Review | Invictus

OPENS FRIDAY 12/11

Morgan Freeman offers a strong, compassionate portrayal of former South African president Nelson Mandela in a Clint Eastwood–directed historical sports flick that doesn't live up to the true story that inspired it. On the plus side, Matt Damon muscles up wonderfully in a supporting role as Francois Pienaar, the privileged white captain of the South African rugby team. He and Freeman's Mandela share great chemistry as they work to unify the country in the race for the 1995 World Cup.

But problems develop immediately as the unfocused plot shoots in a number of different directions (including a flabby subplot about the integration of the president’s bodyguards). Along the way, the drama hammers home its themes of unity, forgiveness and individual responsibility as if it were teaching the ABC's to a kindergarten class. Oscar winner Eastwood directs adequately this time out, clearly helping his good friend Freeman (they last worked together in Million Dollar Baby) step into Mandela's shoes. But the filmmaker does him no favors by running with a script that lacks muscle, wit or tension. It plods along to the championship game against New Zealand, which seems to go on endlessly given it's a foregone conclusion South Africa will win. Overall, it's a worthy but unsuccessful story.

-- THELMA ADAMS