Another competent, polished Eastwood effort

Rating: 9/10 (6 September 2010)

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning
In 1990, after nearly thirty years incarceration, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) is released and becomes ruler of South Africa, signalling an end of the apartheid era and a new, more democratic nation setting in. However, there is social unease, as the national sport, rugby, is still under the moniker of the Springboks, a symbol of the pro apartheid era. However, Mandela hopes his nation to embrace a new notion of forgiveness, hopefully learning from his example towards his captors. After a series of meetings with celebrated Springboks captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) he sets a chain of events in motion that sees the team on course to victory at the 1995 Rugby Championships.
At a time in his life and career where he prefers to be behind the camera rather than in front of it, Clint Eastwood is always very surprising in the choice of tale he brings to the big screen. Here is yet another surprising but effective story, brought to life with the professional standards you can always expect from Eastwood.
In the lead role, Freeman, always an actor Eastwood gets the best from, plays Mandela in his sleep, but is blessed to capture his accent and mannerisms just fine, too. Likewise, Damon is well suited to the role of Springboks captain Pienaar, with the physical presence and stature to convince, but also evokes emotion by delivering a moving portrait of a man startled by another's ability to forgive and overcome. As the two lead stars of the film, they have even better chemistry than you might originally have thought.
Director, stars and pretty much everyone involved have come together and delivered something fine. ****