First Invictus Review – “Soul-Stirring”

David Ansen at Newsweek has put out his first review of Clint Eastwood Invictus, a film I think is one of the best of 2009. We were under embargo but since Ansen has already published his review, I do believe all bets are off. For me, it’s all good. I have a feeling that the way the critics react to a movie can sometimes be influenced by the way the bloggers react first. In other words, high expectations often lead to disappointment, and thus, more harsh reviews. Hatred of the blogger can sometimes spur the backlash even further – so with regard to high profile critics, it’s best to them release their reviews first and thus, avoiding any kind of petty reaction that has nothing to do with the film they saw but rather their need to separate themselves from the consensus.

Have you all had enough of my amateur sociology lectures?

Here is Ansen on Invictus:

Invictus is not a biopic; nor does it take us deep inside any of its characters‚ÄîEastwood views Mandela from a respectful middle distance. It’s about strategic inspiration. We witness a politician at the top of his game: Freeman’s wily Mandela is a master of charm and soft-spoken gravitas. Anthony Peckham’s sturdy, functional screenplay, based on John Carlin’s book Playing the Enemy, can be a bit on the nose (and the message songs Eastwood adds are overkill). Yet the lapses fade in the face of such a soul-stirring story‚Äîone that would be hard to believe if it were fiction. The wonder of Invictus is that it actually went down this way.

Once I get official word that the embargo has been lifted, I will share my review with you fine people. I know, I know, alert the media….