Invictus
What?
It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
With the South African World Cup currently in full swing, the time is right to look back to a key turning point in the recent history of the country, namely the 1995 Rugby World Cup. This Tournament took place against the backdrop of a country going through massive change. Apartheid had ended, Mandela was President and racial tensions were at boiling point. Where everyone else was telling Mandela that he should be reasserting the position of his people in the country, his instinct leads him towards his dream of a ‘rainbow nation’ of people of all colours living in harmony.
A superb politician and humanitarian, Mandela knew all too well that policy can only go so far in uniting hearts and mind. What he envisaged was something different, he believed that if South Africa could win the Rugby World Cup, that the celebrations would unite his country across colour lines in a celebration of sporting unity. This film tells that story.
The main question is, does it tell it well? There are many strengths to the direction that Clint Eastwood brings to his films. Stoic, unfussy and robust, he is not a filmmaker of flash or cheap sentiment. He draws performances of restraint and dignity from Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pinnear. What Eastwood fails to do is rouse the spirit within. As sports films go this is more likely to leave you with a sense of quiet satisfaction than your fists in the air. For a story driven by inspiration and spirit this film is often wholly dramatically inert, making a sporting victory that united a nation about as inspirational as 0-0 draw at Burnley.
Optics:
Eastwood definitely has a particular visual style, especially in the colour grading that he employs. The film offers a muted colour palette, a fine sheen of grain and a slightly bluish tinge which gives the rugby fields a distinctive hue. The transfer of the film to blu ray delivers a pleasing visual representation but it can often be found to be slightly lacking in the detail that the very best transfers offer.
Sonics:
The understated tone of the film carries across to the films soundtrack. Sporting scenes has pleasing crunch and crowd effects provide a sonic halo effect that puts you into the games. The rest of the film offers clarity and precision but little in the way of aural excitement.
Extras:
The film has an engaging picture in picture mode which offers intriguing detail. There is also a good range of additional extras including footage of Morgan Freeman meeting Mandela and talking about his history and how best to play him. In addition there are shorter features on Matt Damon’s training for the film and a brief feature on the career of Clint Eastwood. All in all it makes for an enlightening package.
Well?
The film is something of a mixed bag, with performances that capture the surface of the people but don’t give you the inspiration behind them. The measured tone also hampers the films denouement, delivering nodding appreciation rather than chest pumping glory.
Chris Hacking
It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
With the South African World Cup currently in full swing, the time is right to look back to a key turning point in the recent history of the country, namely the 1995 Rugby World Cup. This Tournament took place against the backdrop of a country going through massive change. Apartheid had ended, Mandela was President and racial tensions were at boiling point. Where everyone else was telling Mandela that he should be reasserting the position of his people in the country, his instinct leads him towards his dream of a ‘rainbow nation’ of people of all colours living in harmony.
A superb politician and humanitarian, Mandela knew all too well that policy can only go so far in uniting hearts and mind. What he envisaged was something different, he believed that if South Africa could win the Rugby World Cup, that the celebrations would unite his country across colour lines in a celebration of sporting unity. This film tells that story.
The main question is, does it tell it well? There are many strengths to the direction that Clint Eastwood brings to his films. Stoic, unfussy and robust, he is not a filmmaker of flash or cheap sentiment. He draws performances of restraint and dignity from Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pinnear. What Eastwood fails to do is rouse the spirit within. As sports films go this is more likely to leave you with a sense of quiet satisfaction than your fists in the air. For a story driven by inspiration and spirit this film is often wholly dramatically inert, making a sporting victory that united a nation about as inspirational as 0-0 draw at Burnley.
Optics:
Eastwood definitely has a particular visual style, especially in the colour grading that he employs. The film offers a muted colour palette, a fine sheen of grain and a slightly bluish tinge which gives the rugby fields a distinctive hue. The transfer of the film to blu ray delivers a pleasing visual representation but it can often be found to be slightly lacking in the detail that the very best transfers offer.
Sonics:
The understated tone of the film carries across to the films soundtrack. Sporting scenes has pleasing crunch and crowd effects provide a sonic halo effect that puts you into the games. The rest of the film offers clarity and precision but little in the way of aural excitement.
Extras:
The film has an engaging picture in picture mode which offers intriguing detail. There is also a good range of additional extras including footage of Morgan Freeman meeting Mandela and talking about his history and how best to play him. In addition there are shorter features on Matt Damon’s training for the film and a brief feature on the career of Clint Eastwood. All in all it makes for an enlightening package.
Well?
The film is something of a mixed bag, with performances that capture the surface of the people but don’t give you the inspiration behind them. The measured tone also hampers the films denouement, delivering nodding appreciation rather than chest pumping glory.
Chris Hacking
Director:
Clint Eastwood
Starring:
Morgan Freeman
Matt Damon
Best line:
Tagline:
"His people needed a leader. He gave them a champion."
Description:
Warner Brothers
UK
Region free
Rated 15
2.40.1
DTS-HD MA 5.1
PIP mode
'When Mandela Met Morgan'
Clint Eastwood career retrospective
'Matt Damon in Training'
Ratings: (Out of 10)
Film 6.0
Optics 8.0
Sonics 8.0
Extras 6.0
Overall 6.0
