Likely the first political inspirational sports drama, Invictus piles on the encouraging speeches and rousing rallies so much so that the inspiration is practically tangible. But it’s also quite draining, with one enthusiastic hurrah after another until you’d think there couldn’t possibly be one more motivational oration. And then the inspiring songs start. Invictus provides plenty of great leaders overcoming harsh adversity, American actors donning thick accents, and oh so much inspiration.

Four years after his release from prison in 1990, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) is elected President of South Africa and becomes determined to ease the racial tensions and suppress the hatred brimming throughout his country. Seeing the potential of rugby and the Springboks, the South African national team led by Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), Mandela encourages the nation to support the previously hated team for the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Invictus is a film made by Clint Eastwood for Clint Eastwood. The normal appeal of a moving sports drama is curiously absent, replaced almost entirely by racial tensions and political calculations. Instead of praying on the easy target of the first African American player for a specific sport, Invictus uses Apartheid and rugby as a backdrop for a story of uniting a nation through a popular game. The traditional underdog team provides little interest and their exceeding of expectations is all too predictable. Morgan Freeman’s performance will probably get plenty of recognition for the stunningly accurate portrayal, but the surrounding dullness of the plot will likely get in the way of Invictus being recognized on its own.

Where’s the suspense? Where’s the conflict? The film lacks any real emotional attachment to the characters despite a few stirring speeches by Mandela and the action of rugby is lukewarm. Rugby in particular is just obscure enough that the slow-motion intensity and fast-paced scoring won’t be clear to all audiences. Most often it’s just a lot of grunting and grimacing. It tries very hard to be moving, especially with the simple piano based theme reminiscent of Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino, but ends up being terribly boring. Slow and lengthy, the events of the 1995 World Cup may have been seen by billions during the live broadcast, but the movie will probably be seen by very few.

- The Massie Twins

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