The Good, the Bad and the Rugby

Rating: 8/10 (28 June 2013)

Had far too many reservations about even viewing this film let alone singing its praises; from the outset, I didn't think it had a snowball's chance in hell of any success. Hollywood or otherwise. But I was wrong.
Along came Clint Eastwood. Sure, the seasoned director with a meticulous eye for detail, rode onto the highveld and Joburg with high hopes. He knew a good script when handed one. But Clint was not alone. The big gun was wary. Make that wise. To placate any doubts, he hired gunslingers, er, good help: Morgan Freeman more than stepped up to play the role of Nelson Mandela; the veteran actor stood tall, and often in the breach. Early on, Freeman almost morphed and even became 'the New South Africa's' first black President. To wit, Freeman's manner, expression,speech and Xhosa accent mirrored those of the larger than life image of the real man. At least on camera.
On the other side of the racial divide, Matt Damon, as Springbok Rugby Captain Francois Pienaar even lent Mandela his capable, and strong hands Although bourne of the Boer identity, Pienaar relished his helper role in setting the old Republik on a new, shining path into former uncharted territory: forgiveness and reconciliation.
The end game was not that the Springboks must win and become the 1995 Rugby World Champions and hoist the coveted Ellis Cup. No... That was a corollary or pretense to a loftier even more more laudable platitude: unite, actually anoint the nation under a Rainbow Coalition of racial harmony.And rugby, that cherished Afrikaaner tradition forever shrouded in those nefarious (to the native masses) green and gold jerseys was the preferred if not unwitting vehicle to accomplish such a noble undertaking. No doubt, Pienaar, knew something 'big' was about to happen. He had a good feeling. As did Mandela. The two disparate men soon became close friends. At times, almost inseparable. If not insuperable. That is the 'right' stuff for good even great beginnings.
Now, to address the bad...
Nothing really egregious. We owe that to Clint: he stuck (or was mired in) to the script. It was all about Nelson Mandela: his coming out as President, his time in the sun, or under the spotlight, so to speak. And Mandela deserved his star treatment. After all, Nelson as a founding member of then banned ANC party spent his best years, almost 27 (at one point, Matt, increased the punishment to 30 years) incarcerated for treasonous crimes against the state on a wretched rock pile, marooned away from civilization but safe from 'open' apartheid, on Robben island. The constant fawning over Madiba the President is the film's one (minor) shortcoming. Although at times, we do catch some strong even poignant glimpses of the majority blacks ire with Mandela for donning the green and gold jersey and his total commitment to winning the hallowed Webb Ellis Rugby World Cup. However, in aggregate, those didn't even amount to a skirmish let alone full blown civil disobedience.
Along the same lines, we learn little if anything at all from/about the Boers (Afrikaaners). To wit, we hear nothing from them regarding their prospects/objections to achieving a workable partnership with their new 'baases': the formerly oppressed native masses. Also disturbing, not one white South African, neither Boer or English is seen raising his fist nor is heard out of ignorance (or otherwise) shouting a racial slur or otherwise pointed objection to Mandela's scrum filled ambitions. Too good to be true? Maybe not. My impression, er, Clint's projection: the entire nation had gone rugby mad. Which was good for the script...
Which lead straight into the rugby matches. Although the Springbok squad reached rock bottom at the tournament's beginning and we're not given even the slightest chance of making it out of the group stages to the quarter finals (we're often reminded of the experts' pessimistic assessment by a mustachioed and cheeky Afrikaaner sportscaster), the grand stage was set. The stadium props were built Bok solid. All the while the pressure for the hosts to win mounted. And the warthog Boks finally got their true inspiration. It came in the unlikely form of Mandela's favorite poem:Invictus.
Transcribed by Mandela's own pen, the epic literary piece was hand delivered personally by captain Pienaar. The veteran Bok captain, though blurted out the sacred passages' 'true' meaning to his love interest when questioned about his special mission...
"I think he wants us to win the World Cup."
Lights out. You really thought Clint wouldn't insert a gratuitous love scene? Well, Matt is human. And Hollywood still calls all the shots (in the dark). Clint's squinting, twitching eyes notwithstanding...