Invictus

Entertainment: 3/5

Cinematic: 3/5

Two well known American actors playing two well known South African heroes.

The movie takes us back to the 90's in South Africa when Nelson Mandela is elected President. Rarely do we see movies about mental segregation in these times. Taking place in Post-Apartheid, politically a small minority of White South Africans holding power has just been overthrown by the majority of Black South Africans reclaiming the homeland with more cultural demands than blood revenge. Lucky for us, Mandela is more of a Martin Luther King, Jr. than Malcom X.

The incomparable Morgan Freeman stars as Mandela and the talented Mr. Matt Damon as the captain of the South African rugby team, Francois Pinnear. In order to unite White and Black South Africans, he enlists the help of Francois to win the World Cup. The story takes us on a journey of the power of acceptance, understanding and cooperation in a time when taking the middle ground makes you an exile to either side of the spectrum.

Damon's accent was flawless while Freeman's leaves much to be desired. With an infamous voice, dialect and speech patter, it was often difficult to see Freeman as Mandela and not himself.

Neo-Decadant Value: The movie explores the joy in having people put aside differences and unite under one flag, or one team. Putting away political alliances or beliefs and allowing the love of a country overcome all forms of discrimination.

3/5. The ideals are there. They manifested in belief in a sports team to win. But the belief makes it sublime. The belief makes it Romantic.