Apple has exclusively debuted the first trailer for Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus,” and when you get around the initial akward shock of Morgan Freeman’s accent, work around the oddly structured but still somehow streamlined nature of the trailer, read the writing on the wall, etc., I think it becomes clear pretty quick what we all, rightly or wrongly, have assumed sight-unseen since day one: this looks like a bona fide Oscar contender.
I’ve been wondering aloud lately whether the film’s message of healing a nation’s wounds after extended political turmoil might not be more resonant now than we might think. The story delicately reflects the zeitgeist in some way. It looks to be one of the more traditional entries of the lot, which could make it a safe haven of sorts for the Academy.
And in any case, it certainly looks to pack an emotional wallop. Tough to argue with that stuff convincingly, but then again, maybe the “Gran Torino” snub meant more than we thought. Maybe Clint is becoming old hat. I doubt it, though.
Anyway, head on over to Apple and see the trailer for yourself, or check out the embed after the jump.
Comments
86 responses to “‘Invictus’ trailer”
Am I the only one unbelievably excited about Rugby finally being put in a major film? I love the South Africa Springboks more than any other team, despite France being in a very close second place. Damon may not really look like Francois Pienaar, but I have a feeling he’ll definitely move like him.
I personally think this looks great, it seems flawless, and I can’t wait to see the finished project as soon as possible.
Freeman and Damon both have accent issues, so neither one winning feels secure to be. Damon’s nomination doesn’t even feel that secure, but this solidifies Freeman. I still get a Frost/Nixon-type of vibe in terms of how it’ll play out during awards season. I think many are overestimating Freeman’s chances–take a look at the past two years. The Best Actor winner was a previous winner both times. So a third time in a row? I’m…skeptical, to say the least. I feel that Firth could make a stronger grab for the title. No guarantee, just a hunch that we won’t have a THIRD repeat winner (the repeat more likely to come from Cruz and/or Streep).
*Sigh*….I wish “Goodbye, Banfana” had made it. Then, this would’ve been the “Infamous” of Mandela biopics. Argh.
looks great, morgan freeman has the most swagger of any actor out there, could care less about oscars just looks like a great film again from Eastwood. Him and Freeman is up there with Scorsese/De Niro etc.
reading these comments, i never knew movie buffs were too hip for Mandela. this is a real life story unlike that Driving Miss Daisy. I swear you guy will do anything 4 a movie with “edge”. Precious looks worse than this.
I still think Matt Damon gets in for The Informant, and not for this.
boooooooooring.
THE NEWS?
1. it’s a very weak Best Actor race and I doubt (from the trailer) than Morgan Freeman could win with something so light (and I bet he’s not even in half of it). So let’s hear some campaign for Viggo… or… Firth or anyone else.
2. We need to start looking for another nominee in the Best Supporting Actor. Damon won’t happen. But we can count on Molina, Waltz, Tucci and plummer
Eastwood haters should simply acknowledge the amazing craftmanship that drips from this trailer. It might not be all that brilliant, but it looks far better than most stuff we’ve seen this year even though it might be a tad predictable.
Also I’m digging the Frost/Nixon thing. Surefire nominee but no winner.
This movie probably would have seemed fresh and relevant 10 years ago. I can’t help thinking that District 9 had more to say about South Africa today than this movie does.
Damon looks very promising.
In the end, The Lovely Bones will come out top.
Never has a truer word been spoken DHE.
This movie seems slightly stale. It might appeal to the throngs who flocked to Gran Torino.
Check for Best Picture Nominee
Check for Not Going To Win Best Picture
is it that simple?
That’s a growing list of presumed BP nominees that wont win
An Education (too light)
Bright Star (too light)
The Hurt Locker (not enough $$$)
Invictus (lesser Eastwood)
Up (a Cartoon)
A Serious Man (too soon)
In a matter of weeks, we’ll be able to check off as no’s or include as possible winners The Lovely Bones, Nine, Up in the Air, Precious, and Avatar.
If we’re to judge by Kristopher’s inside take, The Lovely Bones is already checked off.
Who knew having 10 nominees would actually make predicting the winner tidy and easy.
True, but with ten nominees, it means that a presumed frontrunner would face a more challenging vote split.
Voters have ten different films now. For argument’s sake, let’s say that there is a singular frontrunner. At the moment, I’d say Precious. The nine other films in the race make a vote split much more likely for voters who may not prefer said frontrunner. They now have nine different films to choose from instead of four. That means that there is a stronger likelihood that these voters who dislike the frontrunner would vote for something else…
That being said, I think it makes things much more interesting
But back to Invictus: it looks incredible. Can’t wait to see Freeman and Damon (hopefully) nail it out of the park
It looks like it will be very entertaining, and I’m certain it will play well with the Academy. But yeah, it kind of has a Frost/Nixon feel to it – lots of nominations, no big wins.
I don’t see anything from this trailer to think that Freeman has a better chance than Clooney to win Best Actor. Damon on the other hand has a really good shot in a BSA field that needs a frontrunner.
Continuing Loyal’s riff:
You can cross off Avatar (trailer underwhelmed, can’t live up to expectations, sci-fi and too much CGI)
You can cross off Nine (it might be extremely competent but seems to lack emotional resonance, doesn’t distinguish itself from Chicago)
The Lovely Bones seems to have been cooking for a little too long. A bit stale.
I say it’s between Up in the Air and Precious.
Up in the Air still has to open (I know Precious hasn’t but it kind of has….).
I like the trailer.It looks like a Oscar contender to me.The thing that struck me was,how it reminds me of a certain new president that we have in this country.A change of guard.Sort to speak.
Of course our president didn’t have to go into office right after Apartheid.And he was elected by all people,White,Black,Asian etc.etc.What he has and is going through is no where near what Mandela went through,but I did see some parallels to our current situation in the trailer.
I think that this could possibly resonant with Oscar voters and movie goers in general.This all depends if it is a quality film of course.So time will tell.
I actually liked the trailer. Whether it turns out to be a serious Oscar contender or not, I think is irrelevant, it at least looks like a good time at the movies. As well, it’s enjoyable to see Eastwood making something that isn’t all dark and moody.
Morgan Freeman’s performance here looks pretty unfortunate. He’s at his best when he plays rough and tumble. I’m finding his nobility shtick a little tiresome.
Boring.
I agree with Kris, that this looks to be great because it’s not a string of “Mandela’s greatest hit” kind of biopic. It’s about a historical movement, politically and socially. A slice of life movie. But I won’t lie, that trailer gave me chills, and looks like a great return to form for Eastwood, who I have always said is better these days when taking on stories that involve international subjects. Look at Letters from Iwo Jima. That was his best film (IMO) since Unforgiven. Eastwood is very well educated about these kinds of international moments in history, and it shows in films like Iwo Jima.
But this looks like a film of a different caliber. Freeman looks like he is going to jump way ahead of the pack for Best Actor, and Damon could be seeing either a double nom (for The Informant and Invictus) or at least a near lock for Supporting Actor nom. It’s definitely turning out to be a huge year for Matt Damon, thats for sure. Last sidenote, the cinematography in this looks GORGEOUS.
In short, I can’t wait, it looks terrific. Welcome back Clint.
@Sawyer: BSA in need of a frontrunner?!
I’m sorry, have you been dunking your head in acid and forgotten about Christoph Waltz? While I don’t think the film is gonna score in that many categories, and might even miss in Original Screenplay, I think it’s still looking like this year’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, with a supporting race frontrunner that misses out in the other categories, and was an August release from The Weinstein Company.
Also for the frontrunners… we still have Christopher Plummer in The Last Station and Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones…
Oh one more thing, the shot inside the stadium are pretty breathtaking, they really give a sense of the scale of the stadium itself.
Billyboy said…
It looks… boring. Looks like a motivational-self help movie.
ha haaha so funny and SO true! I had a problem with the accent Freeman tried on…it felt and heard unnatural. Damon on the other hand looks good in this.
It feels like an all american feel good forrest gump cliche sentimal garbage crap the Academy will nominate for sure
Was anyone discussing Slumdog Millionaire last year at this time?
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
This was around the time when it was starting to gain buzz for a nomination, but nobody was really thinking it would win Best Picture along with seven other Oscars.
In fact, at this point, I think that many people were under the impression that it was a comedy because the story sounds kinda humorous. Of course, these were people who hadn’t seen it, and I have to admit that I was one of those people
Wow Zodiac, I didn’t know it was a crime to feel good after seeing a movie. Forrest Gump? Where the hell do you get that comparison from? I ask again, what’s wrong with wanting to leave a movie feeling good about the human condition, rather than depressed and beaten down by cynicism and tragedy? I guess I missed the memo on that one.
Not that I was looking forward to this all that much before, but this trailer doesn’t change my mind either. It kinda feels like Eastwood’s made a Triumphant Hollywood Sports Movie with a twist, the kind of Oscar pandering in the worst of ways which we haven’t had to suffer through so much in the past few years thanks to braver choices by the Academy.. But I’m sure they’ll eat this up because it’s “Important” and “Inspirational”.
District 9 looks to retain the crown of top South African politicial-themed movie of the year.
@ DHE
Yes, I believe so. It blew the roof off Toronto in September which started the Slumdog gravy train.
Man, I don’t really get why everyone is suddenly ganging up on this film. It looks good. I ask again, what the hell is wrong with a movie that leaves you feeling good and inspired by the end? Are we that cynical that we can’t let ourselves be happy watching a movie without accusing it of being “shallow” or “sentimental” or “manipulative”? The level of negativity in the film community is pretty astounding sometimes. I for one would love to see this movie for exactly the reason that unlike “Precious” (a masterwork in its own right) or other depressing movies, I get to feel inspired and good afterwords. Is that so wrong? Jesus.
@kevin: there’s nothing wrong with feel good movies, but am i supposed to believe that a rugby game cures apartheid which is kind of what this movie is going for? add in the tired “great white hope” meme and you’ve got yourself another run-of-the-mill “nominate me!” movie
The trailer was great up until the Matt Damon line about Mandela, “I think he wants us to win the World Cup.” Soccer?
This doesn’t seem like the film I thought it was going to be.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_World_Cup
True dat, but the hype about this film is misplaced:
For a contrarian view, see:
http://africasacountry.com/2009/10/28/it-wasnt-rugby/
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