Pop Journal: Invictus

Invictus (MOVIE / 2010)

Invictus is a film by Clint Eastwood that takes the story of the release and rise of Nelson Mandela, but frames it within the confines of the Rugby World Cup. Now much has been said of Morgan Freeman's portrayal of Mandela, it's uncanny. It really is one of those contrived lines where this is the role he was born to play. Where the story falters is in the Rugby side of the story, where maybe this comes as I know few things of the sport, as it runs the natural course of many sports movies that tackle larger themes before it. Only in this case there seems to be absolutely no growth in the Rugby players, no instance of a physical or personal change that leads to the feat that they accomplish. If anything the change and conflict really comes through with Mandela's Secret Service. Here we see Blacks and Whites working together under very stressful terms, but as the movie continues we see bonds begin to form among them. All of this leads to a World Cup Final that feels as if they put the entire match on screen, it feels as if it lasts forever. In the end there is reason for celebration, new friends are made, but it all feels like a light switch was flipped as i never saw any real conflict on the screen. In the end I wish there would have been more focus on certain aspects of the story than others, but it is a well shot, well acted and well directed piece.