MOVIE REVIEW - Invictus

The new Clint Eastwood directed drama, Invictus hits the theaters this weekend.

Invictus stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in the early 1990's, and chronicles his days as the newly elected President of South Africa. Mandela of course was jailed in his country for 30 years. But after his release he is elected President, and his job is to put his nation back together after years of violence and terrible racial disharmony.

Mandela chooses many avenues to healing a torn nation, but Invictus focuses on his relationship with the South African National Rugby team. Rugby is huge in his nation, and he channels his energy there. He challenges his team to win the World Cup of Rugby. Mandela believes that this group of athletes and this team, with world wide TV exposure will be the unifying measure to help heal his divided nation.

Invictus is not a sports movie per say. Not many people in our nation know one thing about rugby, and in Invictus it doesn't matter. Eastwood is so skillful as a story teller that you are swept away in this ride without knowing what the sport it all about. Invictus is so well done, so moving and so perfectly put together, it sails right along with the greatest of ease.

Eastwood is Hollywood's premiere story teller right now. Back to Unforgiven, and on to Million Dollar Baby, Changeling, and Gran Torino, Eastwood continues to find stories worth telling. He also tracks down stories and characters you've never seen before on screen. His movies over the past 15 years or so are the best works of his life. He casts these movies extremely well and gets the most out of those fortunate enough to work with him.

All great movies start with a really great story and that's what Invictus is. You don't know the story going in, and you are well aware of it after you leave. In this year of a lot of really mediocre movies, it is great to see this gem in theaters just in time for the movie going public to watch the master in action.

Morgan Freeman, and Matt Damon star and are both fantastic, Toss in a well cast, well developed supporting cast, a killer, and eclectic soundtrack and you've got one of the years best movies.

Invictus........"I am the master of my fate.....I am the captain of my soul." - William Ernest Henley from his famous poem. Absolutely fantastic. One of the years best by far.