Warner Bros. | 2009 | 133 mins. | Rated PG-13
At first glance, it’s easy to see why some critics dismissed Clint Eastwood’s latest directorial effort, Invictus. Some may get lost in the inescapable sentimentality of the story, therefore missing the formidable intelligence shown by Eastwood and screenwriter Anthony Peckham (Sherlock Holmes). Yes, this story of Nelson Mandela’s first year in office and the partnership he formed with blonde-haired rugby flanker François Pienaar in the hopes of winning the World Cup ignores the still simmering issues of apartheid in the country. However, Eastwood’s decision to keep the focus squarely on Mandela, Pienaar and their efforts to unite the country through rugby is a wise one. Attempting to touch on all the issues that were swirling around Mandela at that time, would have been a monumental task for Eastwood, and too much to take in for a lot of moviegoers.
Released from prison in 1990, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) sets out to stop legal segregation and institute free, democratic elections in South Africa. After campaigning his way to the presidency in 1994, he’s faced with an even more daunting task: assuaging fears, calming racial tensions, and showing his countrymen, black and white, that peaceful coexistence is indeed possible. While Mandela enacts several policy changes to begin the slow, seemingly impossible task of healing his nation, he soon turns his attention to the Rugby World Cup, a high-profile sporting event South Africa is scheduled to host the following year. In an unusual move, he approaches François Pienaar (Matt Damon), captain of the nearly all-white rugby team called the Springboks. Without telling him directly, Mandela outlines for François, his belief that winning the World cup could go a long way in uniting their nation.
For those who may bristle at the lack of racism or violence; Invictus is neither a Nelson Mandela biography nor civil rights picture. Instead, it’s an engaging study of how thoughtfulness, wisdom, intellect, and lessons are learned when combined with something everyone can understand. In this case, athletics gave all the people of South Africa something to rally around, and unify with. After all, winning the World Cup would put the country on the world stage, and as any sports fan knows, honors like that tend to be a big deal, even for those that don’t ordinarily follow sports.
The film would haven’t nearly as well, were it not for Freeman and Damon’s quiet, yet captivating performances. Damon plays Pienaar as an intelligent, thoughtful sportsman; a man more in tune with the needs of his country than your average athlete. In a film about a dynamic world leader, his is a role that could’ve easily been disregarded, and as such, demands greater finesse in order to stand out. Wisely, he chooses to simmer rather than erupt, contemplate his decisions rather than act impulsively. And Freeman? He was simply born to Nelson Mandela. Every move he makes—from the way he walks, talks, gets up from a chair—reminds you of the legendary figure. It’s not a stretch to say that Freeman became Mandela.
Not every scene in Invictus leaves a lasting mark –not everyone in the director’s supporting cast is as natural and at ease as his A-list talent—but it hardly matters. Damon, Freeman, and the compelling story of Nelson Mandela and François Pienaar make every minute of Invictus worth watching.
The Warner video engineers use a VC-1 codec to bring the movie in its 2.40:1 aspect ratio to high-definition Blu-ray. They preserved the film’s natural film grain, giving the image a small degree of roughness but an overall lifelike texture. Definition is average. Some close-ups look startlingly detailed, while many others are a bit soft. The transfer maintains the sense of realism I’m sure Eastwood tried to capture in somewhat subdued, never flashy, colors; and probably the only minor distracting element is a little shimmer here and there.
Warner’s effective DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track complements the film’s video presentation nicely, readily immersing listeners in the bristling fields and dusty winds of South Africa. Dialogue rests near the heart of Invictus, and the mix captures every hesitant syllable and bold proclamation. Voices ring true regardless of the environment or interior setting, prioritization is dutiful and precise, and lines are rarely lost, even during the film’s more chaotic rugby matches. While the majority of Eastwood’s drama offers little more than centralized conversations and restrained (albeit noteworthy) acoustic flair, Pienaar’s training sessions, the various arena and stadium events, Mandela’s public appearances, and a number of outdoor locales work to produce a far more enveloping experience. Through it all, the LFE channel delivers steady, reasonably measured support, the rear speakers help Eastwood and his team create a fitting illusion of place and culture, pans are transparent, and directionality is accurate. Moreover, Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens’ score has been given the same treatment. Warner’s lossless track works well with the AV presentation.
The disc includes English, French, and Spanish spoken languages; French and Spanish subtitles; and English captions for the hearing impaired.
Invictus comes with the following special features:
• Vision, Courage and Honor: Captivating, informative, and thorough, this Picture-in-Picture track features several interview segments with Eastwood, notable members of his cast, department heads and, most importantly, the real men who inspired the film. Not all PiP tracks are worth watching, but I, for one, was thoroughly impressed with its tone, breadth, and exploration of both the history behind the film and the film itself.
• Behind the Story (HD, 36 minutes): Warner has included a pair of revealing standalone featurettes as well: an extensive, well-conceived 28-minute production documentary called “Mandela Meets Morgan” and a brief but satisfying 7-minute short aptly titled “Matt Damon Plays Rugby.” The former gives Eastwood, his cast, and his devoted crew a chance to wax poetic about the film, Eastwood’s prowess as a filmmaker, the figures portrayed in the film, the costumes and sets, and the challenges Eastwood faced during the shoot. The latter is lighter and more low key, following Damon onto the field with his on-screen teammates and their real-life counterparts.
• The Eastwood Factor (SD, 22 minutes): Film critic, historian, and documentarian Richard Schickel wrote and directed this candid overview of Eastwood’s life and career that examines the Oscar winner’s rise as an actor, emergence as an acclaimed director, and ongoing evolution as an artist.
• Invictus Music Trailer (HD, 3 minutes): A lengthy theatrical trailer for the film.
• BD-Live Functionality
• Standard DVD
• Digital Copy
[xrrgroup][xrr label=”Video:” rating=”4.0/5″ group=”s1″ ] [xrr label=”Audio:” rating=”4.0/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Extras:” rating=”4.0/5″ group=”s1″] [xrr label=”Film Value:” rating=”4.0/5″ group=”s1″] [/xrrgroup]
