Invictus (2009) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC Nelson Mandela, in his first term as the South African President, initiates a unique venture to unite the apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Director: a list of 30 titles created 27 Sep 2011 a list of 30 titles created 28 May 2012 a list of 49 titles created 09 Jan 2013 a list of 25 titles created 14 Jan 2014 a list of 33 titles created 01 May 2014 Search for " Invictus " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin.

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 33 nominations. See more awards » Videos A drama centered on three people -- a blue-collar American, a French journalist and a London school boy -- who are touched by death in different ways. Director: Clint Eastwood The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it. Director: Clint Eastwood Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players. Director: Bennett Miller The life stories of the six men who raised the flag at The Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in WWII. Director: Clint Eastwood The true story of a newly appointed African-American coach and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit. Director: Boaz Yakin A grief-stricken mother takes on the LAPD to her own detriment when it stubbornly tries to pass off an obvious impostor as her missing child, while also refusing to give up hope that she will find him one day.

Director: Clint Eastwood The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family. Director: John Lee Hancock Controversy surrounds high school basketball coach Ken Carter after he benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him. Director: Thomas Carter Discovering covert and faulty intelligence causes a U.S. Army officer to go rogue as he hunts for Weapons of Mass Destruction in an unstable region. Director: Paul Greengrass J. Edgar Hoover, powerful head of the F.B.I. for nearly 50 years, looks back on his professional and personal life. Director: Clint Eastwood An unlikely World War II platoon is tasked to rescue art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their owners. Director: George Clooney The story of Jackie Robinson from his signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1945 to his historic 1947 rookie season when he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Director: Brian Helgeland Edit Storyline The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team 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 rugby team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match. Written by alfiehitchie His people needed a leader. He gave them a champion. See more » Genres: Rated PG-13 for brief strong language | See all certifications » Parents Guide: 11 December 2009 (USA) See more » Also Known As: The Human Factor See more » Filming Locations: $8,611,147 (USA) (11 December 2009) Gross: Did You Know? Trivia Jonah Lomu is portrayed by Zak Feaunati , who was once a player of the Bath Rugby team and is (2009) head of Rugby at Bishop Vesey's Grammar school in Sutton Coldfield. See more » Goofs In the scene where Nelson Mandela is dancing, several of the violin players are holding their bows several inches above their violins.

See more » Quotes [first lines] High School Boy : [seeing passing motorcade] Who is it, sir? High School Coach : It's the terrorist Mandela, they let him out. Remember this day boys, this is the day our country went to the dogs. See more » Crazy Credits During the first part of the end credits, pictures are shown of the real life characters that were portrayed in the movie. Those images are then followed by a scene of South African kids playing rugby. See more » Connections User Reviews As a South African, I can tell you the entertaining, inspiring and enjoyable "Invictus" exceeded all my expectations. 13 December 2009 | by JeffersonCody (South Africa) – See all my reviews As a South African who saw this film on Friday morning, I can tell you you the entertaining, inspiring and enjoyable "Invictus" exceeded all my expectations. It really is a true story of epic proportions yet it's told with an intimate feel, and it is at least 98% accurate to the events of the time. Clint gets all the big details and so many of the little details right, but he never goes over the top.

He directs with minimum fuss and achieves maximum effect, just letting the powerful story unfold without getting in its way. I watched the 1995 Rugby World Cup and saw Madiba come out in the Springbok jersey. It was a wondrous sight. And when Joel Stransky slotted that drop kick over in the dying minutes and the Boks won, I wept and cheered along with everyone else. After the match millions of South African - of all races - celebrated. It was an amazing time. It was the birth of the "Rainbow Nation". Nelson Mandela is the greatest and most beloved of all South Africans. The man is a living legend, but so human and real. When he was President he brought hope to all South Africans, white and black. We, in my country, will never stop loving this incredible man. Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman did South Africa and our beloved Madiba proud. Francois Pienaar is also an amazing South African, an intelligent, big-hearted rugby played who always led by example, and Matt Damon's performance as him was superb.

I was glued to the screen for every second of the film's running time (I didn't even move from my seat until the final credit rolled and the house lights came on), and I was moved to tears on several occasions. The final scene was especially touching. Freeman's performance was magical and I can see him getting as Oscar nomination. If you think his Mandela is too cool to be true, think again. Mandela really is this cool. A brave and intelligent man whose courage and strength of character should serve as an example to people all over the world. After being unjustly imprisoned for nearly 30 years by a cruel and repressive regime, he emerged to run a country and teach its people the meaning of forgiveness and reconciliation. I thoroughly recommend the authentically detailed, historically accurate "Invictus" to film lovers, Eastwood fans, Nelson Mandela fans and sports fans everywhere in the world. South Africans would be crazy to miss this excellent film, but it deserves to be a hit all over the globe. Let's hope it is. Viva Clint Eastwood, viva Morgan Freeman, viva Madiba. PS. I'm a huge fan of Clint Eastwood as both an actor and a director.

Of the films Eastwood has directed, my favorites, in no particular order, are "Unforgiven", "Million Dollar Baby", "Gran Torino", "The Outlaw Josey Wales", "Letters From Iwo Jima", "The Bridges of Madison County","Bird" and "Invictus". Yes, it's really that good. "Invictus" is another winner from Clint. He just seems to get better with age. What a creative roll he is currently on. PPS. "Invictus" is one of the best sporting movies I have ever seen. But it's also about more than sport. 207 of 229 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes Matt Damon Interview INVICTUS | Collider | Collider Matt Damon Interview INVICTUS SHARE TWEET 0 Matt Damon has been honored for his work on both sides of the camera, including an Academy Award for Best Screenplay and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

In his latest project Invictus, he’s taking on real-life sports hero Francois Pienaar, the captain of South Africa’s rugby team, who helped unite the country by leading the underdogs to victory in the 1995 World Cup Championship match. While at the film’s press day, the actor talked about the challenges of playing rugby, portraying a real-life hero, working with Clint Eastwood and the importance of doing things of social value. Check out what he had to say after the jump: Question: What are the challenges of playing a real-life sports hero? Matt Damon: The first thing I did when I read the script was call Clint and say, “I can’t believe this happened. I can’t believe this is true.” And, he said, “I couldn’t either, but this is true.” So, I went immediately and looked up Francois Pienaar online and I said, “Clint, this guy is huge. We’ve never met but I’m 5’10.” He started laughing and said, “Oh, hell, don’t worry about that. You go worry about everything else.” And, I said, “All right, I’ll worry about everything else.

You worry about the fact that I need to grow six inches to play this guy.” I had about six months to get ready. I worked hard on the accent and on training physically to build myself up, to try to pull off the illusion of being the captain of a South African rugby team. Ultimately, I just tried to look at every possible pitfall, and then I start thinking about ways to solve those problems before I really get into it. So, I made my little checklist of things I had to do, and just planned it out. And then, I got to South Africa. The very first day, Francois invited me over to his house for a gourmet dinner that he was cooking, so that I could meet his wife and two boys. Morgan and I went. I just remember ringing the doorbell, and he opened the door and I looked up at him, and the first thing I ever said to Francois Pienaar in my life was, “I look much bigger on film.” He laughed and laughed and he gave me a big hug, and then took me into his house and that was it. We were off and running. And, he was just an invaluable resource for me, the whole time.

I was constantly asking him questions about everything from what color his mouth piece is to what his philosophy is on the captaincy and on leading a team, and life in general. He just was incredibly available and a very articulate guy, and he was incredibly helpful to me. How hard did you have to work on the South African accent? Matt: Francois’ accent has changed quite a bit because he went and played in England for so many years, and listening to any existing interviews from that day, you can hear how it’s changed. But, there was a good key to that. The dialect coach and I talked a lot about how, when a lot of people do a South African accent, they really overdo it and end up making somebody sound like Frankenstein. It’s actually a quite beautiful accent. We talked about smoothing it out because Francois speaks quite smoothly, and trying to make it subtle, so that it’s not so over the top where you’re just like, “Wait a minute, that’s a little big.” Once you became friends with Francois, what did you pay attention to and incorporate into your performance from your observations of him? Matt: There are the more obvious physical things that I had to do, to try to pull off that magic trick.

If you look at the structure of the script, it’s the greatest world leader of our time appealing to this other type of leader, and forging a bond with him. He basically said, “I need to use you to do this,” and the guy said, “I understand exactly why.” This team was asked to exceed their expectations. It’s a metaphor for what the country needed to do because everybody was expecting them to not be able to heal. It was Francois’s integrity and leadership that I needed to get across with the role. The obvious physical things were taken care of by lifting weights and stuff. What do you remember about Nelson Mandela coming to Boston in 1990? Matt: I was 19 and in college. I remember the Boston visit. I remember the whole world tour. I remember he just went all over the place. In fact, in my high school, we had the Free Nelson Mandela ribbons. Kids were wearing those black ribbons with the writing before they knew who he was. In fact, I have an old scrapbook that I was looking through, that my mother put together for me to go to college, with pictures from my whole childhood that progressed.

And, the Free Nelson Mandela ribbon was in there from 1988, when I graduated high school. It was very big. It was my freshman year at Harvard, in the Fall of ’88, and I remember the Divest Now marches, and everything that was going on. College campuses are usually the places where a lot of that stuff is cooking, and people are talking about that stuff. The Boston visit and that whole coming out tour that he did was a very, very big deal. If you had to compare the rugby scenes in Invictus to the fight scene in The Bourne Ultimatum, which were you in better condition for? Matt: Oh, I was in better shape for this movie. I was in the gym every day, and Francois came with me to the gym a few times. This is his life. I didn’t want to embarrass him. If Jason Bourne looks a little flabby, that’s on me. This is the fictionalization of somebody’s actual life. I didn’t want to let him down. It wasn’t going to be for any lack of effort, which really was what that team was actually famous for.

They were known for going the extra mile and for knowing themselves well enough to say, “Okay, we might not be the most talented team, but we’re going to be the fittest.” Francois talked me through their training regimen. It was just unbelievable what all those guys did, every single guy. That’s the thing about a great team. When every single person commits to something and sublimates their own personality for the greater good of the whole team, that’s basically the metaphor for that whole country. Have you played rugby since you finished filming? Matt: Hell no! Did you film this before or after The Informant? Matt: After. So, I had a good time putting the weight on, and then a tough time reshaping the weight. How much did you know about the sport of rugby, and do you still know the rules? Matt: I knew a little bit about rugby, but very, very little. I do think it helps, in terms of an American audience, that the game is enough like football, in the sense that it’s a battle for field position, and you score by running into what looks like an end zone and putting the ball down.

In terms of the nuance of the game, obviously Americans won’t get that stuff, but in terms of the peanut butter and jelly version of what you need to know, I think it’s pretty clear. What is the experience of working on a Clint Eastwood film? Matt: It’s incredible. Between us, we’ve probably been on 100 different film sets, and it doesn’t get any better than the way that he runs it. Clint says, “Look, I hire the best people I can and I put them in a position to do their best work, and I get out of the way and take credit for all their stuff.” He’s got this crew that just is the top flight crew, with every key and every person working under that key, for every department. You walk on some movie sets and it’s like walking into an emergency room, and you’re like “We’re just making a movie here.” And, that tension bleeds into the performances and the film itself. Clint just runs an incredibly tight ship. It’s very laid back. Because we all have experience working on other movie sets, everyone is aware that they’ve been given enough space to do everything they need to do.

If you need something, it’s given to you. If the key of a department says “I need this,” or the camera department says, “I’d like this,” it shows up. It’s just very easy. We’ve been entrusted to do our jobs. And then, he’ll occasionally come over and give a little bit of direction, but it’s not a lot of chatter. It’s just a little suggestion here, or a little suggestion there. After you do a take, Clint’s favorite saying is, “Well, let’s move on and not fuck this up by thinking about it too much.” Why is this an important film? Matt: I’d say the film is telling a story that is a wonderful thing to remind everybody of, in South Africa and all over the world. If we listen to the better angels of our nature, there are creative and good solutions to serious problems. It’s just an incredibly uplifting movie and, from the moment I read it, I was excited about just being a part of the ensemble that told this story. I think it’s a good thing to put out there, particularly now. There’s not a lot of good news, so this is a nice thing to put out for the holidays.

You have done a number of films that have a social consciousness to them, and you also have The People Speak on TV. Can you talk about doing films that have some kind of social value and what that means to you? Matt: As actors, we react to the material that’s out there, and I probably just react more strongly to things that I feel will have some social value. I think this movie is a great example. This is a really wonderful message to put out. It’s a completely non-partisan message, incidentally. This is about healing and coming together, and it’s an incredibly uplifting story. That’s why it appealed to me. It wasn’t that I went and said, “I want to make a movie that’s about this.” It’s that I read this terrific script and it was about the greatest world leader of the past 50 years, and he was being played by Morgan Freeman, and Clint Eastwood was directing. It was a pretty easy decision for me. What was your involvement with The People Speak? Matt: I’m really proud of The People Speak. It came out really well. It’s going to air on the History Channel on December 13th.

We just stumbled on a way to tell history that I think is great because it’s factual. It’s just the actual documents. It’s all these great speeches, diaries and journal entries. There are these great, inspirational speeches, and we hope to have a website where teachers are going to be able to access them. If you’re teaching about Frederick Douglass and you can bring a reading by Morgan Freeman into your classroom, I have a feeling high school kids are going to be much more interested and be able to connect to these voices. There’s just something very powerful about it. Related Content Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman discuss Invictus Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman discuss Invictus Dec 09, 2009 Tumble Combined comments & shares on social media In Clint Eastwood's Invictus, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) has become president of a South African nation torn apart by years of deep racial divide. After decades of apartheid, Mandela's South Africa is dangerously joined in a post-segregated democracy. After emerging from prison, Mandela wins the nation's first democratic election to become its first black leader. Economic hardship fueled by apartheid's legacy is threatening the burgeoning free state.

Meanwhile a leader of another kind, Francois Pienaar ( Matt Damon ) sits in front of a South African national rugby team as its captain entering the World Cup as the biggest of underdogs. Freeman's Madiba (an affectionate name given to Mandela as the leader of his clan) reaches out to Damon's Pienaar and presses not only his story, but that of a nation in need of unity. Mandela saw the power in sport and called upon his rugby team to do nothing less than win it all. SheKnows sat down with Damon and Freeman to talk about Invictus and how after 15 years of people wishing he would play Mandela, Freeman finally has his Nelson Mandela project with his old friend Clint Eastwood directing. Damon, Eastwood and Freeman are all Oscar winners. Considering their collective resume and the power of Invictus' true story, the current Oscar buzz for all the film's players is hardly a surprise -- but, it is incredibly warranted. Their film is an instant classic. Becoming Nelson Mandela SheKnows: You've been mentioned as someone to play Mandela for over a decade now. How did it take so long?

Morgan Freeman: This started out with Madiba naming me his heir apparent, so to speak, when he was asked during the press conference for his book Long Walk to Freedom. "Mr. Mandela, if your book becomes a movie, who would you like to play you." He said, "Morgan Freeman." So, from then on, it's like Morgan Freeman is going to be Mandela, somewhere down the line. We spent a lot of time, Laurie and I -- my producing partner -- trying all this time trying to develop A Long Walk to Freedom into a movie. It couldn't happen. Then, in '06 I believe, we got this book proposal (Invictus) from John Connor. It was perfect. We bought it, we got a script written and this was the role to play to give the world an insight into who Mandela is and how he operates. SheKnows: Any pressure on you, Matt, to portray a real sports hero that perhaps Americans are not so familiar with? Matt Damon: The first thing I did is I called Clint and I said that I can't believe this happened. I can't believe this story is true. He said he couldn't either. But, this is true.

I immediately went and looked up Francois online. I said to Clint, "this guy is huge." (Laughs) He and I had never met, but I told him I was five (foot) ten. He said, "(In his best Eastwood) Oh, don't worry about that." OK, I won't worry about how I need to grow about six inches to play the guy. I had six months to get ready. I worked hard on the accent and training physically to kind of build myself up to try to pull off the illusion of being the captain of the South African rugby team. When I got to South Africa, the very first day, Francois had me over to his house for a gourmet dinner that he was cooking. He invited me to meet his wife and two boys. Morgan and I went. I just rang the doorbell, he opened the door and I looked at him. The first thing I said to Francois Pienaar was "I look much bigger on film." He laughed, gave me a big hug and brought me into his house. That was it. We were off and running. SheKnows: How much did Francois to turn to serve as a resource during the actual filming?

Matt Damon: He was an invaluable resource for me the whole time. Everything from what color was your mouthpiece to what his attitude towards leading a team and life in general. He's incredibly available. SheKnows: And the aspect of this Nobel Peace Prize winner and human icon playing a role in this man's life… Matt Damon: It was the greatest leader of our time reaching out to another leader and forging a bond with him and basically saying I need to use you to do this and the guy saying "I know exactly why." They were asked to exceed their expectations and this team exceeded expectations. It's a metaphor for what the country needs to do. Everybody's expecting him to not be able to heal the country. SheKnows: What aspects of Francois did you feel the most important to get across to audiences? Matt Damon: Francois' integrity and his leadership was what I needed to get across. Then, of course the physical things like lifting weights (laughs). Matt gets ripped SheKnows: You had to get in fierce shape for the Bourne films. How does playing a rugby player differ in the training regimen? Matt Damon: I was in better shape with this movie (than for the Bourne movies).

Francois came to the gym with me a couple of times. This is his life. I don't want to embarrass him. If Jason Borne looks a little flabby, that's on me (laughs). I wasn't going to be for any lack of effort -- which actually is what the team is famous for. They are known for going the extra mile. Knowing themselves, to say that we might not be the most talented team and the line is even in the movie, the coach says, "We may not be the best team, but we will be the fittest." Francois told me their training regiment. It's unreal what those guys went through. SheKnows: Matt, have you played rugby since working on Invictus? Matt Damon: (Laughs) Hell, no. SheKnows: What did you two know about rugby before Invictus? Morgan Freeman: Nothing. I know American football. I know a little bit about soccer. I know baseball, I know basketball. But, rugby is a foreign language. Matt Damon: And you know golf… Morgan Freeman: I do know golf. Matt Damon: I'm with Morgan. I knew very little about Rugby.

But, I think it helps in terms of an American audience the game is enough like football in that it's a battle for field position and you score by running into what looks a lot like an end zone. I think in terms the nuance of the game, Americans won't get that stuff. I think in terms of the peanut butter and jelly version of what you need to know, I think it's pretty clear. SheKnows: Any injuries incurred? Invictus Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb 17 January 2017 8:34 AM, PST NEWS 262 reviews in total 207 out of 229 people found the following review useful: As a South African, I can tell you the entertaining, inspiring and enjoyable "Invictus" exceeded all my expectations. from South Africa 13 December 2009 As a South African who saw this film on Friday morning, I can tell you you the entertaining, inspiring and enjoyable "Invictus" exceeded all my expectations. It really is a true story of epic proportions yet it's told with an intimate feel, and it is at least 98% accurate to the events of the time.

Clint gets all the big details and so many of the little details right, but he never goes over the top. He directs with minimum fuss and achieves maximum effect, just letting the powerful story unfold without getting in its way. I watched the 1995 Rugby World Cup and saw Madiba come out in the Springbok jersey. It was a wondrous sight. And when Joel Stransky slotted that drop kick over in the dying minutes and the Boks won, I wept and cheered along with everyone else. After the match millions of South African - of all races - celebrated. It was an amazing time. It was the birth of the "Rainbow Nation". Nelson Mandela is the greatest and most beloved of all South Africans. The man is a living legend, but so human and real. When he was President he brought hope to all South Africans, white and black. We, in my country, will never stop loving this incredible man. Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman did South Africa and our beloved Madiba proud. Francois Pienaar is also an amazing South African, an intelligent, big-hearted rugby played who always led by example, and Matt Damon's performance as him was superb.

I was glued to the screen for every second of the film's running time (I didn't even move from my seat until the final credit rolled and the house lights came on), and I was moved to tears on several occasions. The final scene was especially touching. Freeman's performance was magical and I can see him getting as Oscar nomination. If you think his Mandela is too cool to be true, think again. Mandela really is this cool. A brave and intelligent man whose courage and strength of character should serve as an example to people all over the world. After being unjustly imprisoned for nearly 30 years by a cruel and repressive regime, he emerged to run a country and teach its people the meaning of forgiveness and reconciliation. I thoroughly recommend the authentically detailed, historically accurate "Invictus" to film lovers, Eastwood fans, Nelson Mandela fans and sports fans everywhere in the world. South Africans would be crazy to miss this excellent film, but it deserves to be a hit all over the globe. Let's hope it is. Viva Clint Eastwood, viva Morgan Freeman, viva Madiba. PS. I'm a huge fan of Clint Eastwood as both an actor and a director.

Of the films Eastwood has directed, my favorites, in no particular order, are "Unforgiven", "Million Dollar Baby", "Gran Torino", "The Outlaw Josey Wales", "Letters From Iwo Jima", "The Bridges of Madison County","Bird" and "Invictus". Yes, it's really that good. "Invictus" is another winner from Clint. He just seems to get better with age. What a creative roll he is currently on. PPS. "Invictus" is one of the best sporting movies I have ever seen. But it's also about more than sport. Was the above review useful to you? 192 out of 242 people found the following review useful: One of Clint's Best... from New Jersey 4 December 2009 In surely one of his lightest and straight-forward works of his career, Clint Eastwood has achieved one of the most inspirational films of the year with his new film, Invictus. Starring Academy Award Winners Morgan Freeman as South African President Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as Rugby Captain Francois Pienaar, Invictus is a picture full of emotion, magnetism, and revelation.

What critics and audiences may be deceived by is belief that this is THE Nelson Mandela biopic which it is not. It is the story of Nelson Mandela's first years as President of the culturally separated country South Africa in 90's. In a way to unify his people, Mandela used the country's love for Rugby to connect the whites and the blacks. As their record has been less than impressive, no one expects anything notable from the Springboks. Mandela taps the captain of the team to rally his troops and surge into battle for the greater good of his country. Everything about Invictus works on so many degrees of the medium based on the book "Playing the Enemy." The film never comes off as too pretentious or egotistical; it requires nothing more from the viewer than an open mind and heart. Eastwood directs the film perfectly, laying back when he needs to, never pushing the subject matter or shoving it down our throats. He utilizes all the skills we've come to love about his earlier works in Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, and Letters from Iwo Jima.

The use of light shows a character' s vulnerability inhabiting their souls or a score by Kyle Eastwood that offers both zeal and subtlety during a rugby match. Cinematographer Tom Stern hits another one out of the park, catching all the fury and apprehension of all the different elements of this strenuous time. Joel Cox and Gary Roach edit the film with the perfect amount of precision and friction. Morgan Freeman as Mandela is a wonderful charmer, showing the man's most hostile yet tranquil behaviors. Not necessarily the most engulfed characterization seen on film this year as Freeman's accent comes in and out of remission, but it's a tremendous performance worthy of an Oscar nomination. Matt Damon, showing himself as one of the best working actors today, doesn't have enough of the character depth and arc to carry the picture. Damon's performance doesn't allow him to really go anywhere. It's a superb turn, with a great accent inhabitance, that warrants credit where the credit is due. However, Damon requires nothing more than a little motivational speaking and responsive humility. Invictus, is one of the best pictures of the year, standing in the ranks of one of the best sports films of the decade.

This is the type of film that Oscar will likely be all over and fall in love with. I concur. ****/**** from United States 9 December 2009 Morgan Freeman's made a career out of playing inspirational second fiddles who always steal the movie. Now with Clint Eastwood's "Invictus", we finally get to see this amazing actor take front and center and run with it. The movie, based on a John Carlin novel about the event that changed South Africa, fits Freeman like a glove and it's hard to imagine he's not a front-runner for that lead actor Oscar he has so deserved for so long now. He plays Nelson Mandela as a born leader, an authoritative yet empathetic uniter who preached forgiveness and looked for common ground when elected president of South Africa. His election caused unrest among whites, and blacks still had hard feelings for years-worth of oppression. The one thing he saw that could unite was the Rugby team, a shamefully rag-tag bunch facing extinction because many still saw the team as a left-over from apartheid.

Mandela knew ending the team would mean more unrest among white Rugby fans so instead he presented a challenge to team captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon); win the world cup,unite us. Do they? It's all predictably plotted and there are times where you wish Eastwood had employed an announcer to explain what's happening on the Rugby field but the great themes of forgiveness, unity, and determination make this a sports movie well worth seeing. There are really wonderful elements here. The relationship between Mandela's white and black security detail. The Rugby team reaching out to the community by going to the slums and teaching kids how to play. Pienaar's visit to Mandela's prison cell to understand the man's courage. The people of South Africa rallying into something of a community. And the bond between Mandela and Pienaar, very well played by both Freeman and Damon, of two men looking for their country's pride, it's center, and it's heart. By the final Rugby match, the movie has built up such good-will that any predictability or confusion on screen becomes an afterthought to the joy and excitement on display.

Eastwood's film shows how sports can unify people, a simple yet inspirational and lovable message that should leave audiences cheering. Was the above review useful to you? 100 out of 128 people found the following review useful: Freeman is great as Mandela from United States 12 December 2009 Invictus is an enjoyable film, Morgan Freeman is great as Mandela and it's an inspiring story. The movie revolves around the 1995 Rugby World Cup and Mandela's attempt to unite South Africa behind its rugby team. Mandela develops a relationship with team captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon)playing the role of mentor and motivational coach. Although it's well-made and worth watching. As a rugby fan I was a little disappointed with the action on the field although most ordinary film-goers may not notice. I am not convinced the director (Clint Eastwood) really understands the game and the actors hired to play the Springboks didn't really look the part. At 5'10" Matt Damon is a little small to play the 6'3" and 240 lb Pienaar.

Pienaar was a popular charmer with a ready smile and a real ambassador for South African rugby. Damon still seemed to be playing Jason Bourne. It was an intense performance but it wasn't how I remembered Pienaar. South Africa had not been allowed to play in previous world cup tournaments and the years of isolation had left the Springboks uncompetitive. They were seeded ninth coming into the tournament but exceed expectations by reaching the final. The action focuses on the final match with New Zealand. New Zealand had an amazing wing (running back) in the 20 year old Jonah Lomu who at 6'5" and 265 pounds seemed unstoppable. South Africa really were the underdogs. It was also the only time that the All Blacks have managed to reach the final since 1987. They usually get beat by the French (1999, 2007) or Australia (1991 and 2003)in the quarters or semis. Overall it's nice for rugby to finally receive some recognition from Hollywood, because it's a major global sport. It's a good film.

I discovered that "Invictus" is a short poem by the English poet William Ernest Henley. The title is Latin for "unconquered". It was first published in 1875. Was the above review useful to you? 92 out of 116 people found the following review useful: Just one great film from Sacramento, CA 11 December 2009 People forget that Nelson Mandela came to power at a time when his country was bitterly divided. There was the bitter experience that white South Africans saw in their neighboring countries,i.e., Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe and other nations where the White colonialist had been replaced by Black African politicians and a stable government had been replaced by corrupt, self-serving regimes where those in power feathered their nests after seizing the assets of their former White citizens and placed all their friends in positions of authority with the result of the country going to the dogs. The scene where the Afrikaaner newspaper remarks, "Mendela can get elected but can he run a country," and the superb Morgan Freeman remarks to his bodyguard that the headline raises a good point. In a sense, this film is about Mandela.

The rugby team becomes a metaphor of what he faced when ascending to the presidency, a nation divided. Noting that the Black South Africans were cheering for the opposition in the face of the old Apartheid guard whose love of rugby unified them. It's easy to forget that there was a great division among White South Africans, i.e., the descendants of the Boers, Afrikaaners, and the rest. There was even a middle ground with the "Coloreds," Asian South Africans, being caught between these two worlds and there were bitter rivalries among the competing African political interest groups as well. Mandela's focus on reviving the national rugby team and making it a symbol of a new united nation homes in on the role of Matt Damon, an Afrikaaner who's the captain of the team. Francois is the catalyst that makes this story work and Damon, the rugged Mick from Boston, does a fantastic job showing the transition from hopelessness to hope as many White South Africans felt at that time. The wonderful thing about this film is its touching on all the levels. It goes beyond being merely the story of a single man or group of men.

Sure, we love a "feel good" movie and of course we love an "underdog can win" flick, but this film works works because its about people working together to rebuild something new for everybody. The film reeks with great moments: Pienaar visiting the cell where Mandela spent more than 20 years of his life, thinking and planning; The New Zealand Rugby team doing their Maori threat dance before the match; the jet buzzing the field before the game-- and so on. See it. Enjoy it. And, don't forget, it's a bit of history. Romanticized? Somewhat. Mandela wasn't able to solve all of South Africa's big problems, but he did one bang-up job for the Springboks. Was the above review useful to you? 85 out of 104 people found the following review useful: Inspiring and uplifting! from Maineville, Ohio 11 December 2009 Originally, I thought this movie was going to be a biopic on the life of Nelson Mandela. To some degree, it is a biography on Mr.

Mandela, but the film's main focus is on his idea of inspiring a country that is drawn to crime, violence, and poverty (after years of Apartheid) to a glimpse of hope via the nation's rugby team. Without a doubt, this is the perfect role for Morgan Freeman. I will note that his accent comes and goes throughout the film, but he nails the role down. He is not overly dramatic nor does he just read the script. He becomes the man. Morgan Freeman is easily one of my favorite actors because he never plays himself. He always makes himself into the character he's assigned to. He'll definitely receive the Best Actor nom, and hopefully, Morgan can finally win the Oscar he so desperately deserves. Regarding Matt Damon as the rugby coach (Francois Pienaar), he too immerses himself into his role. He even maintains a solid accent. However, the sympathy of the film is aimed towards Mandela than it is to Francois. The other cast members (none of which I recognized) also gave decent, believable performances.

As with the plot, it is predictable, something we've seen before underdog overcomes impossible odds, yet screenwriter Anthony Peckham throws in many important themes that may seem all to familiar, but is nonetheless eye-opening such as: forgiveness, unity, and determination to do what is right. Racial tension between the whites and blacks is dominant in the movie, particularly between the black and white security guards, but the film's point, as well as Mandela's goal, is to put our differences aside and work together as one. The movie isn't just about a rugby game, but rather organizing a nation to a success. It may be considered a wise political move on Mandela's part, but as Morgan says to his aid, "It is a human calculation". People need inspiration in order to change and to do good. These themes are what make it a good film. It also makes it a different kind of sports movie. Tom Stern's cinematography is wonderful, and this time, he doesn't make the movie all sepia tone like in "Letters of Iwo Jima" or "Changeling" and I congratulate the editors Joel Cox and Gary Roach once again for making each shot beautifully seamless and well structured for the storyline.

The music by Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens is not just a pretty tone that plays along with the movie, but it adds some oomph and emotion. I particularly love their choice of African vocals, for it not only makes the film feel more real, but it is absolutely beautiful to listen to. Clint Eastwood has done another great movie. Not only has he captured the themes of the story, but also the poverty of South Africa as well as the intense rugby sequences. There are some powerful scenes in this movie, as well as some intense and suspenseful ones, and even ones that'll make you smile. For the first time in a movie for this year, I actually cried. Not because of sadness, but from joy. "Invictus" is an inspiring film. Some back-story could have been added to the characters and the first act could have been faster, but overall, I enjoyed this film. "Invictus" proves that it doesn't take special effects and big action sequences to make a great film. It is excellent to see one of our great old directors to recognize this, and display it so wonderfully without being preachy about it. Was the above review useful to you?

63 out of 77 people found the following review useful: Morgan Freeman shines in Clint Eastwood's solid drama from United States 12 December 2009 Set in the early to mid 90's, Clint Eastwood's "Invictus" covers the first year of Nelson Mandela's presidency and how he pushed the nation's rugby team, led by captain Francois Pienaar, to achieve World Cup glory. However, Mandela's backing of the rugby team splits many hairs, as the "Sprinboks" have come to be a symbol of apartheid for millions of South Africans, making Mandela risk the very base that pushed him into office. He must also deal with personal security, his exhaustive schedule, and the strains on his personal life. As much as I respect Morgan Freeman, I was concerned that his presence would be distracting, that I would be seeing him instead of Nelson Mandela. I shouldn't have worried. Freeman completely immerses himself into the role and gives one of the best performances of the year. Not only are his accent and tone of voice quite good, but he brings a true 3-dimensionality to the role.

Compare, for example, him having tea with Francois, to talking with his family, and to making a political speech. Freeman nailed every facet of Mandela's life. Damon also excels as Pienaar, the solid enough rugby player who must do more than just lead by example for his team. The screenplay, adapted by Anthony Peckham, doesn't offer many narrative surprises, but it does do a good job examining not only the strife South Africa was in when Mandela was elected, but also the value of the team to the entire nation. Eastwood wisely plays the material straight. Though the material may seem familiar, the performances by Damon and especially Freeman are what elevate this tale into a solid and even uplifting drama. Was the above review useful to you? 65 out of 85 people found the following review useful: Inspirational from United States 12 December 2009 Clint Eastwood manages to top himself with this true story of how the new president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, used the national rugby team foray into the World Cup to unite his country after years of apartheid. Eastwood’s soft touch provides a timely but not heavy-handed message about hope and change that probably won’t be lost on American audiences.

The result is beautiful, exhilarating, and wholly inspirational. Mandela, played with effortless dignity by Morgan Freeman, is fresh out of prison and desperate for a way to rebuild his country, which has been torn asunder by the heinous policies of apartheid. Mandela comes to believe that the most sensible way for this to be accomplished is not by making speeches in faraway lands but to give his countrymen something they can all cheer about. His solution is to galvanize the national rugby team, which to date had not been a particularly successful club and had been given very little chance to compete on an international stage like the World Cup. Mandela pins all of his political hopes on the club’s chances; should they fail, he will appear to have behaved frivolously in paying so much attention to a sport, and the black people and the white people would be even farther apart. The odds were decidedly against the Springboks of South Africa. The team was a certified failure, so much so that the coach had just been axed. Captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) is frustrated.

Times are so bad in South Africa that during the team’s matches, the white audience members cheer for South Africa – but the black audience members cheer for the opposition, because the team itself is almost entirely white, with only one black player. Indeed, after Mandela’s election as president, South African groups vote overwhelmingly to drop the traditional rugby nickname “Springboks” as a way to shed themselves of all reminders of the apartheid era. Mandela realizes that such a action would instead drive a further wedge between the two races, so he countermands the local votes and maintains the nickname and the traditional green-and-gold uniforms. Sports movies in general are expected to follow a particular formula, more so than other films. That is, if we’re met with a ragtag band of sandlot players, we expect them to somehow persevere by the end of the movie. This is one of the few genres in which such predictability is a major plus. Sports movies are meant to manipulate you shamelessly, and you’re a willing, permissive participant. Invictus certainly plucks all the heartstrings it can, but the bonus is that these events actually happened.

This isn’t The Mighty Ducks beating the bad guys or Henry Rowengartner’s Cubs winning the World Series, this is a real-life rugby team gaining strength, wisdom, and inspiration from their newly elected president to triumph over steep odds. That said, this is less a movie about winning the championship and more about unification. Mandela, who had been imprisoned for 27 years, had steep odds of his own to contend with. Although democratically elected, there were still plenty of people throughout the country who really didn’t trust their new leader at all and were convinced that he would lead them all to ruin. (Sounds a little familiar, and I assume that the timing was intentional on the part of Eastwood.) Mandela had to unite everyone, beginning with his own staff, in order for the country to move forward and have a seat at the proverbial international table. Because of this grand vision, Mandela takes a personal interest in the fortunes of the rugby team, even to the point of rescheduling events so that he can watch the matches either in person or at least on television. He is careful not to intrude too much in the training and management of the team (particularly Pienaar).

Now, granted, this is an American movie made for American audiences, so there are some concessions. For one thing, the rules of rugby have to be mentioned at least once (and not enough, as far as I was concerned); for another, the focus isn’t just on the political machinations and aspirations of Mandela but rather on how the team itself reacts to its new success and the attempts by its captain to inspire them to ever-greater heights. What this slight sleight of hand does is present the idea of postpartheid attitudes in the framework of an athletic event, something American audiences can always care about, no matter the sport. Excellent decision by the director, I think, because the overall message is enhanced, rather than obscured, by the experiences of the Springboks. Even with the political subtext, and even among sports movies (which themselves are usually very evocative), this is a highly emotional film. The rugby scenes are so well done, so fantastic to watch, that nonfans like me – who don’t know a thing about rugby – can’t help but let down their steely resolve and cynicism. This is a happy, optimistic movie, but it’s not a funny movie.

There was hardly a dry eye in the theater today, thanks to the powerful rugby scenes, and I have to admit I haven’t teared up that much at any movie in a long, long time. Eastwood’s strong direction pushes the audience into the right direction, but we go willingly and happily. Freeman is commanding in the role he was always meant to play (Mandela himself wanted Freeman to portray him), and even Damon is excellent as the South African rugby captain. This is a true winner in all aspects of film. Was the above review useful to you? 100 out of 159 people found the following review useful: Well Made, But Completely Forgettable from Canada 17 December 2009 Nelson Mandela has been released from prison and was voted as the South African president. Wanting to unite his country, he found a way to do so with rugby and in the South African team captain, Francois Pienaar. Morgan Freeman was born to play this role, he knew so, and that's why he produced this film. A dream project of his, waiting for someone to take the job of directing, his old friend Clint Eastwood steps in. Who says no to Clint?

Especially Freeman, who under Eastwood's direction won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Invictus, William Ernest Henley, which is read by Mandela in the film, is well crafted and has a strong lead role. Unfortunately, the film is a by the numbers product that you seem to forget once you leave the theatre. My main problem with the film is the lack of emotion. I couldn't care for any of the characters in this film, save for Freeman, who as I stated does an excellent job. Matt Damon, who is shown on the poster, has the supporting role here. But he is given absolutely nothing to do except play rugby. His character has no story to him, but aren't we suppose to believe in him? After all, Mandela does. He gives him inspiration to win the world cup. Matt Damon does an alright job, but nothing worth mentioning. The same goes for the rest of the cast, they seem to be there just because the story is based on real life. Eastwood knows how to direct a film, the Academy seems to think so too, so you know going into it that it well be well crafted. This is Eastwood's first step into a semi sports movie genre.

The sport is rugby, and after watching the film, I still have no idea how to play it. The final act of the game is in slow motion as well, clichéd? You know it. You can hear every grunt from every player. It is elongated to the point of annoyance. The rugby sequences did not pull me in, nor did I care for who was going to win. It doesn't feel like he is trying to step out of his comfort zone either. It feels like an Eastwood movie, take that as you want. The best parts of the film, are when Freeman commands the screen. His presence is more interesting and entertaining than any of the rugby scenes. Speaking of a rugby scenes, I must say that every 'epic' shot of the fans in the stands looked horribly fake. At some points I thought I was watching a PS3 game. It really took me out of the experience of the film. If the film were a bit shorter and more focused (is it a sports film or character driven film?) than I could maybe invest my interest. It seemed to balance both as nice as it could, but ultimately gave out to one more than the other and unfortunately it's the weaker part.

Eastwood chooses to sidestep more important things in the film. Is this because of the script? Are we suppose to want to keep watching Mandela inspire a rugby team to unite nation? The racial undertones are there at the beginning, then completely forgotten. In the end, I wanted more from this film. The film is not bad, it's moderately good. Some scenes are actually inspiring, but that's more because of Freeman and not the generic script. I guess I wanted a little bit more from this one. Everyone involved made it seem like it should have been a great success, instead it comes off as something that everyone just decided to throw together. This is another film that belongs in that category of good, but not good enough for me to want to recommend it to you for theatre viewing. Was the above review useful to you? 25 out of 27 people found the following review useful: This is the greatest inspirational movie from Romania 1 May 2010 I must confess that I am a great fan of Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman an Matt Damon (not necessarily in this order), but what impressed me most in this movie was the story (and if it was real, much better!).

We can learn from this story that not revenge, but forgiveness is the most powerful weapon of our beings. Seeing this picture movie I realized how difficult was for Mandela to prevent a civil war or even a riot on such a drastic change of regimes. For those who lived under hard circumstances (like apartheid, communism or so called socialism) is much easier to understand the subtlety of the story, and more than that, this movie is a must see. That's one of the reasons I rate it 10 out of 10. Was the above review useful to you? Page 1 of 27: Invictus YIFY subtitles source Strong themes overcome predictable plotting8/10 Morgan Freeman's made a career out of playing inspirational second fiddles who always steal the movie. Now with Clint Eastwood's "Invictus", we finally get to see this amazing actor take front and center and run with it. The movie, based on a John Carlin novel about the event that changed South Africa, fits Freeman like a glove and it's hard to imagine he's not a front-runner for that lead actor Oscar he has so deserved for so long now.

He plays Nelson Mandela as a born leader, an authoritative yet empathetic uniter who preached forgiveness and looked for common ground when elected president of South Africa. His election caused unrest among whites, and blacks still had hard feelings for years-worth of oppression. The one thing he saw that could unite was the Rugby team, a shamefully rag-tag bunch facing extinction because many still saw the team as a left-over from apartheid. Mandela knew ending the team would mean more unrest among white Rugby fans so instead he presented a challenge to team captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon); win the world cup,unite us. Do they? It's all predictably plotted and there are times where you wish Eastwood had employed an announcer to explain what's happening on the Rugby field but the great themes of forgiveness, unity, and determination make this a sports movie well worth seeing. There are really wonderful elements here. The relationship between Mandela's white and black security detail. The Rugby team reaching out to the community by going to the slums and teaching kids how to play. Pienaar's visit to Mandela's prison cell to understand the man's courage. The people of South Africa rallying into something of a community.

And the bond between Mandela and Pienaar, very well played by both Freeman and Damon, of two men looking for their country's pride, it's center, and it's heart. By the final Rugby match, the movie has built up such good-will that any predictability or confusion on screen becomes an afterthought to the joy and excitement on display. Eastwood's film shows how sports can unify people, a simple yet inspirational and lovable message that should leave audiences cheering. source One of Clint's Best...9/10 In surely one of his lightest and straight-forward works of his career, Clint Eastwood has achieved one of the most inspirational films of the year with his new film, Invictus. Starring Academy Award Winners Morgan Freeman as South African President Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as Rugby Captain Francois Pienaar, Invictus is a picture full of emotion, magnetism, and revelation. What critics and audiences may be deceived by is belief that this is THE Nelson Mandela biopic which it is not. It is the story of Nelson Mandela's first years as President of the culturally separated country South Africa in 90's.

In a way to unify his people, Mandela used the country's love for Rugby to connect the whites and the blacks. As their record has been less than impressive, no one expects anything notable from the Springboks. Mandela taps the captain of the team to rally his troops and surge into battle for the greater good of his country. Everything about Invictus works on so many degrees of the medium based on the book "Playing the Enemy." The film never comes off as too pretentious or egotistical; it requires nothing more from the viewer than an open mind and heart. Eastwood directs the film perfectly, laying back when he needs to, never pushing the subject matter or shoving it down our throats. He utilizes all the skills we've come to love about his earlier works in Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, and Letters from Iwo Jima. The use of light shows a character' s vulnerability inhabiting their souls or a score by Kyle Eastwood that offers both zeal and subtlety during a rugby match. Cinematographer Tom Stern hits another one out of the park, catching all the fury and apprehension of all the different elements of this strenuous time.

Joel Cox and Gary Roach edit the film with the perfect amount of precision and friction. Morgan Freeman as Mandela is a wonderful charmer, showing the man's most hostile yet tranquil behaviors. Not necessarily the most engulfed characterization seen on film this year as Freeman's accent comes in and out of remission, but it's a tremendous performance worthy of an Oscar nomination. Matt Damon, showing himself as one of the best working actors today, doesn't have enough of the character depth and arc to carry the picture. Damon's performance doesn't allow him to really go anywhere. It's a superb turn, with a great accent inhabitance, that warrants credit where the credit is due. However, Damon requires nothing more than a little motivational speaking and responsive humility. Invictus, is one of the best pictures of the year, standing in the ranks of one of the best sports films of the decade. This is the type of film that Oscar will likely be all over and fall in love with. I concur. ****/**** source Freeman is great as Mandela8/10 Invictus is an enjoyable film, Morgan Freeman is great as Mandela and it's an inspiring story.

The movie revolves around the 1995 Rugby World Cup and Mandela's attempt to unite South Africa behind its rugby team. Mandela develops a relationship with team captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon)playing the role of mentor and motivational coach. Although it's well-made and worth watching. As a rugby fan I was a little disappointed with the action on the field although most ordinary film-goers may not notice. I am not convinced the director (Clint Eastwood) really understands the game and the actors hired to play the Springboks didn't really look the part. At 5'10" Matt Damon is a little small to play the 6'3" and 240 lb Pienaar. Pienaar was a popular charmer with a ready smile and a real ambassador for South African rugby. Damon still seemed to be playing Jason Bourne. It was an intense performance but it wasn't how I remembered Pienaar. South Africa had not been allowed to play in previous world cup tournaments and the years of isolation had left the Springboks uncompetitive. They were seeded ninth coming into the tournament but exceed expectations by reaching the final. The action focuses on the final match with New Zealand.

New Zealand had an amazing wing (running back) in the 20 year old Jonah Lomu who at 6'5" and 265 pounds seemed unstoppable. South Africa really were the underdogs. It was also the only time that the All Blacks have managed to reach the final since 1987. They usually get beat by the French (1999, 2007) or Australia (1991 and 2003)in the quarters or semis. Overall it's nice for rugby to finally receive some recognition from Hollywood, because it's a major global sport. It's a good film. I discovered that "Invictus" is a short poem by the English poet William Ernest Henley. The title is Latin for "unconquered". It was first published in 1875. source As a South African, I can tell you the entertaining, inspiring and enjoyable "Invictus" exceeded all my expectations.8/10 As a South African who saw this film on Friday morning, I can tell you you the entertaining, inspiring and enjoyable "Invictus" exceeded all my expectations.

It really is a true story of epic proportions yet it's told with an intimate feel, and it is at least 98% accurate to the events of the time. Clint gets all the big details and so many of the little details right, but he never goes over the top. He directs with minimum fuss and achieves maximum effect, just letting the powerful story unfold without getting in its way. I watched the 1995 Rugby World Cup and saw Madiba come out in the Springbok jersey. It was a wondrous sight. And when Joel Stransky slotted that drop kick over in the dying minutes and the Boks won, I wept and cheered along with everyone else. After the match millions of South African - of all races - celebrated. It was an amazing time. It was the birth of the "Rainbow Nation". Nelson Mandela is the greatest and most beloved of all South Africans. The man is a living legend, but so human and real. When he was President he brought hope to all South Africans, white and black. We, in my country, will never stop loving this incredible man. Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman did South Africa and our beloved Madiba proud.

Francois Pienaar is also an amazing South African, an intelligent, big-hearted rugby played who always led by example, and Matt Damon's performance as him was superb. I was glued to the screen for every second of the film's running time (I didn't even move from my seat until the final credit rolled and the house lights came on), and I was moved to tears on several occasions. The final scene was especially touching. Freeman's performance was magical and I can see him getting as Oscar nomination. If you think his Mandela is too cool to be true, think again. Mandela really is this cool. A brave and intelligent man whose courage and strength of character should serve as an example to people all over the world. After being unjustly imprisoned for nearly 30 years by a cruel and repressive regime, he emerged to run a country and teach its people the meaning of forgiveness and reconciliation. I thoroughly recommend the authentically detailed, historically accurate "Invictus" to film lovers, Eastwood fans, Nelson Mandela fans and sports fans everywhere in the world. South Africans would be crazy to miss this excellent film, but it deserves to be a hit all over the globe. Let's hope it is.

Viva Clint Eastwood, viva Morgan Freeman, viva Madiba. PS. I'm a huge fan of Clint Eastwood as both an actor and a director. Of the films Eastwood has directed, my favorites, in no particular order, are "Unforgiven", "Million Dollar Baby", "Gran Torino", "The Outlaw Josey Wales", "Letters From Iwo Jima", "The Bridges of Madison County","Bird" and "Invictus". Yes, it's really that good. "Invictus" is another winner from Clint. He just seems to get better with age. What a creative roll he is currently on. PPS. "Invictus" is one of the best sporting movies I have ever seen. But it's also about more than sport. First look of Morgan Freeman playing Nelson Mandela in new film Invictus | Daily Mail Online comments Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman is fulfilling his long-nurtured ambition to make a film about South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela. Now that dream is pulling closer to reality as never-before-seen footage emerged of Freeman playing Mandela on the set of upcoming Clint Eastwood-directed drama Invictus.

The film is based on the iconic image of Mandela handing Springboks' white captain Francois Pienaar - played by Matt Damon - the 1995 World Cup trophy. Rare glimpse: Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela, while Matt Damon is rugby captain Francois Pienaar on the set of Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood In that moment, Mandela took a significant step forward to unifying a post-apartheid South Africa. Believing he could bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallied South Africa's underdog rugby team as they made an unlikely run to the World Cup championship match. A political genius, Mandela used sporting glory to help build a new identity for a racially and economically divided nation. After 14 years, and numerous books, the extraordinary and multi-faceted story has finally captivated Hollywood.

Iconic moment: Freeman plays the part of Mandela right up to the hat, while Damon is decked out in his rugby garb United in glory: Nelson Mandela hands Springbok captain Francois Pienaar the 1995 World Cup trophy after South Africa beat New Zealand 15-12 The latest Eastwood project is an adaptation of John Carlin’s book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela And The Game That Made A Nation. Damon prepared for his role by training with a local rugby side. New stills from the film show Freeman and Damon capturing the moment when black and white South Africa were united. When Mandela was arrested in 1962, he was founder and commander-in-chief of the military wing of the African National Congress, Umkhonto we Sizwe, regarded by many white South Africans as a terrorist organisation determined to end their privileged way of life. Upcoming: Clint Eastwood gives directions to his actors and production team on the set of Invictus, which is set for release in December During his 27 years in prison, Mandela was the embodiment of white South Afica's worst fears.

Two years before the 1995 World Cup, the country was heading towards civil war - the white Afrikaners under the banner of far right Volksfront, vowed to stop Mandela becoming president. But they failed, and when Mandela won power he quickly set about trying to reconcile whites and blacks. A year into Mandela's presidency, South Africa was selected as the host country for the World Cup, and the new leader saw an opportunity not to be missed. The Springboks had been banned from international competition because of the country's apartheid practices. But Mandela said, why not use it now as a carrot? Why not use the Springbok team to unite the most divided nation on earth around a common goal? The majority of blacks viewed the team as a symbol of exclusion, but they rooted along with white countrymen as the Springboks won in overtime against New Zealand to capture the Cup. The name Invictus refers to a poem by William Earnest Henley that was often recited by Mandela. Invictus, which has already been tipped for an Academy Award, is set for release in December.

Question: Which part does Matt Damon play in the film 'Invictus'?
Answer: FRANCOIS PIENAAR