Jason KingInvictus ($16-)
January 21st 2010 11:45
:
The Most Inspirational Seen in Years
Category: No Category
This film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team, Francois Pienaar, to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.
I have just come from a screening of this film and was leaning more to watching the new film NINE starring half of Hollywood but am so glad I ended up seeing this one - it completely blew my mind. I found the film to be one of the best sporting films I have seen and also THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL film I have seen for many many years. From start to finish this film lifted up my spirits for the world, I even clapped in a couple of scenes and thought the film deserved a cinema clap at the end of the screening. I also cried many tears of joy and happiness, which is quite common for me to do given the right circumstances
.
Nelson Mandela himself has said that only Morgan Freeman could portray him. And so Freeman was the first actor cast. I completely agree with Mandela, there is no one else who could pull it off and Freeman does it with ease. Freeman has been a long term friend of Mandela and flew to South Afirca to get his blessing prior to accepting the role.
"I wanted to avoid acting like him; I needed to BE him, and that was the biggest challenge. When you meet Mandela, you know you are in the presence of greatness, but it is something that just emanates from him. He moves people for the better; that is his calling in life. Some call it the Madiba magic. I'm not sure that magic can be explained."
Freeman is brilliant in the role and captures 90% pf the "Madiba Magic". But to be honest I think Matt Damon steels this movie, his onscreen presence and abilities in this film are flawless and for me he did become Francois Pienaar, if slightly shorter and a little bit less bulky but Eastwood managed to counter this through camera angles and boy oh boy did Damon bulk up - it makes his physique in the Bourne films look like he is an EMO. His accent is flawless and the growth of an entire nation is seen through Damon. The end line he says to Mandela "No Mr President, thankyou for what you have done for this country" just gives me chills even thinking about it. To watch Damon's character learn from Mandela how to achieve greatness deserves an award, the onscreen chemistry between the uninvasive teacher and pupil made the film for me.
The word "invictus" is Latin for "invincible." It is also the name of a short poem written in 1875 by William Ernest Henley, a British poet. The poem was written while Henley was in hospital having to have his stricken foot amputated. Mandela is heard saying lines from the poem.
Clint Eastwood provides another superb film. He holds the inspirational ball from start to finish and provides an emotional journey worthy of viewing. How Eastwood manages to succesfully make great film after great film I do not know. He captures the time, the emotion of a nation and the still lingering apartheid feelings superbly. There are so many bit part actors and they all carry the story and the growth of the film from start to finish, just watching a young kid in a car park near some policemen listening to the game on a car radio was one of the moments of sheer inspiration of the human spirit, he goes from lingering and ends up being hugged, thrown in the air and wearing a cops hat - it was very cool. One thing of note is that Clint Eastwood's son is one of the Springboks in the film. He plays the kicker that holds their marginalised score to secure victory, he is a little corny with his whoop of joy but has the look and could continue in his father's footsteps.
My only gripe about the film is the filming of the Rugby. The guys I watched it with all thought it was great but for me it was way too tight and blurred onscreen a few times due to all the action being too close to camera. I have also watched a few games of Rugby and we all know this is a hard hitting game - we saw the grunt and speed and the kicks but I wanted to see some hard hits and more imagination into the choreography of some of the plays, I just thought this was lacking. I also found that Damon seemed to be missing from quite a many of the bigger game scenes but I am assuming this is insurance related. He pops up here and there but the serious Rugby viewing is quite a few times sans Damon or his head will pop out of a ruck. But these are minor gripes and did nothing to negatively effect my pleasure in the film.
Don't watch this film for the story of South Africa, or for the love of a great sport, watch it for the human emotional journey and I hope you get as much out of it as I did. Worth $16-
I have just come from a screening of this film and was leaning more to watching the new film NINE starring half of Hollywood but am so glad I ended up seeing this one - it completely blew my mind. I found the film to be one of the best sporting films I have seen and also THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL film I have seen for many many years. From start to finish this film lifted up my spirits for the world, I even clapped in a couple of scenes and thought the film deserved a cinema clap at the end of the screening. I also cried many tears of joy and happiness, which is quite common for me to do given the right circumstances
.
Nelson Mandela himself has said that only Morgan Freeman could portray him. And so Freeman was the first actor cast. I completely agree with Mandela, there is no one else who could pull it off and Freeman does it with ease. Freeman has been a long term friend of Mandela and flew to South Afirca to get his blessing prior to accepting the role.
"I wanted to avoid acting like him; I needed to BE him, and that was the biggest challenge. When you meet Mandela, you know you are in the presence of greatness, but it is something that just emanates from him. He moves people for the better; that is his calling in life. Some call it the Madiba magic. I'm not sure that magic can be explained."
Freeman is brilliant in the role and captures 90% pf the "Madiba Magic". But to be honest I think Matt Damon steels this movie, his onscreen presence and abilities in this film are flawless and for me he did become Francois Pienaar, if slightly shorter and a little bit less bulky but Eastwood managed to counter this through camera angles and boy oh boy did Damon bulk up - it makes his physique in the Bourne films look like he is an EMO. His accent is flawless and the growth of an entire nation is seen through Damon. The end line he says to Mandela "No Mr President, thankyou for what you have done for this country" just gives me chills even thinking about it. To watch Damon's character learn from Mandela how to achieve greatness deserves an award, the onscreen chemistry between the uninvasive teacher and pupil made the film for me.
The word "invictus" is Latin for "invincible." It is also the name of a short poem written in 1875 by William Ernest Henley, a British poet. The poem was written while Henley was in hospital having to have his stricken foot amputated. Mandela is heard saying lines from the poem.
Clint Eastwood provides another superb film. He holds the inspirational ball from start to finish and provides an emotional journey worthy of viewing. How Eastwood manages to succesfully make great film after great film I do not know. He captures the time, the emotion of a nation and the still lingering apartheid feelings superbly. There are so many bit part actors and they all carry the story and the growth of the film from start to finish, just watching a young kid in a car park near some policemen listening to the game on a car radio was one of the moments of sheer inspiration of the human spirit, he goes from lingering and ends up being hugged, thrown in the air and wearing a cops hat - it was very cool. One thing of note is that Clint Eastwood's son is one of the Springboks in the film. He plays the kicker that holds their marginalised score to secure victory, he is a little corny with his whoop of joy but has the look and could continue in his father's footsteps.
My only gripe about the film is the filming of the Rugby. The guys I watched it with all thought it was great but for me it was way too tight and blurred onscreen a few times due to all the action being too close to camera. I have also watched a few games of Rugby and we all know this is a hard hitting game - we saw the grunt and speed and the kicks but I wanted to see some hard hits and more imagination into the choreography of some of the plays, I just thought this was lacking. I also found that Damon seemed to be missing from quite a many of the bigger game scenes but I am assuming this is insurance related. He pops up here and there but the serious Rugby viewing is quite a few times sans Damon or his head will pop out of a ruck. But these are minor gripes and did nothing to negatively effect my pleasure in the film.
Don't watch this film for the story of South Africa, or for the love of a great sport, watch it for the human emotional journey and I hope you get as much out of it as I did. Worth $16-
| 38 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
I was quite shocked at the previous review I had read, because I love Morgan Freeman and anything that Clint Eastwood puts his hands on usually turns out pretty good.
Thanks.
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I try and not go into a film to be critical - I go in it to be entertained and for me this film ticked all the boxes.
I look forward to hearing what you think after you have seen it. Enjoy!
Comment by K @ the Lair
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness