The Film
When Nelson Mandela talks, you better listen. After 27 years in prison, he's certainly earned that right. So when he told South Africa's rugby team to win the World Cup, that's exactly what they set out to do.
At least that's how it all seems in Invictus. It's a true story, but it all just appears a bit too convenient here. That's not to say that it's not a good movie. It's a very good movie. Clint Eastwood stopped making clunkers when he dropped the monkey (well, mostly). Aside from his heavy-handed directing, big props go to Morgan Freeman, who tranforms into Mandela, as well as Matt Damon as François Pienaar, captain of the 1995 Springbok rugby team.
Even with the film's lengthy runtime, Invictus comes off like a super-quick lesson in history.
We come to expect certain things from sports films. One of them is exciting sports action. Another is a good picture. Invictus delivers both, thank you very much. While you probably won't whip out the foam finger for this, it does deliver some nice, warm colors and good shots throughout. The action provides the best imagery, with a sea of rugby shirts, super fans, and wilted grass. Mandela's presidential digs are pretty detailed as well.
The Sound
At first glance, you'd think Invictus would be like sitting in the middle of the World Cup. However, the majority of the film is pretty dialogue-heavy. Even those tongue-rolling South African accents sound crystal clear (and authentic!) here. Of course, the sporty section of the movie offers the most action, from an audio standpoint. When a plane flies over the stadium, the DTS-HD Master Audio sound fills every speaker with excitement. It also manages to capture more than a few cleats hitting the turf, cheering/crazed fans, and bone-crunching field hits.
The Extras
Like many sports releases, Invictus scores when it comes to the extras. Just don't expect too much on the history of rugby. "Behind the Story" is a pair of shorts, with one covering Matt Damon's field adventures. However, its counterpart, "Mandela Meets Morgan," is really the one to watch. It's not a sit-down with the two greats. Instead, it's about the many aspects of the film. Really, though, can you go wrong with a title like that?
Still, if you had to pick one extra, the winner is "Vision, Courage and Honor." This is a fancy name for the commentary. However, this is picture-in-picture commentary and it's chock full of nuggets from major players in the film as well as director Clint Eastwood. Recognize!
Final Thoughts
Warner has definitely put together a nice release, with a good picture, audio and assortment of extras. Invictus has its faults, but we just can't badmouth anything Clint Eastwood does (at least not lately). While the film does get caught up in corny and convenient sports momentum, it is still well worth your time. Just make sure you thank Morgan Freeman for that.
Product Details
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