Review: Invictus

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years, locked away in jail cell about as big as my closet, breaking rocks and sleeping on thin mat that might as well not be there at all. Finally released from prison, Mandela took it upon himself to forgive his jailers, and work alongside those who probably helped contribute to his imprisonment. Clint Eastwood's Invictus tells what is essentially a true life fairy tale of Mandela's desire to unite South Africa through rugby, a sport that had come to signify the oppression and divisiveness of apartheid.

So it might seem a little odd that in the face of such stark hatred and mistrust by both the blacks and the Afrikaners, Mandela would turn to a simple sport to help heal the wounds that had gone untreated for decades. But Mandela, a savvy politician if there ever was one, recognized that it only takes one common goal to create a spark, to open a wedge for communication and hopefully forgiveness. He approaches the leader of the struggling rugby team, Francois Pienaar(Matt Damon), but doesn't explicitly state his intentions. It isn't hard to figure out what he wants. He wants South African's national team, the Springbok, to win the 1995 World Cup.

Francois isn't overly political, although his parents clearly are against the idea of a black running their country. Francois takes his meeting with Mandela to heart, captivated by his quiet strength and charisma. Francois isn't the type for speeches or diatribes, he prefers to lead by example. His team, which is all white except for one man, is reluctant and hard pressed to change their ways. Their transformation is a microcosm of South Africa as a whole. Mandela sends the team out on public relations tours to win over the people.

Clint Eastwood is smart enough not to turn Invictus into a saccharine sweet Disney drama. He realizes that in the larger scheme of things, while a victory in the World Cup is important, it's never presented as being the final blow against apartheid. It's just a contributing factor. The second half of the film is particularly sports heavy, following the now united Springbok squad on their Cinderella story. I found these parts of the film, while good, to be the weakest moments. The film's strength is in examining the circumstances surrounding the World Cup, not the World Cup itself. Eastwood's minimalist style is effective at portraying the stark differences between the social classes, from the rundown slums to the grand mansions just a few minutes away. One minor problem I had was with the film's score, which I felt got a little intrusive at times. This is a story already with a ton of emotional heft. It's already a very enjoyable, moving film. It doesn't need an overbearing score to underline it.

While Morgan Freeman will get most if not all of the accolades for his performance, and deservedly so, I was impressed by Matt Damon nearly as much. He presents Francois as a confident leader, not just on the field but off it. He's not afraid to go against the beliefs of those he surrounds himself with. Morgan Freeman seems tailor made to play the charismatic leader, and gives what could be the best performance of his career. Mandela isn't portrayed as a saint, which would've been a huge mistake. Mandela is presented as a regular man, with unique strength, vision, and an unnatural capacity to forgive.

Invictus is based on the novel by John Carlin, Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation. Mandela and Carlin became friends while he was writing, so much so that Mandela wrote the forward to another of his books. Carlin assisted in the planning for this film, and it's clear he has a deep affection for Mandela as a man not just as an iconic figure.

The film's title, Invictus, refers to a poem by William Ernest Helmsley. Mandela had the poem written on a piece of paper while imprisoned, and reportedly used it as a source of encouragement and hope. It's basically a declaration of one's own invincibility and unwavering strength in the face of overwhelming despair. At one point, Francois visits the prison where Mandela was held, and feels the true weight of what the man must've gone experienced. Francois goes on to call Mandela the "greatest man he ever met". Probably an understatement.
6/10