Ellington

CASEY PHILLIPS: For the first time this year, I can confidently write about a movie using the words “Academy Award contender.” Not only is “Invictus” an excellent sports film about South Africa’s run to the Rugby World Cup in 1995, it’s also a passionate portrayal of then-President Nelson Mandela’s efforts to help his country come to terms with itself after the end of apartheid.

Clint Eastwood’s direction is brilliant, making for a film that manages to be sympathetic, energetic and infectious, but the show-stealer clearly is Morgan Freeman. His captivating performance captures Mandela’s quiet dignity, indomitable spirit and unflappable grace.

That’s not to discount the contributions of Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar, the captain of the Springboks rugby team. Damon clearly is the pretty face on the bill, but his portrayal of Pienaar’s gradual acceptance of his role as a catalyst for social change is utterly believable and an excellent pairing with Freeman.

HOLLY LEBER: Damon certainly is more than just a pretty face; he’s also a pretty body, particularly following his paunchy turn in “The Informant!” The man is jacked in this role.

In all seriousness, though, he’s sometimes dismissed as a hunk type, but he really is quite a good actor. It’s hard to really pinpoint a “Matt Damon type” of role, and he does bring a sense of believability to what he does. This role is no exception.

I give far less credence to sports than many others, but “Invictus” is a great example of how sometimes a game is more than just a game. It doesn’t surpass “Hoosiers” on my list of top sports movies, but there’s something nice about seeing athletes go all out for something greater than money or women, even if it is a dramatic adaptation. (There are no Springboks hostesses in this film).

CASEY: “Invictus” impressively manages its responsibility to its dual roles as a biopic and a sports film. The interwoven storytelling balances the needs of both aspects and avoids an episodic format that could have made the presentation uncomfortably choppy.

HOLLY: Of course, without strong acting and directing, the story would have fallen flat. Eastwood has far more success here than he did with the disappointing “Gran Torino.” And is it possible to not love Morgan Freeman in just about anything he does? Who else could tell a buxom dancing woman that he envies his polygamist father and still sound like a gentleman doing so?

CASEY: It’s nice when a film meets, if not exceeds, expectations, particularly during awards season. Too many films make a good showing in their trailers only to fall flat in theaters. “Invictus” is a triumph and easily one of the year’s best films.

HOLLY: A must-see, for certain.