Sports movies are one of the least well-done genres; after I had recently seen Moneyball several times I believed it was the best yet, and while it is amazing, I re-encountered Invictus again recently, and in a short amount of viewings, I realized that while Moneyball is a close second, Invictus takes the title of "Best Sports Film Ever" -------- because like Moneyball it connects w/the metaphors sports have to do w/life incredibly well, but Invictus does this same thing w/a historical backdrop that is far more important. While Moneyball shows the true historical changing of Pro Baseball, and the heroic, stunning drama of Billy Bean and his team; Invictus is equally if not much more-------almost unbelievable------(given its historical significance) in its true story, of how newly elected President Mandela actually tacitly and artfully asks his national Rugby team's captain (a rugby team who truly had quite a dubious chance of winning - very similar to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team) to rise above his (the Captain's) own expectations and inspire his team to do so as well. As the deeply divided South Africa is struggling to survive after apartheid, the Captain and the team begin to realize the importance of their role in helping unite all South Africans. Rugby had been an Afrikaner's sport--------the favorite sport of the ruling white class that brutalized and murdered many black South Africans; the team had become a symbol of that regime's long and inhuman apartheid policy, it was hated so much by South African blacks that they would root for anyone playing against their national team. Most black South Africans saw it as a symbol of apartheid, and the new political powers sought to abolish the team----its name, logo, and colors; however, President Mandela knew better than anyone how important it would be to reunite South Africans in every way possible, and only barely managed to keep the team intact directed by his own inner wisdom marked indelibly with forgiveness, solidarity, and political brilliance, which the vast majority of his fellow black South Africans and Afrikaners didn't fully understand yet. This film's true story is not only flawlessly acted by all involved, especially Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, and executed with the highest production value in all categories ------ directing, writing, cinematography etc. Like Moneyball, it is the exceptional Sports movie, but all the more incredible is its sociopolitical and historic scope of achievement and human transcendence, which is captured accomplishing a most astonishing feat under the monolithic pressure of what is at stake for the new South Africa. The odds are truly amazing; this questionable team is not only asked to win and become more than a Rugby team, but is asked to do so against the most fierce and dominant rugby team ever -------- The "All-Blacks"------ the name of New Zealand's historic team who smash their foes w/tremendous record setting scores. Indeed, this is not just a movie; it is the best sports movie ever made, the true story of the almost unbelievable heights human spirits can aspire to and reach. It is without doubt one of the most uplifting and effulgent movies ever; not just of sports but of all movies; specifically, of how an incredibly under-dogged Rugby team beats seemingly impossible odds and truly helps unify and heal a nation. It is just absolutely incredible---!!!! Truly this is a movie to own; to help us feel and believe again in the amazing capacity of heroic good, forgiveness, sheer courage, goodwill, reconciliation,determination, endurance, decency, and bravery that forever exist in our humanity, and reminds us --------- despite all our faults and cruel atrocity in the world ---------- we can as human beings still be a truly glorious, and surprisingly redemptive, heroic species ---------- capable of the most extraordinary endeavors! You just have to see it, and then you will want to own it ---------- because, and I truly believe this: it will do for you what it does for me when you want or need it---------------lift you up, and not only remind you of, but make you feel----------put you in accord w/your nobler and more heroic humanity and of that in others; even in nations, and the belief and hope that we can sometimes get it right, and spectacularly, monumentally so. Enjoy a true and iridescent experience!
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