INVICTUS

INVICTUS - 2009

RATED - PG-13 for brief strong language in lockerroom/athletic setting. Some sports violence as rugby is a very physical sport.

RATINGS - 74 Amazon (4/5), 102,561 Netflix (3.8/5), 22,310 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Directed by Clint Eastwood.

THEMES - Justice, relationships.

AWARDS - ACADEMY & GOLDEN GLOBE nominations for Best Actor (Freeman) and Best Supporting Actor (Damon) as well as GG nominee for Best Director (Eastwood).

STORY - It's 1995 and Nelson Mandela (Freeman) has just been elected the first democratically elected black president of South Africa.  Not surprisingly, his supporters see this as the ultimate opportunity for pay back to the white community for all the years of oppression.  But Mandela is a different kind of leader.  He believes in working hard to unite all the people and forgiving those who have harmed him and his people. Everyone assumes Mandela will replace the white leadership of the struggling national rugby team with his own.  However, Mandela sees this as an opportunity to unify the country through sports.  He commits himself to working with the existing white leadership and particularly the captain of the rugby team played by Matt Damon. He challenges Damon to rise to the occasion and capture the World Cup which they are hosting. He is taking a great risk with the future of his leadership.  Based on the true story of Nelson Mandela and South Africa, it is part history, part leadership lesson and a moving sports drama.  Highly recommend.  Lu G. for Lu's Reviews.

LINKS - IMDB & TRAILER