Matthew Knott - Blog

I've been excited to see "Invictus" ever since I saw the trailer a couple of months ago, and finally got to see it last night. 

The film follows Nelson Mandela, assuming the South African presidency in 1994, as the Springboks were building for the 1995 world cup, to be hosted in South Africa, and the Springboks then captain, François Pienaar, as he motivated his team to rise up and win the world cup.

Wow, A Rugby Film!

Unfortunately, for me anyway, rubgy is more a prop than an major theme in this movie, at least that's the only explanation I have for the poor rugby sequences.

Every single attack from every single team seems to go to this plan:

• First receiver gets the ball, passes it.
• Second receiver performs a scissors move
• Person running the angle gets tackled, ruck forms
• Slow ball results in penalty

The on-pitch acting was also weak. All the referees were terrible, the arm motions were half-arsed and vague, as was some of the advice given to Damon, "Francois, too many people off their feet [strange pause while referee remembers his 2 minutes instruction], um, talk to your players.". It just wasn't believable to me.

The contact and occasional bust ups were all too soft as well, with the brawls being gentle shoving matches, not the ferocious encounters the Springboks were renowned for.

My final whinge is about the All Blacks Haka. They spoke in the movie about what a fearsome display it was, winning matches by itself. The acted out display was half hearted, and a disgrace to the war dance. The actor playing Andrew Mehrtens really let the side down, blatantly having no idea what he was supposed to do. It reminded me of the glorified morris dancing version of the Haka employed in the 60's.

I just don't think I saw anything that would promote the sport to someone who'd never seen it before (most Americans).

Off The Pitch

Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon both handle their accents well, and deliver accurate and believable performances. In fact, the story of how Mandela used rugby to bring the people of South Africa is well told, and is the most enjoyable part of the film.

The direction is solid for the most part, if predictable, but there's just something about the film that shouts "TV Movie" to me, I'd have to give it 3 out of 5.

Why Invictus

Invictus was the title of a poem by WE Henley that inspired Mandela while he was imprisoned. 

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

I included it because its a little piece of inspiration, something we all need from time to time.