Invictus

I admit it. I'm a sucker for Hollywood's inspirational sports story. I don't care that it may be one of the most overused Hollywood story archetypes of all time. I don't care that Invictus will be released a mere 21 days after another inspirational sports story The Blind Side. And I'm not the only one either. Hollywood honored Rocky over the masterful Taxi Driver at the 1977 Oscars. The key to the genres success is the strong emotional resonance of the underdog. I don't think there's a person alive who hasn't at some point in their life felt like an underdog. There's a great emotional payoff to watching the underdog overcome his obstacles and not only succeed, but excel. It makes us feel like we can can overcome any puny obstacles in our life. It's like watching a version of ourselves succeed on screen. That's enough to get me to watch a film and enjoy it, but it's not enough to make the film truly worth recommending. Something needs to set it apart. It needs to raise the stakes.

Invictus tells the story of Nelson Mandella putting the unity of his country on the outcome of the World Cup. Uniting his country, black and white, behind rooting for this team. And the only way for that happen is for the team to win. That means every hit, pass, and scrum has the weight of a country's race relations behind it. Those are quite some stakes, and has the potential to create some truly exciting and powerful on and off field action. It truly matters; they're playing for more than just a trophy. It's more than just an underdog story; it's an underdog story that matters. This might just be the feel good movie of the awards season. That in combination with Eastwood at the helm should make it a contender for an Oscar. Expect an emotionally powerful crowd pleaser.

One more interesting note on the trailer. Where was Clint Eastwood's name? Doesn't his work over the past decade earn him the right to be featured in the film's marketing right alongside Damon and Freeman? His films have been perennial Oscar contenders since 2003, and the only mention of his name is at the end of the trailer during the credits screen. Does Hollywood think Eastwood has been too much of an art house director in recent years to sell a mainstream inspirational sports story? When this one opens to a smaller audience than the very similar The Blind Side, despite having 2 stars instead of one, and weaker competition, and a more interesting premise, I'll be the one saying I told you so.