invictus

shortly after nelson madela took office as president of south africa, after serving 27 years as a political prisoner, he hit upon the idea of using the national rugby team, the springboks, as a rallying point for the unifying the blacks and whites of his country. rugby had been considered a white sport and soccer a black sport. the springboks had been playing so badly that they were voted out of existence by the sports council under nelson's new administration which was seen as a victory over there recent oppressors until mandela personally stepped in a prevented it by preaching forgiveness and the pitfalls of petty revenges. the guards at his prison had all been devotees of rugby and the springboks so mandela had taught himself everything about the sport in order to better understand his enemy.

"invictus" is presentation of this true story and the immediate outcome of mandela's vast social experiment in his racially torn country that he so wanted to heal. morgan freeman is getting oscar buzz for his performance as mandela and rightfully so. freeman was able to change his facial structure and the way he hold his eyes and features- he alters his mien- to that of mandela's. to his detriment though, freeman's voice gets in the way sometimes, because no matter what accent he might put on it or inflection or rhythm- it's still morgan freeman's voice you hear. matt damon was a nice surprise, who thinks of damon when you think of a terribly rough and manly sport? damon beefed up so much for this role, that his head has muscles. people magazine should have waited until after this film to vote him "the sexiest man alive" the honor would have been more believable.

this film is also a good sports story. because i didn't know any of the history here, there was the appropriate amount of tension, i was engaged and i cared about the outcome. plus i learned about rugby. being an old rugby player in his officer candidate school days- in which he was known as "that crazy rod stewart looking mother f***ker"- i think the rugby was the real reason my friend wanted to see this movie. not the political and racial history.

despite all the hunks of man cakes running around in short shorts, the message of forgiveness is the main thread- it's is palpable without being preachy. it's amazing to remember what mandela went through and how that experience informed his turn in power with compassion instead of resentment. this is a good film.