That Rousing Second Half is Well Worth the Long Wait

Rating: 6/10 (9 January 2010)

Running for over two hours, this film really felt long especially at the beginning. You really need patience to watch this movie. The first 45 minutes about various political meetings was so boring I almost gave up! Not even Morgan Freeman's uncanny portrayal of Pres. Nelson Mandela was enough. Then came that scene where Mandela met up with Springboks Captain Francois Pienaar (played by Matt Damon) to encourage them to win the Rugby World Cup in order to promote unity for the newly united South Africa. Thankfully, after that scene, the movie finally woke up and picked up the pace, and became an entertaining film.
As with any inspirational sports film like "Mighty Ducks" or "Rocky", you know how this would end. Yet I found the rugby scenes engrossing, even if I did not really understand all the mechanics of the game. I wish they had included more information about the game or had play-by-play of the matches for better appreciation of the action. That last match of the Springboks vs the New Zealand All Blacks was very exciting. I liked the details, like the plane that mysteriously flew above the stadium, and the Maori Haka dance of the All Blacks before the match began.
As director, again Clint Eastwood had his excesses, as he did in his other flawed films like "Flag of our Fathers" or "Changeling". He should have decided which film he wanted to make. The second half of the film could have stood on its own as a very good focused sports film. Too bad, Eastwood also delve lengthily on political issues in the beginning. Honestly, this movie succeeds more as an inspirational sports movie, than an inspirational political film. I must emphasize though, that rousing second half is well worth the wait.