Review of Invictus (2009) by Tom B — 03 Aug 2011
Invictus is a good movie, but feels a bit too didactic to be real. Not that the theme of Nelson Mandela's unprecedented accomplishment of reconciliation, forgiveness, and unity in South Africa doesn't deserve to be celebrated, but this viewer wanted that change of heart to be more deeply explored rather than outlined. Of course the other great theme is the ability of sport to unify a nation -- in this instance a vital contribution to South Africa's reconciliation. The subplot about the Presidential protection squads is the most successful in fleshing out both themes.
Freeman is excellent, but one hopes for a movie that explores Mandela's ability to heal a nation, but not his family. Damon seems to be struggling with the accent. His character's change of heart is so internal that again, one wants to know more about how it occurs than is shown.
Perhaps, I find the stories here so compelling, that I want to know more about each of them: Mandela's personal reconciliation, his struggles with his family, Pieneaar's personal growth, how that jibes with his family, the team's growth, the protection squad's adaptation, Mandela's staffs' adaptation to reconciliation. All fascinating.
This review of Invictus (2009) was written by Tom B on 03 Aug 2011.
Invictus has generally received positive reviews.
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