Invictus

"Inspirational on the face of it, Clint Eastwood's film has a predictable trajectory, but every scene brims with surprising details that accumulate into a rich fabric of history, cultural impressions and emotion."

"It’s an exciting sports movie, an inspiring tale of prejudice overcome and, above all, a fascinating study of political leadership."

"Eastwood's modest approach to these momentous events shames the usual Hollywood showboating. In a rare achievement, he's made a film that truly is good for the soul."

"Clint Eastwood, a master director, orchestrates all of these notes and has us loving Mandela, proud of Francois and cheering for the plucky Springboks. A great entertainment. Not, as I said, the Mandela biopic I would have expected."

"Invictus might not erase the debilitating effects of apartheid, but it does help heal the wounds of letting the '95 world cup slip - even if Suzie the waitress is conveniently absent."

"Freeman's Mandela is something but rugby is not the winner on the day."

"Kiwi audiences have plenty to chuckle about and grumble about. There’s no mention of the food-poisoning allegations, but there’s certainly a heavy dose of hero worship for our home team."

"A temperate, evenhanded perhaps overly timid film about an intemperate time in South Africa."

"Morgan Freeman bought the rights to John Carlin's Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Changed a Nation, and asked Clint Eastwood, his great friend and collaborator, to usher a film adaptation into existence."