Blu-ray of the Day: Invictus

Cast: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgorge, Patrick Mofokeng.
Director: Clint Eastwood.
Screenplay: Anthony Peckham.
Score: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens.
Cinematography: Tom Stern.

At age 80, Clint Eastwood must be Hollywood’s most invincible filmmaker – and with this stirring dramatisation of South Africa’s bid to win the 1995 World Cup, he’s clearly not ready to fade to black yet. Morgan Freeman’s at his noble best as newly elected President Nelson Mandela, who rallies his bitterly divided countrymen to reconcile their differences through rugby and, in particularly, beating the All Blacks. Mandela might be the hero but Invictus doesn’t make him a saint and Matt Damon is just as impressive as the captain of the under-siege Springbok team, whose green and gold colours were synonymous with apartheid. Invictus overplays the feelgood factor but stands out for its exciting sporting action, telling political drama and inspirational appeal for compassion, tolerance and forgiveness. Extras include a picture-in-picture track, and shorts on Freeman meeting Mandela to prepare for the role and Damon turning from a “Hollywood star into a rugby player”.

Movie: 😀 😀 😀 😀
Image: 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Extras: 😀 😀 😀 😀