Invictus (2009)

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers (WGA):

Anthony Peckham (screenplay)
John Carlin (book)

Release Date:

11 December 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

His people needed a leader. He gave them a champion.

Plot:

Nelson Mandela, in his first term as the South African President, initiates a unique venture to unite the apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Plot Keywords:

Rugby | President | South Africa | Nelson Mandela | Rugby Team

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations

US Showtimes:

The Bridge: Cinema de lux

1:10pm | 4:10 | 7:10 | 10:10

(personalize)

Cast

Morgan Freeman	...	Nelson Mandela
Matt Damon	...	Francois Pienaar
Tony Kgoroge	...	Jason Tshabalala
Patrick Mofokeng	...	Linga Moonsamy
Matt Stern	...	Hendrick Booyens
Julian Lewis Jones	...	Etienne Feyder
Adjoa Andoh	...	Brenda Mazibuko
Marguerite Wheatley	...	Nerine
Leleti Khumalo	...	Mary
Patrick Lyster	...	Mr. Pienaar
Penny Downie	...	Mrs. Pinnear
Sibongile Nojila	...	Eunice
Bonnie Henna	...	Zindzi
Shakes Myeko	...	Minister of Sport
Louis Minnaar	...	Springbok Coach

Also Known As:

The Human Factor (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Runtime:

USA:134 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45710)

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, South Africa

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

During the making of this film, Clint Eastwood became a fan of rugby. While in South Africa, he would watch hours of rugby every night and come in the next morning and talk about the games. Eventually, he began to enjoy the games.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Johan de Villiers the TV commentator who first bad-mouths the Boks and then praises the Springboks, after the final whistle, asks the question of Pienaar: "What did it feel like to have 62,000 fans supporting you in the stadium?" and receives the answer: "We didn't have 62,000 fans behind us, we had 43 million South Africans." It was in fact a SABC reporter called David van der Sandt.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Nelson Mandela: How long before the World Cup?
Jim Fleming: Don't get your hopes up. We're a damn disgrace!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Jay Leno Show: (#1.57)" (2009)

Uplifting

The story of how Nelson Mandela used the World Cup of Rugby to unite the people of South Africa. A very well told story with Clint Eastwood showing why he is one of the best directors in Hollywood. Morgan Freeman does a good job as Mandela, but it wasn't my favourite performance he's given us. However, Matt Damon, who plays Francois Pienaar, captain of the national rugby team, delivers an emotional and believable performance that really draws you into what was taking place during the conflict between the whites and blacks of their nation. The South African cities and landscapes are beautifully shot and the scenes during the rugby matches placed you in the action, without any nauseating feelings. An uplifting film that left me with a sense of hope and belief that we still have a chance for mankind to come together before it is too late.