Invictus is a poem by British poet William Ernest Henley. The title is Latin for “unconquered”. This movie title has been chosen for the new Clint Eastwood film about South Africa’s triumph in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He should have titled the movie “Somni” which is Latin for sleep. Clint’s 34th outing as a Director looks like he has gone down the Changeling and Bridges of Madison County road again. No one can bore an audience like Clint can.
This is sad because we know the guy can produce a great film. Look at academy winner “Million Dollar Baby” and “Mystic River”. Both movies are outstanding and highlights in his body of work. Clint’s work as an actor in movies like “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” and The Dirty Harry series is unparalleled as well. Still once in a while Eastwood lets us down.
With Invictus Clint goes down the artsy-fartsy path once again with this bore-fest about Apartheid and Rugby.
Please don’t get me wrong I don’t find Rugby to be a boring sport. I find Apartheid to be a boring subject. Since “Cry Freedom” was released in 1987 there have been so many movies and songs released about Steven Biko and Nelson Mandela I now have Apartheid overload.
Apartheid is over and frankly Hollywood has successfully desensitized me to the subject. The issue was even dredged up in this year’s SciFi release District 9. I get it, Apartheid was a bad policy, please, no more songs or movies.
So I can say with all certainty there is no need for me to see this move to review it. I saw all of this play out in the news in 1995. It was boring as hell then. It will be even more boring now that it is over.
If Eastwood was looking to make a 1995 sports movie he could have used Steve Young’s 1995 Superbowl Champion 49ers as the subject. How about a movie about the 1995 World Series? The Atlanta Braves faced the Cleveland Indians that year. Two teams with racist names and logos slugging it out during Indian summer. Clint, this stuff writes itself.
If the human prune was going for an “unconquered” theme for his movie the subject is obvious. Eastwood could have written a movie about the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately there are no political subplots in that story for Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon to grandstand on.
Am I the only one that is sick of Matt Damon only taking on deep and larger than life characters? Matt Damon claims he didn’t make this film out of any political consciousness. He signed on to Invictus because of his desire to work with Clint Eastwood.
We all know that is bullshit. If Clint Eastwood was directing the new A-Team movie I doubt Matt Damon would be on board. Would Matt sign on if Clint wanted him to play Philo Beddoe in the next installment of “Any Which Way but Loose”? I don’t see either of those scenarios coming to life. So Matt please don’t piss on our backs and tell us it is raining.
Matt Damon wants an Oscar and riding Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood’s coat tails is the easiest way to get one. So once again I must say there is no reason to see this movie to review it. I watched it all play out in the news and I could care less if Matt Damon or Morgan Freeman get an Oscar.
That being said both, of the aforementioned actors have some intense Best Actor competition this year. Let’s not forget Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson is playing ‘B.A.’ Baracus in the new A – Team movie.
I smell an Oscar for Rampage.
