Invictus…Eastwood scores another touchdown

It’s time for Eatwoods latest film as he this time turns his hand to Rugby with one game in particular, the 1995 World Cup match with South Africa versus the All Blacks. Having previously attempted to defend his depiction of Iwo Jima on the grounds of racism from Spike Lee he’s this time set his sights upon post-apartheid South Africa, (maybe Richard Curtis could take a leaf out his book after his depiction of ‘Notting Hill’).

Morgan Freeman is Mandela in Invictus.

Having just come to power after thirty years imprisonment, Nelson Mandela, (Morgan Freeman), seeks to ease the tensions of a country still divided. It is then he notices the South African Rugby squad who are on a downward streak. Seeing them as a symbol of the previous white oppression the black population vilify them whilst the whites support them. Mandela then comes to the conclusion that they must win the World Cup in order to unify his country as he goes about his best efforts to help them on their way to victory with the help of the team captain Francois  Pienaar, (Matt Damon).

Building bridges in post-apartheid South Africa.

Well, here’s the thing, I do usually like Eastwood so I went into this with a bias and, although I did like the film, (despite my personal predilection against sports in general), I feel I should start with some of the cons. This by and large is a feel-good film which at times could appear to be a slightly simplistic take on a potentially complex situation, (one that still has reverberations today). We could’ve seen a bit more into the politics of the apartheid besides Rugby being the ‘peoples saviour’ as it was here. It was also fairly faithful to this sports sub-genre with the obvious tropes of the ‘nail-biting slow-motion’ on the field but these were thankfully downplayed. In all fairness though this allowed the clear and concise message of the unifying quality of the game to be delivered which was the primary function of the film, helped in that it all actually happened. It was well executed along with Eastwoods trademark for seemingly invisible direction. The accents didn’t make me laugh too much as they can do when Hollywood actors try to pull off the ‘South Ifrican’. Morgan restrained himself in what could’ve easily turned into a pastiche along with Matt Damon who managed to carry it off well too. Overall though it was the plot that kept this running as we followed the team to success along with the film.