Eastwood continues streak with ‘Invictus’
by Jake Coyle stirring.
Especially because of Freeman. There’s
Invictus is a sports film that is more about great pleasure in watching the formidable
what’s happening in the stands than on the actor play Mandela, a part he has chased for
playing field. years, searching for the right project. It feels
It’s South Africa in 1990 and change – as like destiny fulfilled, hearing Freeman speak
seen in the first scene of the film – is literally Mandela’s halting, humble speech and watch-
coming down the street. After 27 years in ing his slow, deliberate movements.
prison, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) Always slightly removed, he has his
has been released. demons, too. We see the hint of sadness in his
Clint Eastwood’s camera lowers on a eyes at the mention of his family – many of
motorcade. On one side of the road, an all- whom were estranged from him. Mandela was
white rugby team practices on pristine, green twice divorced.
grass. On the other, Black youths play soccer Few besides Freeman could bring the nec-
across a dirt field. Between the two rolls essary weight to such a role. None, in fact,
Mandela - “Madiba” to his followers. readily come to mind.
Invictus, too, cuts an unlikely path, choos- Many films about great Black men are
ing to tell the story of South Africa’s sea unfortunately told from the perspective of a
change under Mandela’s leadership through white man, but Pienaar is more of Mandela's
the prism of sport. It’s the story of a nation’s pupil. Damon, bleach blond and bulked-up,
shift, as evidenced by its bleachers. looks and acts the part, complete with South
The filmmakers, perhaps sensing Mandela’s African accent. Like all of us, he can’t help
enormous accomplishment may be too out- but be astounded by Mandela.
sized for a simple movie to convey, narrow Invictus is dripping with inspiration - how
their sights on Mandela’s calculated embrace
In this film publicity image released by Warner Bros., Morgan Freeman portrays
to summon it, how to communicate it. Late in
of the nation’s rugby team. It comes off like a
Nelson Mandela in a scene from, Invictus . AP Photo/Warner Bros.,Keith Bernstein
his career, Eastwood seems to be finding it
case study in leadership, perhaps a bit clinical everywhere. His recent run, from Mystic River
and limited, but still deeply revealing. - as the security team warns - in the rugby sta- movie, itself, exists as a lighthouse for inspi- to Grand Torino and the underrated
After a series of newscasts, we’re swiftly dium. An exasperated adviser tells him to “at ration. That saps it of some drama, cloaking Changeling, continues to be a place it resides.
ushered to 1994, when Mandela is taking least risk it for something more important than its mission in importance – a weakness most Invictus, a Warner Bros. Pictures release, is
office after his momentous election. rugby.” felt when the film’s key song, the atrociously rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
Quickly, Mandela makes it clear that every- But the importance of sports and national sappy Colorblind by South African boy band Running time: 132 minutes. Three stars out of
thing in his administration will reflect a uni- symbols are at the heart of Invictus. The Overtone, plays. But the film is nevertheless four. AP
fied South Africa, which he hopes to be “a
shining light in the world.” He tells his head
of security (Tony Kgoroge) that he, too, will
work alongside white Afrikaners. He even
urges them to smile while pushing people
Beyonce
away.
“The rainbow nation starts here,” Mandela
says. “Reconciliation starts here.”
in
It also starts with rugby. Mandela attends a
game between South African’s national team
(the Springboks) and England. The crowd,
Egypt
many waving apartheid-era flags, largely boos
Mandela. The few Black fans – who have
always seen the Springboks as a symbol of Beyonce, center, per-
apartheid – actually cheer for their opponent. formed at the Red Sea
Many want to do away with the Springboks resort of Port Ghalib,
name and their green and gold colors. Egypt last month. Shown
Mandela, though, urges against this “petty a little more love in the
revenge” and successfully argues for the U.S. and in other
Springboks to remain. Afrikaners are now nation’s, Islamic conser-
their partners, he tells an all-Black gathering, vatives in Egypt branded
not their enemy. her show an “insolent
With rugby’s World Cup to be held in South sex party” that threat-
Africa a year later, Mandela puts much of ened the Muslim nation’s
himself into making the Springboks both a “social peace and stabili-
champion and a galvanizing force of hope for ty.” AP
the nation. He reaches out in particular to the
team’s captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt
Damon).
It’s a gamble, one unpopular among his fol-
lowers. In many ways, Mandela is “exposed”
Chicago Defender • ChicagoDefender.com • December 9-15, 2009
25
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48