Invictus (2009)
Average Rating: 6.6/10
Reviews Counted: 230
Fresh: 174 | Rotten: 56
Delivered with typically stately precision from director Clint Eastwood, Invictus may not be rousing enough for some viewers, but Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman inhabit their real-life characters with admirable conviction.
Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 44
Fresh: 38 | Rotten: 6
Delivered with typically stately precision from director Clint Eastwood, Invictus may not be rousing enough for some viewers, but Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman inhabit their real-life characters with admirable conviction.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 209,037
Movie Info
Actor Morgan Freeman portrays anti-apartheid activist and former South African president Nelson Mandela in this Clint Eastwood-helmed political drama adapted from author John Carlin's book The Human Factor: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed the World. Set just after the fall of apartheid and during Mandela's first term in office, The Human Factor explores how the political prisoner-turned-president used the 1995 Rugby World Cup -- which was hosted by South Africa -- as a means of bringing
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Cast
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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. Pienaar -
Sibongile Nojila
Eunice -
Bonnie Henna
Zindzi -
Shakes Myeko
Minister of Sport -
Louis Minaar
Springbok Coach -
Danny Keogh
Rugby President -
Dan Robbertse
Boer -
Robin Smith
Johan De Villiers -
David Dukas
Captain of 747 -
Grant Brett Swanby
Co-Captain of 747 -
Josias Moleele
Face Painter -
Melusi Yeni
Presidential Guard -
Robert Hobbs
Presidential Guard -
Langley Kirkwood
Presidential Guard -
Daniel Hadebe
Presidential Guard -
Vuyo Dabula
Presidential Guard -
Jodi Botha
High School Boy -
Hennie Bosman
High School Coach -
Refiloe Mpakanyane
Jessie -
Murray Todd
Johannesburg Cop -
Jakkie Groenewald
Johannesburg Cop -
Japan Mthembu
Local Cop -
Albert Maritz
Springbok Manager -
Sello Motloung
Mandela's Doctor -
Meren Reddy
Minister of the Envi... -
Lida Botha
Mrs. Brits -
Susan Danford
Mrs. Cole -
Sylvia Mngxekeza
Mrs. Dlamini -
James Lithgow
New Zealand PM -
Malusi Skenjana
NSC Firebrand -
Bart Fouche
Prison Guard -
Johnny Cicco
Staff Member -
Wayne Harrison
Staff Member -
Ashley Taylor
Team Crew -
Gift Loetlela
Team Crew -
Kgosi Mongake
Sipho -
Given Stuurman
Township Kid -
Vuyolwethu Stevens
Township Kid -
Ayabulela Stevens
Township Kid -
Nambitha Mpumlwana
Trophy Wife -
Andre Jacobs
TV Announcer -
JR Redlinghaus
Helicopter Pilot -
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Invictus Trailer & Photos
All Critics (231) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (174) | Rotten (56) | DVD (12)
A noble and compassionate work that in its later scenes manages successfully to invest our emotions in the triumph of an important - if overlong! - sporting victory.
Top CriticWhat Eastwood has done is to assemble a cast of American and South African actors and allow them to create something moving, exciting, and improbably true.
Freeman-as-Mandela is an actor all dressed up with no place to go -- at least, nowhere we didn't already know he was headed.
The story of how Nelson Mandela chose the white-supported national rugby team, the Springboks, to become a symbol of national reconciliation is uncharacteristically optimistic for Eastwood.
[T]he epitome of Hollywood filmmaking in ways both good and bad: uplifting, overlong, ambitious in scope but simple in moral vision, well-crafted but inured to irony.
A work of flawed majesty.
Invictus tells the tale in the standard Hollywood way
Is it schmaltzy? A little. Is it good anyway? Yes. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel but it understands what it is and that the best place to put its focus is not the rugby field.
Invictus hits all the right formula notes of both the biopic and the underdog sports movie, making it impossible to hate. He also hits those notes so insistently and with such a lack of grace that he makes it a difficult movie to like.
A narrative divide that never quite comes together, despite some truly uplifting moments. And seems unable to decide whether it wants to be a sports movie or a political biopic. Invictus: Or rather, 'I am the rugby captain of Mandela's soul.'
Despite hewing fairly closely to the facts, has trouble seeming truthful. Practically everyone behaves like an allegorical symbol rather than a person, a problem the script anticipates and acknowledges but only feebly attempts to solve. [Blu-ray]
... less a film than a memorial: handsome, stately, well-meaning and dramatically inert.
At its very essence a classically Hollywood, ultra-populist, inspirational underdog sports movie--and a well executed one at that.
This amalgamation of inspirational themes cuts a new notch on Eastwood's well-used viewfinder.
...a polished, well-made, and unaffectedly inspiring motion picture about an inspiring individual and an inspiring victory.
Not one of Eastwood's best, but at times the story is quite moving. And, you can't help but cherish the performance by Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela. Nicely done, Morgan. Paul Chambers, CNN.
Freeman's Mandela is deeply flawed, single-minded when it comes to his job, and has a way with one-liners. In short, he's an Eastwood hero.
The half that's good involves watching Morgan Freeman hitting not only the cadences of Mandela's oratory but the Gandhi-like calm of the man.
It's possibly Damon's most impressive major role to date.
Invictus may be a rather cheesy way into the story of South Africa, but in the end you're glad it's there for a new generation to whom the words "Free Nelson Mandela" are history.
A monolithic sporting saga that seems content to pose on the podium, lulled by the belief that its subject matter provides inspiration enough.
Invictus is undone by its own overindulgence, turning a unifying moment of celebration and clarity into an underwhelming piece of cinematic cliché.
Freeman's performance is a fine tribute to Mandela, perfectly capturing his grin, posture and unbreakable upbeatness.
As you'd expect from Eastwood and this cast, it's got quality written all over it.
A battle waged in the hearts and minds is always likely to be far more inspiring than explosion-heavy scuffles in the street, but as shown here, that doesn't necessarily translate into captivating movie magic.
Audience Reviews for Invictus
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
Movies Like Invictus
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- Nelson Mandela: Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.
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- Nelson Mandela: You criticize without understanding. You seek only to address your own personal feelings. That is selfish thinking.
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- Nelson Mandela: Times change, we need to change as well.
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- Nelson Mandela: Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.
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- Francois Pienaar: I think he wants us to win the World Cup.
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- Nelson Mandela: The day I am afraid to do that is the day I am no longer fit to lead.
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July 22, 2013:
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May 18, 2010:
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Invictus and The MessengerThis week on home video, we've got a couple of big new releases and a few smaller ones. Three of...
December 10, 2009:
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Foreign Titles
- Invictus - Unbezwungen (DE)
