Review: Invictus (12A)***
The story of modern South Africa began with the release from prison of Nelson Mandela. The release of South Africa from the shackles of apartheid began with a rugby match – at least in part.
That is the claim put forth by Invictus, an earnest and forelock-tugging part-biopic of Mandela that, nevertheless, represents a minor entry in the filmmaking canon of director Clint Eastwood.
The core of this hybrid of political drama/sporting thriller is the 1995 rugby world cup in which the Springboks took on the All Blacks – and won. Mandela always saw the match as a potentially unifying event for his "rainbow nation".
Thus Mandela (Morgan Freeman), by then elected president, enlists Springbok captain Franois Pienaar (Matt Damon) to help spread the message of unity, bringing together a fragmented country under the universal banner of national pride.
Freeman brings his trademark gravitas to Mandela but struggles against a script that veers from cheesy to downright clunky. At times, Mandela is presented as a combination of Gandhi, Martin Luther King and JFK. It both weakens and undermines the film.
Perhaps the most telling aspect of the film is Mandela's unshakeable belief that stripping the Springboks of their name and colours would drive a wedge between white and black.
Mandela resolves to retain the Boks' identity. In doing so he ignores all advice but earns the (grudging) respect of some Afrikaners and
the wholehearted support of key personalities like Pienaar.
While Invictus takes itself rather too seriously, it is not without moments of edgy humour. Eastwood has fun with scenes in which Mandela's mixed band of personal protection officers are thrown together in a cramped office. At first, both sides greet each another with open hostility. Later, there is a thawing as these very different
men act in partnership to protect the boss.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Three-inch blanket of snow heading our way today
- Alan Shearer in list of favourites for Leeds and England jobs: Latest odds
- Barnsley’s Keith Hill invokes Fawlty Towers over link with Leeds job
- McCormack feels United search can be narrowed down
- Redfearn throws down gauntlet as queue builds at Elland Road
- Rival chips in with £500,000 to restore the original Harry Ramsden’s
- Visit from Princess as Serbian culture celebrated
- SportsTalk: Leeds United’s manager search, Super League and Calcutta Cup
- Libraries aren’t like supermarkets, they are magical places where dreams begin
- Strategic review will lead to job losses at Yorkshire Bank
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
