Invictus II
Invictus is not the greatest movie ever made, and in many ways it pales in comparison to other Clint Eastwood movies of the past few years. Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino, especially, are films that should not be missed, thought-provoking glimpses into morality and humanity that will leave you contemplating their message and truth for a very long time.
Invictus, however, is a different sort of animal. This is an Underdog Sports Story you've heard and seen before. The main difference is the political and emotional backdrop of South Africa, and the amazing real-life superhero Nelson Mandela. When Mandela becomes President and is faced with the overwhelming task of healing a country whose very existence has been turned on its ear, he uses the 1995 Rugby World Cup to bring together countrymen who have considered each other enemies since they were born.
It is worth seeing for many reasons, not least of which is the grace and subtlety Eastwood uses to tell a story that could easily slip into emotional melodrama and to deliver a message so intrinsically powerful that delicacy is called for in order to keep the audience from feeling they'd come under the influence of a sledgehammer.
This is myth and legend, but unlike most stories of this genre, it is not solely the passion and leadership of the players or the coach that leads to a blazing path of glory. It is the visionary President himself who sets the team and the nation on the road to victory, in the face of opposition from followers, detractors and even his most loyal inner staff.
The first step toward forgiveness and reconciliation is World Cup dominion.
It's far more complicated than this, of course, and part of the genius of both Mandela as leader and Eastwood as director is that we are led to consider answers on our own, with a gentle hand, rather than being shown and told how we should feel.
One of the most powerful moments of the movie is seeing the scope of Nelson Mandela's (actual) prison cell, no bigger than a closet, really.
He changed the world, which is astonishing enough. To see where he did it leaves me speechless.
Mandela turned 90 in 2009. What a difference one man can make.
Invictus, however, is a different sort of animal. This is an Underdog Sports Story you've heard and seen before. The main difference is the political and emotional backdrop of South Africa, and the amazing real-life superhero Nelson Mandela. When Mandela becomes President and is faced with the overwhelming task of healing a country whose very existence has been turned on its ear, he uses the 1995 Rugby World Cup to bring together countrymen who have considered each other enemies since they were born.
It is worth seeing for many reasons, not least of which is the grace and subtlety Eastwood uses to tell a story that could easily slip into emotional melodrama and to deliver a message so intrinsically powerful that delicacy is called for in order to keep the audience from feeling they'd come under the influence of a sledgehammer.
This is myth and legend, but unlike most stories of this genre, it is not solely the passion and leadership of the players or the coach that leads to a blazing path of glory. It is the visionary President himself who sets the team and the nation on the road to victory, in the face of opposition from followers, detractors and even his most loyal inner staff.
The first step toward forgiveness and reconciliation is World Cup dominion.
It's far more complicated than this, of course, and part of the genius of both Mandela as leader and Eastwood as director is that we are led to consider answers on our own, with a gentle hand, rather than being shown and told how we should feel.
One of the most powerful moments of the movie is seeing the scope of Nelson Mandela's (actual) prison cell, no bigger than a closet, really.
He changed the world, which is astonishing enough. To see where he did it leaves me speechless.
Mandela turned 90 in 2009. What a difference one man can make.
posted by bobbi at 12:18 AM
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