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Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng, Matt Stern ... see more see more... , Julian Lewis Jones , Adjoa Andoh , Marguerite Wheatley , Leleti Khumalo , Patrick Lyster , Penny Downie , Sibongile Nojila , Bonnie Henna , Shakes Myeko , Louis Minaar , Danny Keogh , Dan Robbertse , Robin Smith , David Dukas , Grant Brett Swanby , Josias Moleele , Melusi Yeni , Robert Hobbs , Langley Kirkwood , Daniel Hadebe , Vuyo Dabula , Jodi Botha , Hennie Bosman , Refiloe Mpakanyane , Murray Todd , Jakkie Groenewald , Japan Mthembu , Albert Maritz , Sello Motloung , Meren Reddy , Lida Botha , Susan Danford , Sylvia Mngxekeza , James Lithgow , Malusi Skenjana , Bart Fouche , Johnny Cicco , Wayne Harrison , Ashley Taylor , Gift Loetlela , Kgosi Mongake , Given Stuurman , Vuyolwethu Stevens , Ayabulela Stevens , Nambitha Mpumlwana , Andre Jacobs , JR Redlinghaus , Scott Reeves , Scott Eastwood

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 F... read more read more...actor: 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 blacks and whites together after decades of violence and mistrust. Matt Damon co-stars in the Warner Bros. production as rugby player Francois Pienaar. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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74% liked it

205,256 ratings

Critics

75% liked it

227 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 14 min.

Directed by: Clint Eastwood

Release Date: December 11, 2009

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DVD Release Date: May 18, 2010

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Stats: 9,506 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (9,506)

  • moonrivers
    May 1, 2012
    moonrivers
    Sports movies usual have social/political redemption/justification as a subplot and Eastwood's entree here is no different, with racial equality thrown in on the side. You know the ending from the very first. And so its up to his leads to carry the weight of "its more than just ... read morea game" ballast, which Freeman and Damon admirably do w/o a problem. I learned a bit about rugby, and South Africa seems more of a welcoming place now, so its "mission accomplished!".
  • ironclad1609
    February 28, 2012
    ironclad1609
    The true story of newly elected South African president Nelson Mandela making it his top priority to unite the nation thanks to a successful rugby team. Morgan Freedom is the obvious but perfect choice as Mandela and really turns into the politician, which is particularly difficu... read morelt considering he is a contemporary celebrity many people are still familiar with. The film stays focused on the president, his ideals and small steps to get the white and black people of South African to overcome the years or resentment. So it's not until the second half that the movie follows the usual sports drama steps, but remains really well done. The sport scenes look realistic and well filmed, but for people unfamiliar with the game, the lack of commentary makes them look kind of arbitrary. That doesn't change the fact that the film is heading for a moving and satisfying climax. It's nice to see that sometimes history does make the right choices and people can change.
  • fb732260458
    January 23, 2012
    fb732260458
    An admirably confident film from Mr. Clint Eastwood, Invictus is well-paced and brimming with convincing performances from the leads. Unfortunately, besides bringing Nelson Mandela's dramatic struggle to film, the pic failed to leave me with any other lasting impressions.
  • spielberg00
    September 10, 2011
    spielberg00
    Putting Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, and director Clint Eastwood together in a sports film was a great idea, and it was successfully tackled in INVICTUS. Based on the book "Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation" by John Carlin, as well as the poem "... read moreInvictus" by William Ernest Henley, this film is truly brilliant, and it should have definitely won Morgan Freeman the Academy Award for Best Actor for his anyway-nominated role as Nelson Mandela. This praise is coming from someone who does not enjoy sports or sports films--remember that.
  • DreamExtractor
    September 1, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Invictus is one of the best acted films of 2010, and is a wonderful sports film. The plot is long but is truly a inspiring story and is worth watching if you ask me, it is a truly wonderful film. The cast is incredible, Morgan Freeman truly embodies Nelson mandella and I was wo... read morendering when they were going to make a movie about the one actor in the world who looks exactly like Nelson, and Matt Damon plays his role well and and good, they both were great. Overall the film may be too long, but its still a great movie and definently worth watching.
  • nadirairdiana
    June 5, 2011
    nadirairdiana
    It is a political movie and no one could ever deny that. But it is also a sport movie, since Nelson Mandela, played as Morgan Freeman, who is one of the producers of this film, try to unite races through rugby. Morgan and Matt Damon give a solid performances here. Great insight i... read moren Mandela's achievements as a president. I didn't like it as much just because I'm not a fan of sports movie. But this is surely a touching movie that will inspire you to appreciate unity and victory better. Clint Eastwood is a great director when it comes to drama.
  • flixsterman
    April 30, 2011
    flixsterman
    The score is a little cheesy but Morgan Freeman's performance as Nelson Mandela more than makes up for any forced sentimentality.
  • danperry17
    April 29, 2011
    danperry17
    On paper, I though this one had Oscar all over it. Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela. Matt Damon in the supporting role. An inspiring story of a sports team facing adversity, and a quasi-biopic about overcoming racism. Set in South Africa during the ramp up to its coming out party... read more on the global stage, the FIFA World Cup.

    And it was a good film. But not nearly as good as I expected. On the whole I think it was just too flat. The acting was good, but the story was a bit tedious. The opening half was full of political manoeuvring and the final third was a loop of shots (game, crowd, people at home 1, people at home 2) set to overdramatic music that really sapped the powerful ending of most of its power. Maybe I oversold it to myself, but I feel like Eastwood just didn't hit as hard as usually does with this one. It's good enough, but from this director, I've gotten used to great. It happens, though. Scorsese's laid eggs (Bringing Out the Dead, Gangs of New York), so did even Billy Wilder (Sabrina); Invictus will stand the test of time, and it will remain watchable, but it's below Eastwood's usual standard.
  • jonnyjason
    April 26, 2011
    jonnyjason
    'Invictus' is a beautiful movie with great acting, directing, and everything else you could ask for in a great movie. Very inspiring, and very heartwarming. Allow me to break it down. Acting: The actors managed to put on new accents quite convincingly. That itself is admirable. I... read more was also glad to see they didn't compromise proper acting to pull of accents. Freeman and Damon fit into their characters comfortably and believably. The performances were flawless, and the actors show the fierceness and emotions of the characters they are playing. Overall, the acting wasn't magnificent, but it was pretty great. 80/100 The Story: The story puts a pretty creative twist on the sport drama genre. The fact they managed pull off conversing government issues along with an underdog story will please a majority of moviegoers. It may seem a bit slow to some, but it contained enough twists, touching moments, and powerful words to be a satisfying story. 60/100 The Plot: It's a bit hard to follow at first, but eventually you'll get caught up. It's hard not to esteem the careful weaving of this story, and you'll probably agree with me later when I tell you the plot passes. 69/100 The directing: The directing is not Eastwood's best, but then again, it would be difficult to outdo what he managed in 'Changeling' and other past works. That aside, one has to notice the casual beauty of the direction in Invictus. It is packed with gentle, meticulous touches. Each scene departure seems to leave you with a question that isn't directly answered. It is the most polished, intricately done direction I've ever seen in a movie like this. You can practically feel the emotion in the air of the scene right in the room you're watching it in. Overall, the direction was awesome. 81/100 Script/Screenplay: The words were very powerful and inspiring, and the characters movements were very carefully planned and done. It was all very stunning and memorable. I wish they would give a few tips to some of the sloppy, unorganized scripts and screenplays out there. 85/100 My favorite parts: Since most of the plot twists in this movie revolved around Mandela, (Freeman) I was excited when he came into scenes than made decisions that impacted the characters. It made me question my own character. Wow, me questioning my character. Overall: Overall, it's a touching, kind-of powerful, inspiring movie with great direction and a great script. Even if you don't love it, you got to admire it somehow. It's a great movie to invite friends over, make some popcorn, flop onto the couch, and then watch. Or, if you're all alone on a rainy day and want some entertainment. Even the kids will find something to love. This movie could be appropriately described as living up to "Invictus" standards. 75/100
  • fb701560354
    April 2, 2011
    fb701560354
    It's not one of Eastwood's best, but it's a rousing, moving and inspirational drama with a spectacular performance by Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela.

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan F. Richards
January 15, 2010
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com

What 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. Full Review

Dana Stevens
December 11, 2009
Dana Stevens, Slate

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. Full Review

Liam Lacey
December 11, 2009
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

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. Full Review

Christopher Orr
December 11, 2009
Christopher Orr, New Republic

[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. Full Review

Tom Long
December 11, 2009
Tom Long, Detroit News

A work of flawed majesty. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
December 11, 2009
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Eastwood makes moving pictures that seldom collapse under the burden of sentiment. He has a muscular understanding of how kernels of wisdom needn't become caramel corn. Full Review

A.O. Scott
December 11, 2009
A.O. Scott, New York Times

It's an exciting sports movie, an inspiring tale of prejudice overcome and, above all, a fascinating study of political leadership. Full Review

J. R. Jones
December 11, 2009
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

Anthony Peckham's script is formulaic, woodenly reverent, and devoid of real dramatic tension. Full Review

Bob Mondello
December 11, 2009
Bob Mondello, NPR

Loses steam in its last half-hour, but it has obvious virtues -- and it feels heartfelt, a generous elder's film about a generous elder's bequest to the world. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
December 11, 2009
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Morgan Freeman doesn't play Mandela as much as inhabit the man, in a performance that seems to embody the very transcendence that Mandela himself has come to stand for. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Nelson Mandela: Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.
    • Nelson Mandela: You criticize without understanding. You seek only to address your own personal feelings. That is selfish thinking.
    • Nelson Mandela: Times change, we need to change as well.
    • Nelson Mandela: Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.
    • Francois Pienaar: I think he wants us to win the World Cup.
    • Nelson Mandela: The day I am afraid to do that is the day I am no longer fit to lead.
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Invictus Trivia

  • The movie Invictus starred Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Who were they acting as? (respectively)  Answer »
  • THE MOVIE INVICTUS. WHO ARE THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS?  Answer »
  • Notable & Influential Films of ____. The Princess and the Frog Antichrist Invictus Where the Wild Things Are A Serious Man  Answer »
  • What sport does Nelson Mandela want South Africa to thrive towards in Invictus?  Answer »
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