Best Films of 2009: #10-6

#10: Watchmen

#9: A Serious Man

#8: Away We Go

#7: Invictus

#6: The Hurt Locker

Movie with Abe: Invictus

Invictus
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Released December 11, 2009

Biopics are a staggering undertaking. Even more daunting is the chronicling of some event recent enough to still be remembered by movie-going audiences, and a scenario in which the major players are still alive and often in power. Stephen Frears did it in 2006 with “The Queen” and succeeded, whereas Oliver Stone tried in 2008 with “W.” and crashed and burned. Esteemed director Clint Eastwood wanted to make a movie about Nelson Mandela, and somehow he managed to knead two stories together, creating both a moving sports film and an inspiring portrait of a unifying leader in one fantastic film.

“Invictus” is a film about South Africa, about a country struggling to reinvent and redefine itself after essentially being two nations for so many years. That monumental journey towards integration and forging one nation is represented through the stories of two very different individuals with similar ideas and the people less willing to move forward around them. The first is Nelson Mandela, the new president of South Africa who served 27 years in prison for anti-apartheid activities and sought to unify the country by abandoning all prejudices and working towards one common goal of creating a nation. The second is Francois Pienaar, the captain of the South African rugby team, who was approached by Mandela to lead his team to victory with his support as a way of facilitating a shared triumph for the entire nation, black and white.

The dynamic between Mandela and Pienaar is fascinating, but it’s those behind the scenes on both ends who experience a more dynamic transformation since they’re at first unwilling to shake hands and even try to work together. Pienaar’s father actively derides Mandela and what his presidency means for South Africa, while their black housekeeper cheers for the president and expresses awe when Pienaar announces that he has been called to meet the celebrated leader. Mandela’s deputies are met by the white presidential detail reporting for duty on Mandela’s first day in office, and watching them go from immature rivals to something much closer to comrades and friends is simply stunning.

The ensemble cast makes the film, but it’s the two main actors who, like the real-live people on whom their characters are based, really drive it forward. Morgan Freeman is astounding as Mandela, and his energy and determination really shine through in a magnificent way. He’s poised and powerful, but there is an extraordinarily personal feel to all of the conversations he has, and the way he connects with all of the people who look up to him. His dedication and leadership is matched by Matt Damon in a marvelously impressive performance as Pienaar, donning a South African accent, blond hair, and athletic physique, but also mimicking Mandela’s incredible drive to succeed. Bringing together a nation torn apart for decades by racial hatred and winning a sports trophy might seem completely unalike goals, but for these two men, they couldn’t be more in sync and dependent upon each other. Eastwood’s film is inspiring and altogether thrilling, and the feeling it produces by its end is one of hope, joy, accomplishment, and above all, unity.

A-

Wednesday Oscar Watch with Abe

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Watch with Abe. Every Wednesday, I’m taking a look at the awards chances for all of the films released the previous week. Chime in with your thoughts on the Oscar chances for these films in the comments section. Also, don't forget to check out the Golden Globe nominations, announced yesterday.

Invictus
Clint Eastwood making a film about Nelson Mandela starring Morgan Freeman is a good way to drum up Oscar buzz. The Golden Globes yesterday snubbed the film for their top prize but still nominated Eastwood, Freeman, and supporting actor Matt Damon. They all seem quite likely to earn Oscar nominations, and the film should be able to get in with an expanded field of ten nominees which likely won’t include some of the Globe comedy nominees, like “It’s Complicated” and “Julie & Julia.” Eastwood has had three films nominated for Best Picture this decade – “Mystic River,” “Million Dollar Baby” (winner), and “Letters from Iwo Jima.” Expect him to add another film to the list this year. He also directed Angelina Jolie to an Oscar nomination for “Changeling” last year. It helps that “Invictus” is truly terrific as a film, and should also contend for Best Film Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay.

A Single Man
One of the only solid “A” films I’ve seen this year should be set for at least one category at the Oscars, and that’s Best Actor, where a completely reinvented Colin Firth should have no problem getting nominated and maybe even winning. Hopes are high for costar Julianne Moore, whose flawless British accent should impress voters. I’m rooting for composer Abel Krozeniowski, and his Golden Globe nomination should help him along. The film should hopefully also earn nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction, and maybe even Best Makeup or Best Film Editing. Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture are probably long shots, in descending order of likelihood. I’d love to see it everywhere, though I’m very confident that it will get several technical nominations and recognition for its two fabulous leads.

The Lovely Bones
This film is no longer a serious Best Picture contender after receiving generally negative reviews, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of the race completely. Never-nominated Stanley Tucci earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as a cold-blooded killer, and should be able to establish himself as the best part of the film and get nominated. Young lead actress Saoirse Ronan is an Oscar nominee already, and may well earn a second nomination if voters really like her performance. The film’s stunning visuals annoy as many as they astonish, and therefore the movie might be able to get nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction, but don’t bet on either one too much.

Don’t expect any kudos for The Slammin’ Salmon or a film starring Russell Crowe that you’ve never heard of, Tenderness. That’s it for notable films released this past week. There are only a couple of weeks in the year left! Come back every Wednesday for an analysis of the previous Friday’s theatrical releases and their Oscar chances. Thanks for reading!

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: Invictus

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

Invictus – Opening December 11, 2009



This film comes out on Friday, and I’ve been seeing the trailer everywhere recently. It’s one of those films that just looks like a great movie. Clint Eastwood is an accomplished director whose last few films have all been very interesting contemplative meditations on different subjects. “Mystic River,” “Changeling,” and “Gran Torino” were all tragic stories of loss and what follows, while “Flags of our Fathers” and “Letters from Iwo Jima” provided two perspectives on one monumental event. This looks like Eastwood’s next great film, and the trailer briefly demonstrates why this is likely so. Nelson Mandela’s story is an inspiring one, and rarely that Eastwood make movies that are actually happy or optimistic. Veteran actor Morgan Freeman looks like he’s a perfect fit for Mandela, and it’s an example of dream casting. Matt Damon also gets the chance to put on a foreign accent and immerse himself in a role. That has worked marvelously (“The Departed”) and poorly (“The Good Shepherd”) in the past, and this looks like it will be more like the former, albeit a more serious and equally excellent performance. The film boats extraordinary quotes like Mandela’s response to his advisor telling him that the experts predict a loss for the rugby team: “the experts say we should still be in jail.” The mix of sports and politics seems like a winning combination, and having those two strong halves should strengthen the whole. There are simply so many things that have the potential to be excellent here, and the likelihood that all of them will be is actually pretty high. Even if everything isn’t absolutely stellar, at least some elements are bound to be memorable. Look for this film to do well at the Oscars also, and check back soon for a review.