In many ways, Invictus is like the current international rugby union scene: there's an awful lot going on, but most of what you've just watched will not stick in the memory for long. South Africa's 1995 World Cup success is used to show the efforts to which President Nelson Mandela went to unite the country after apartheid and the power sport has to overcome cultural and social barriers. The film does this to a certain extent, and though it does have its moments, for a hugely emotive period in South Africa's history, Invictus comes across strangely muted. One of the film's main drawbacks is the Basil Exposition factor. For the uninitiated, Basil Exposition was Austin Powers' boss in all the Austin Powers movies, but he was also obviously used for comic effect to get across critical elements of the plot to save time. There are one too many Basil Exposition moments in Invictus. 'Who is this Jonah Lomu? What is the Haka?' asks Morgan Freeman, playing Mandela. Cue a Basil Exposition character to explain all. It's necessary to make clear some of the historical, political and cultural context in the film, especially for the international audience (the United States in other words), but there's far too much dialogue that's just stilted explanation. It's a no-win situation with regular clarifications needed for those unfamiliar with the 'Rainbow Nation' concept and the workings of the rugby World Cup. This only slows down the movie and makes it look contrived. That the film depicts the Boks as having only a slim chance of winning the 1995 World Cup is an exaggeration. Every international team will testify they're tough to beat at home, especially in a fortress like Ellis Park. On the plus side, the rugby action sequences are realistic, scenes between Mandela's white and black security details are entertaining, and Matt Damon does a good Afrikaans accent, though he still looks too small for the part. Plus, you get to see Lomu running straight over England's Mike Catt during the All Blacks' semi-final victory. A sight that never gets old. Scott Eastwood, director Clint Eastwood's son, also plays Boks flyhalf and match-winner Joel Stransky, which could be a good trivia question in the future. In the end, Invictus turns out to be not the sum of its parts. Not that this will matter if you are from New Zealand as you won't be watching it anyway.
