I nvictus is the Latin for word for unconquerable, undefeated, invincible. In Clint Eastwood's latest film he uses rugby as a metaphor for the struggle of South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman), to unite his racially divided country. A sociology professor I had once gave a fascinating lecture on obsessivesports fans. He said that people love sports because they can vicariously get to see a conflict resolved. In real-lite conflicts tend to resistresolution. MORGAN FREEMAN and Matt Damon re-create a much-hailed moment between Nelson Mandela and South Africa rugby captain Francois Pienaar. Eastwood proves he is still invincible From director Clint Eastwood, 'Invictus' tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team Q ... Q N • By JONATHAN AMERIKANER Eastwood seems to innately understand this. A Nelson Mandela film starring. Morgan Freeman has been a non-: starter for many years: It took Hollywood heavyweight Eastwood to make it happen, It is noteworthy that the film was releasedin President Barack Obarna's first year. The first black American president also faces a deeply divided nation and constant verbal assaults.Invictus does not draw these connections explicitly. The best films never need to. In a time when 3-D special effects films dominate the box office, it's nice to know films like Invictus are still made. Instead of flashy technique, Eastwood employs solid storytelling and intelligent dialogue to carry its message. Morgan Freeman delivers co N INVICTUS(US) Drama (733 min.) Rated PG-7 3 for brief strong language. N N profound, thought-provoking statements. The actor becomes the statesman so completely that by the end of the film I was sure I was seeing the real Mandela. Invictus is set in 1995 South Africa. Mandela has taken office after being released from more than 27 years in prison. He has the enormous task of repairing the - harm done to South Africa after decades of apartheid, white supremacist rule. When South Africa is selected to host the Rugby World Cup, Mandela senses an opportunity. The South African rugby team, called the Sprinqboks, is beloved by the white Afrikaners and generally hated by the blacks. The blacks who elected Mandela expect him to abolish the Springboks and start a new team. But Mandela refuses. He believes that a Springbok win will prove to the world, and most importantly to South Africa's white population, that his country is capable of forgiveness and greatness. To achieve this lofty (and unlikely) goal, Mandela enlists the aid of the Springbok's Captain, Francois Pienarr (Matt Damon). Pienarr is a man of few words - a foil to Mandela, the great orator. But every line Damon delivers is done with purpose and propels the story forward. Damon does a brilliant ' job of showing his character change, eventually coming to respect and revere Mandela. Eastwood's previous films are often about revenge. From his Man with No Name westerns, Dirty Harry films through Unforgiven and Gran Torino, retaliation is a central theme. But Invictus is centered on Mandela's passion to unite his country through forgiveness, the "anti-revenge." That doesn't mean that vengeance and danger aren't Il!rking. Mandela's bodyguards provide much suspense and heartfelt humor. Blackand white bodyguards must now work together. This is a problem at first, and I like the way Eastwood usestheir evolving relationships as a microcosm for the country as a whole. My only problem is that the fibn begins as a fascinating biography, but morphs into an underdog-must .- sports film. As the team battles - victory in the last third of wanted was more Mandeia. ~ - - Mandela can forgive thclSE'"~O tortured him for II _ 3'; forgive this small superb film.

Eastwood heisstillinvincible · 2011-12-25 · In Clint Eastwood'slatest film he usesrugby asa metaphor for the struggle of South Africa'sfirst black president, Nelson Mandela (Morgan

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Page 1: Eastwood heisstillinvincible · 2011-12-25 · In Clint Eastwood'slatest film he usesrugby asa metaphor for the struggle of South Africa'sfirst black president, Nelson Mandela (Morgan

Invictus is the Latin for word forunconquerable, undefeated,invincible. In Clint Eastwood's latest

film he usesrugby as a metaphor forthe struggle of South Africa's firstblack president, Nelson Mandela(Morgan Freeman), to unite hisracially divided country. A sociologyprofessor I had once gave afascinating lecture on obsessivesportsfans. He said that people love sportsbecausethey can vicariously get toseea conflict resolved. In real-liteconflicts tend to resistresolution.

MORGAN FREEMAN and Matt Damon re-create a much-hailed momentbetween Nelson Mandela and South Africa rugby captain Francois Pienaar.

Eastwood proveshe is still invincible

From director Clint Eastwood,'Invictus' tells the inspiring true story ofhow Nelson Mandela joined forces with

the captain of South Africa's rugby teamQ...Q

N • By JONATHAN AMERIKANER Eastwood seemsto innatelyunderstand this.

A Nelson Mandela film starring.Morgan Freeman has been a non-:starter for many years: It tookHollywood heavyweight Eastwood tomake it happen, It is noteworthy thatthe film was releasedin PresidentBarackObarna's first year. The firstblack American president also faces adeeply divided nation and constantverbal assaults.Invictus does not drawthese connections explicitly. The bestfilms never need to.

In a time when 3-D special effectsfilms dominate the box office, it's niceto know films like Invictus are stillmade. Instead of flashy technique,Eastwood employs solid storytellingand intelligent dialogue to carry itsmessage. Morgan Freeman delivers

coN

INVICTUS(US)Drama (733 min.)

Rated PG-73 for briefstrong language.

profound, thought-provokingstatements. The actor becomes thestatesman so completely that bythe end of the film I was sure I wasseeing the real Mandela.

Invictus is set in 1995 SouthAfrica. Mandela has taken officeafter being released from morethan 27 years in prison. He has theenormous task of repairing the -harm done to South Africa afterdecades of apartheid, whitesupremacist rule. When SouthAfrica is selected to host the RugbyWorld Cup, Mandela senses anopportunity. The South Africanrugby team, called the Sprinqboks,is beloved by the white Afrikanersand generally hated by the blacks.The blacks who elected Mandelaexpect him to abolish theSpringboks and start a new team.But Mandela refuses. He believesthat a Springbok win will prove tothe world, and most importantly toSouth Africa's white population,that his country is capable offorgiveness and greatness. Toachieve this lofty (and unlikely)goal, Mandela enlists the aid of theSpringbok's Captain, FrancoisPienarr (Matt Damon). Pienarr is aman of few words - a foil toMandela, the great orator. Butevery line Damon delivers is donewith purpose and propels the storyforward. Damon does a brilliant 'job of showing his characterchange, eventually coming torespect and revere Mandela.

Eastwood's previous films areoften about revenge. From his Manwith No Name westerns, Dirty Harryfilms through Unforgiven and GranTorino, retaliation is a central theme.But Invictus is centered on Mandela'spassion to unite his country throughforgiveness, the "anti-revenge." Thatdoesn't mean that vengeance anddanger aren't Il!rking. Mandela'sbodyguards provide much suspenseand heartfelt humor. Blackand whitebodyguards must now work together.This is a problem at first, and I like theway Eastwood usestheir evolvingrelationships asa microcosm for thecountry as a whole.

My only problem is that the fibnbegins as a fascinating biography, butmorphs into an underdog-must .-sports film. As the team battles -victory in the last third ofwanted was more Mandeia. ~ - -Mandela can forgive thclSE'"~Otortured him for II _ 3';

forgive this smallsuperb film.