What’s admirable about Eastwood, and what I’ve enjoyed about his many well-directed films, is that he is one damn focused director. He does not play around when it comes to putting a film together, whether it's a biopic (which he seems to prefer) or a guts-and-glory film. Invictus’ first 20 minutes or so, unfortunately, seem to come out of the old video cookbook and the chapter on “Talking Heads.” Eastwood crafts the scenes a little too carefully. We get Mandela. He is no stranger to the world. The film does briefly tune into the country’s sights and sounds of shanty towns. It could speak volumes; instead it is muted by the screenplay. In my opinion, black South African music is the most stirring in the world and should have been used more effectively. Eastwood dropped the ball here. Thus, I would not bet on this film garnering any Oscar nods. It will be going up against a solid field of 2009 films and performances. It should do okay at the box office based on the star power behind it.
Finally, Eastwood’s got soul. And this film has a heart. The poem "Invictus", the source of the title for this film, offers cohesion as voice-over narration while the rugby team tours the restored prison cell and grounds that once held Mandela prisoner. The scene pays homage to a transcendent figure. Invictus goes about its storytelling with a little slow-motion action at the matches. I don’t get rugby. But a match between two titans makes money. There are no flashbacks used — just fine acting that moves this 132-minute film to its natural but strong conclusion: the Springbok team (and the nation) brings home a trophy and some measure of racial unity. Mandela vindicated.
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Article comments
1 - Christine
Wow, Heloise, I have been thinking about this movie all weekend.
I am eager to see itâ€"â€"thanks for the insight.
And I just saw "Gran Torino" for the fist time last night--a profound and tear shedding moment for me at the end.
2 - Lmaris
Heloise, the "All Blacks" is the name of the national team from New Zealand, named so due to the color of their jerseys. These two teams are the titans of rugby, and the match was historic. The players selected to portray the men who actually were on the team looked little like the actual players. The had to be short to make Matt Damon look remotely plausible as team captain.
I wish, however, the movie had at least named the coach (Kitch Christie) who was the man who turned the team from a bunch of players to the best in the world. Pienaar's leadership was essential, but without Christie's training and planning, would have been for naught. Yes, I am a rugby fan, and this game will always be one of my favorites, especially for what it meant to the nation of South Africa.
3 - Heloise
I saw the movie. That's why I put it in quotes! So as not to confound a racial meaning. The team in the film was multi-racial. I never meant to infer or imply they were black people. Yes, jerseys were black, so what? I don't think people name teams based on jersey colors. And aborigines have been called "blacks." And they are not white.
The S. African team did have ONE black player though.
Their team was referred to as the Bokke in the film short for springbok.
I hope no one reads race into the team name. The Black Team was the New Zealand team name do I have to spell it out? Did anyone else not get it? Sorry for any confusion.
4 - Dr Dreadful
I don't think people name teams based on jersey colors.
In this case, yes, they do, albeit 'The All Blacks' is a nickname. The black jerseys, I believe, are derived from the plumage of the kiwi - the national bird of New Zealand. The nation's rugby team has been known by that name for a long, long time.
5 - Heloise
It's a name by default then. It must have sounded better than The Kiwis or whatever. The Springboks used "Bokke" as their nickname. That is the diminutive of Springbok. I don't see how The Black Team is diminutive therefore team name was based on the jersey color. We both are right. The nickname is Black Team, not their official name I would think.
6 - Heloise
OOps, my bad. I did not read my own notes. The name of the team "All Blacks" was in my notes but I wrote "Black Team." Does not really matter since this was just a nickname.
And as other reviews I just read that concur with my preview: We don't learn a darn thing about rugby in this film. And Eastwood did a piss-poor job (another technical term) in the music department. And found out it was Freeman who hired Eastwood to direct.
I thought it would have a really rousing end with the game...it was a letdown. Hate to say it.
H
7 - Jones
Heloise, thats all just magical. Thankyou.
8 - KoneWone
Origin of the name "All Blacks" dates from 1905
And yes it is the official name of the national rugby team of New Zealand.
for more check out the official website