Invictus Reviews Mostly Inspired by Eastwood, Freeman

Invictus reviews are the key to new Oscar glory for Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. By that count, Invictus reviews may be both encouraging and discouraging. Many a review praises their new epic, but few are willing to call it an Oscar favorite. Though the movie is set for a bunch of nominations, it still has ways to go to win. But for now, Invictus reviews are set to at least call it a solid film, if not one of Eastwood's all-time classics.

The title of Invictus comes from President Nelson Mandela's favorite poem, but it also means "Oscar bait" to pundits. But first, the story was used to unify a divided nation. When Mandela took office in 1994, things looked hopeless for the new post-apartheid South Africa. However, Mandela saw the 1995 Rugby World Cup as the tool to unite whites and blacks - provided the struggling South African rugby team could defy the odds too.

This may not seem like a typical Eastwood subject, but he has branched out quite a bit lately. However, the driving force is Morgan Freeman, who has been out to play Mandela for years. With his old friend Eastwood directing, and Matt Damon on board as the rugby captain, Invictus reviews would either throw Oscars at them, or dismiss it as failed Oscar bait. But the responses are somewhere in between.

The negative review responses call it one-note and predictable, with the Chicago Reader saying it is "formulaic, woodenly reverent, and devoid of real dramatic tension." The conventional script and Eastwood's dry style are also taken to task. Even Freeman may be a problem, as he's played wise old saints for years, so some may just see him doing his usual routine with an accent.

But many other Invictus responses are more encouraging. Since the story itself is so unlikely and inspiring, it may be a bit too hard to screw up. The obvious parallels to Obama-era America help make it more relevant, for good measure. Those in favor of Eastwood praise him for not being overly sentimental, despite temptation. And the positive Invictus reviews hail Freeman for bringing Mandela's spirit to life, and cite Damon for his latest change of pace.

The numbers at Rotten Tomatoes paint Invictus as solid, though not up to Eastwood's most acclaimed films. At 77% positive, the website states "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."

Though the review numbers are promising, they may not be high enough for the Oscar race. A Best Picture nod in this 10-picture field is safe, but Precious, Up In The Air and The Hurt Locker are still more heavily favored to win. Likewise, Freeman has tough competition in the likes of George Clooney, Jeff Bridges and Colin Firth. But their triumph at the National Board of Review awards last week may help them start to catch up.

Eastwood, Freeman and Damon may have a good but modest achievement this time, according to reviews and pundits. But Invictus is set to stay in the awards race for the long haul, by star power alone.

Sources

Rotten Tomatoes- "Invictus"

Metacritic- "Invictus reviews"