aisle seat, I just didn't expect Eastwood to use the weary Big Game crutch to tell this story. While heartfelt, it lacks character depth. Expect to learn as much about the president's body guards as the leader himself, for instance.
Freeman, who has teamed with Eastwood the director twice before ("Million Dollar Baby," "Unforgiven"), has been working to portray Mandela for years. According to written reports, Freeman favored "A Long Walk to Freedom," Mandela's autobiography.
Eastwood and South African screenwriter Anthony Peckham take the shorter stroll, using a screenplay based on John Carlin's book "Playing the Enemy." That turns the focus to rugby, a sport arguably less known in this country than soccer. It also calls for a co-leading man.
Although his South African accent wobbles as much as the ball sailing through the goal posts, Matt Damon ("The Informant!") is believable enough as Francois Pienaar, captain of South Africa's underdog Springboks.
Mandela's goal is to unite his nation through sport. So over tea in the presidential office, the South African leader urges Pienaar to win one not for the Gipper, but for a nation that might just come together if things work out right in the World Cup winner's bracket of 1995.
In the most touching moments of "Invictus," Mandela recites lines from William Ernest Henley's poem that inspired the future leader to survive almost three decades of confinement.
"I am the master of my fate:
"I am the captain of my soul."
I can find no fault in Freeman's performance. The Academy Award winner under Eastwood's tutelage in "Million Dollar Baby" captivates as usual. That's one of the reasons "Invictus" as it stands is still a worthy effort despite its narrow story focus.
Eastwood, known for working fast -- a take or two will usually do -- and moving on, is to be credited for accurately capturing a key moment in South African sports. "Invictus" was shot entirely on location in and around the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa and it shows.
As Eastwood's camera took a bus ride with the rugby team on a day trip to inspire the impoverished local kids, though, I couldn't help wondering what Mandela was up to that day.
Perhaps a co-captain was in order.
Surprisingly, to me at least, director Clint Eastwood devotes long periods of valuable screen time focusing on the grunts and dropkicks of rugby while Morgan Freeman, as revered South African leader Nelson Mandela, wagers a case of wine with his New Zealand counterpart up in the stands.
"Invictus" is a good film. In fact, it excels at times. It barely scratches the surface when it comes to fertile Mandela history, however. After all, this is the man who spent 27 years in prison for opposing apartheid.
When he was elected president a few years later in 1994, Mandela worked tirelessly to unite a bitterly divided country. He didn't just fight to soothe the ravaged souls of the overwhelming black majority, either. Mandela forgave the whites, who locked him away for the best years of his life.
From this aisle seat, I just didn't expect Eastwood to use the weary Big Game crutch to tell this story. While heartfelt, it lacks character depth. Expect to learn as much about the president's body guards as the leader himself, for instance.
Freeman, who has teamed with Eastwood the director twice before ("Million Dollar Baby," "Unforgiven"), has been working to portray Mandela for years. According to written reports, Freeman favored "A Long Walk to Freedom," Mandela's autobiography.
Eastwood and South African screenwriter Anthony Peckham take the shorter stroll, using a screenplay based on John Carlin's book "Playing the Enemy." That turns the focus to rugby, a sport arguably less known in this country than soccer. It also calls for a co-leading man.
Although his South African accent wobbles as much as the ball sailing through the goal posts, Matt Damon ("The Informant!") is believable enough as Francois Pienaar, captain of South Africa's underdog Springboks.
Mandela's goal is to unite his nation through sport. So over tea in the presidential office, the South African leader urges Pienaar to win one not for the Gipper, but for a nation that might just come together if things work out right in the World Cup winner's bracket of 1995.
In the most touching moments of "Invictus," Mandela recites lines from William Ernest Henley's poem that inspired the future leader to survive almost three decades of confinement.
"I am the master of my fate:
"I am the captain of my soul."
I can find no fault in Freeman's performance. The Academy Award winner under Eastwood's tutelage in "Million Dollar Baby" captivates as usual. That's one of the reasons "Invictus" as it stands is still a worthy effort despite its narrow story focus.
Eastwood, known for working fast -- a take or two will usually do -- and moving on, is to be credited for accurately capturing a key moment in South African sports. "Invictus" was shot entirely on location in and around the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa and it shows.
As Eastwood's camera took a bus ride with the rugby team on a day trip to inspire the impoverished local kids, though, I couldn't help wondering what Mandela was up to that day.
As interesting a man as Nelson Mandela is (and is portrayed as such in the film) I can't help but think that this film doesn't linger on Mandela as a character study because it is more about showing how a country can be transformed by a common goal (even a sports goal.
The scenes I thought told the story best were the bus ride to the village and the few at the end during the final match when the police were listening to the radio broadcast and the young boy pretends to pick up trash nearby to get a listen. Eventually all pretense of other activity is lost as he cheers with the police and even wears their cap in victory celebration and obtains a drink from presumable the same police that were ready to shoo him away in the beginning.
I think THIS is the message Clint Eastwood was sending with the movie and I am willing to forgo more study of the characters to feel and see the effects that this event had on helping to end apartheid. I had a good feeling from this movie and would recommend it to others.
Thanks,
J
Posted by: John Hughes | 12/23/2009 at 01:33 PM