After last year’s misanthropic manifesto, Gran Torino, the last thing you’d expect from Clint Eastwood is a movie soaked in the milk of human goodness. But that’s just what he’s done with Invictus, his new movie based on the true story about how Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) recruited the captain of the South African rugby team (Matt Damon) to integrate the team and unite the country. And judging by the lump I got in my throat watching the trailer, maybe the filmmaker has even mastered the art of good schmaltz. This thing plays like a challenge to even the crustiest cynics. Check it out at Apple. See what I’m saying? From the moment Morgan Freeman says, “I am the captain of my soul,” I was reminded that the news hasn’t always been all bad. Things have changed for the better. And I was a total goner the minute the first few bars of the Graceland-esque choir music cued up. Now tell me PopWatchers, weren’t you just a wee bit inspired by seeing it?
Photo Credit: Keith Bernstein
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OSCARS! come on! Oscar nod for Matt Damon! Oscar nod for Freeman! Oscar for Eastwood!
I have to say I was pretty inspired and I’m pretty sure with Freeman, Damon and Eastwood all involved it’s going to be awesome…
Can anyone tell me what “the Graceland-esque choir music” actually is? Thanks.
Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album. He recorded in South Africa and used a lot of South African musicians.
Thanks, MsDaisy and Dave. I was wondering if someone could tell me who is actually singing that song in the trailer and what the name of the song is. Graceland is one of my favorite albums by they way…
Graceland was recorded insouth africa. He recorded it with south african born group LadySmith Black Mambazo. Who actually went on to feature Dolly Parton adn other famous people in there song singing the part of Paul.
I believe Graceland in this case refers to the Paul Simon album rather than Elvis’ place
That movie is going to be golden. And Invictus happens to be my favorite poem of all time.
I’m cautiously optimistic. Having Morgan Freeman play Nelson Mandela in ANY context seems less a reasoned casting decision than a dare to AMPAS voters not to give him an Oscar. Still, this is a specific story rather than a biopic, and it’s directed by Clint Eastwood, who’s so immune to sentimental B.S. that he’s made two very good movies from scripts by Paul Haggis (three, if you count “Letters from Iwo Jima”). I liked “Gran Torino” a lot less than some, but I’m still looking forward to seeing what Eastwood can do with this story.
Yeah… I’m a little worried about the accents. South African accents are incredibly hard to get – Freeman has one when he’s sitting down (sort of), but not when he’s whispering. Don’t you find that odd?
Yeah, I felt that Freeman’s accent was inconsistent as well. I hate it when that happens-it occurred in Wolverine with Gambit. After his introduction, the cajun accent was pretty much gone and it too is a pretty tough accent to nail.
I’ll second the concern about the accents. Authenticity is hard to conjure if people don’t even sound the way they should… that said, Damon’s sounds pretty good, at least in the trailer. Afrikaner accents are super hard, and you can fail miserably easily. Freeman rarely sounds like anyone other than himself so I would imagine tackling Mandela’s accent would be very difficult. Living in South Africa, it’s hard to understand Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, but I guess that’s how the Hollywood machine works. They used local talent in other ways, I hope.
Clint Eastwood? One of the greatest directors of all time?
Does anyone know what the music (Graceland-esque) in the last half of the trailer is? Song and artist name?
The song is a traditional Xhosa hymn entitled “Hamba nathi Mkhululi wethu” which, roughly translated, means “Go with us, our saviour”. You’ll be hearing a lot more of it as the 2010 SA football/soccer world cup approaches as it appears to have become an unofficial war cry in South Africa.
I believe Ladysmith Black Mombazo sing a version of it (possibly the version on the Inv) but I have never been able to find it myself.
The song is also used in a very inspiring commercial for a popular beer in south africa and can be seen on youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcpgO_Hpb4k
For those interested, here are the lyrics (including english translation):
Hamba nathi Mkhululi wethu,
hamba nathi Mkhululi wethu.
Hamba nathi Mkhululi wethu,
hamba nathi Mkhululi wethu.
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu,
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi, wethu.
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu,
Mkhululi, Mkhululi, Mkhululi wethu.
You are holy, you show us the way,
you are holy, you show us the way.
You are holy, you show us the way,
you are holy, you show us the way.
You show us, you show us, you show us the way.
You show us, you show us, you show us the way.
You show us, you show us, you show us the way.
You show us, you show us, you show us the way.
Pronunciation guide:
Hamba nathi [hahm-bah nah-tee]
Mkhululi wethu [koo-loo-lee way-too]
Thank you so much, J Stephens.
Thanks Stephens for the lyrics. Is this song available online by any chance? I came across a version by The Kuziems on youtube but that sounds different !!
I can’t get passed an overexposed Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela. I watch the trailer and all I see is Morgan Freeman the actor playing Mandela. Totally miscast.
Can’t wait to see Invictus- the film also has a really cool Facebook Fanpage! Check it out: http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/10/27/clint-eastwoods-invictus-trailer-a-tall-cool-glass-of-real-life-inspiration/