Another quality film from Clint Eastwood

Rating: 8/10 (16 September 2010)

Clint Eastwood's "Invictus" tells the true story of Nelson Mandela's involvement with the South African rugby team as they prepared for and participated in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. This was the first major sporting event to take place in South Africa following the end of apartheid and Mandela saw it as an opportunity to promote unity through sport.
The film is buoyed by a pair of standout performances. Morgan Freeman (as Nelson Mandela) and Matt Damon (as captain of the South African rugby team) both landed well-deserved Oscar nominations for their performances. I was particularly impressed with Freeman's performance, wherein he convincingly evoked the spirit and mannerisms of Nelson Mandela. As is typical of Eastwood's recent films, the supporting cast is full of unfamiliar faces but solid nonetheless.
The script is well done with an effective balance between Mandela's objectives and the goals of the national rugby team. As usual, Eastwood's direction is well-handled and the film has a polished look. The music is mostly good too but I have to admit that the few vocal pieces seemed pretty hokey to me.
Overall, "Invictus" is a worthwhile sports film with some added dramatic impact due to the South African setting and the presence of Nelson Mandela. I should also note that the film sticks pretty close to the truth, which, in the end, makes it even more remarkable.