Plot Summary
From director Clint Eastwood, "Invictus" tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.
Credits
Director
Movie Reviews from Rotten Tomatoes
TOMATOMETER
75%- Reviews Counted: 227
- Fresh: 171
- Rotten: 56
- Average Rating: 6.6/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: [T]he epitome of Hollywood filmmaking in ways both good and bad: uplifting, overlong, ambitious in scope but simple in moral vision, well-crafted but inured to irony.
Fresh: What Eastwood has done is to assemble a cast of American and South African actors and allow them to create something moving, exciting, and improbably true.
Fresh: The story of how Nelson Mandela chose the white-supported national rugby team, the Springboks, to become a symbol of national reconciliation is uncharacteristically optimistic for Eastwood.
Rotten: A monolithic sporting saga that seems content to pose on the podium, lulled by the belief that its subject matter provides inspiration enough.
Customer Reviews
How misunderstood!?
I'm not sure if everyone will get this film. To some it may appear that a black guy asks a white guy for a favour for the good of the country and it all works out. The contextual background of what it took for this specific black guy and these specific white rugby players to put aside for the sake of building a new nation is awesome - in the truest meaning of that word. We can only wonder what Iraq would have been like if everybody agreed that after Saddam was deposed that the opposing sides should tear each other apart but for the sake of the country to try to work with each other to prosper, united.
This film proved several things to me. Rugby is a game for hooligans played by gentleman, Mandela should be even more revered than he already is and that, if religion is not a factor, men of all colours, social status and education would rather work things out over a few beers and moving a ball around. My advice is watch it and if you are interested check out some of the history behind it. You'll find it even more impossible to believe that the events depicted ever took place.
Wow!
I usually dont write reviews, but this movie was unbelievable. With the amazing talent of the director, you can feel the tension between the people and change throughout the movie. I dont even know where to begin with Morgan Freeman. He took my breath away! I caught myself look twice at him to make sure it wasnt Nelson himself. Matt Damon also did a great good. After the movie, I felt so inspired to do better. You will not be disappointed.
great movie- fabulous story
I saw this movie in theaters with my sister who wanted to see it badly, i was astonished on how well done it was made. The story of Nelson Mandela played by Morgan Freeman. Truly showed why he gets the greatest parts in hollywood. The story line shows the struggles of South Africa at the time. And to have to completely differents roles, showed the greatness and accomplishments the two men mader.
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- $9.99
- Genre: Drama
- Released: 2009
- © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Spyglass Entertainment Funding, LLC.
Also Available
- Invictus (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
- Various Artists
