Invictus

Morgan Freeman maybe America's greatest treasure. Freeman embodies the American perception of Nelson Mandela: a gentile leader determined to unify a land separated racially and economically for decades. Clint Eastwood did a superb job of telling a story that is captivating, dramatic, and enjoyable. Matt Damon also does a great job playing South African SpringBoks captain, Francois Pienaar. Damon does an awesome South African accent and odes a great job as the captain of the team. he delivers his speeches and lines with sincerity and the writing of the film demanded his character be a great leader and Damon does not disappoint.

Invictus follows Nelson Mandela's struggle to unite the nation of South Africa using the sport of rugby as a tool to unify his people and give them something to believe in: a South African victory. Mandela charges the South African team's captain Pienaar with the duty of winning the rugby world to cup to bring the country together.

Freeman shines as Madela. He makes every speech believable and enunciates them like a true politician. Freeman's performance is so convincing he could have audiences electing him President.

One of the film's most powerful scenes is the rugby team's visit to the prison where Mandela spent 27 years of his life. Eastwood also does a great job creating a side story within Mandela's security detail. He uses this group of men to reflect the nation's attitude throughout the movie. In the beginning the black and white bodyguards fear each other and do not trust each other. By the end of the film, these men have become friends and bond by playing rugby just like the rest of the nation.

Invictus receives a B+. This film like the Blindside focuses more on character development more than sports themselves. This makes the movie resonate with rugby fans and people who have no idea how the sport works. The film also does a great of job of not trying to confuse it viewers by trying to explain this relatively unknown sport in America. Both Invictus and the Blindside inspire audiences and are excellent additions to the sports movie genre. The two films are also some of the movies to hit theaters this past year.