INVICTUS—Clint Eastwood, Director/Morgan Freeman (Academy Award best actor nominee)/ Matt Damon (Academy Award supporting actor nominee).

(G) I saw this one solo, because Barbara decided that she’d rather see Jennifer Aniston than a movie about Nelson Mandela, directed by Clint Eastwood. Now, at first glance this tells us something about Barbara, but in the end I think it says something about the marketing of this film.  It appears that this is  movie about rugby, in most of the previews. However, Invictus has very little to do with this unique form of futbol, per se and everything to do with how greatness finds a way to succeed. Nelson Mandela, for those of you who were born after the 1980’s, was the first black president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 and is a Nobel Peace Prize winner. During his time in office, he sought to unite his once very segregated country around an issue that both black and white could support. He decided that he must make his World Cup rugby team the champions, regardless of the fact that they were anything but winners. Through shear will and necessity, he convinces the white captain of the team to join him in his quest. This is a very inspiring story, excellently presented by two great performances of both Morgan Freeman (as Mandela) and Matt Damon as the (Springbocs) rugby team captain. Matt Damon’s performance is particularly memorable, in that it was his second of two great performances in one year (the other being The Informant). I would not be upset if either one of these two men wins the Oscar (though neither was my first choice).  I give this film 3 binoculars.