Read my original INVICTUS review here!
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings Clint Eastwood's Nelson Mandela tale to Blu-ray in a 1080p/VC-1 edition. While the picture quality isn't blow-your-mind, the transfer keeps the integrity of the original source. Film grain is presented evenly across the entire film. This is not a title that has the three-dimensional pop to it. Color balance is nicely done across the board with the richest moments coming during the final rugby match between South Africa in the green and gold and New Zealand in their stark white and black. Cinematographer Tom Stern doesn't go for flashy camera work and this transfer keeps true to his realistic visual approach.
Likewise, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track takes the same realistic approach. For this dialogue heavy film, the soundscape takes an opportunity to draw the viewer into key moments. Rugby matches bring a chance for use of the full range of speakers, giving the impression that the viewer is in the stadium or even on the field. In particularly dramatic moments, the LFE channel is heightened to great affect in generating a feel of the guttural power of the rugby players tussling on the field. You might find yourself singing "Ole, Ole, Ole" along with the massive crowd of digital humans, which is given the fullness of a real stadium event.
As for the special features, "Vision, Courage and Honor" is a Picture-In-Picture presentation that brings interviews with cast and crew, as well as some of the real life subjects, along with behind-the-scenes footage, to the film. As a larger historical look at the subject of the film, the feature is first-rate. Those looking for a more filmmaking centric track will be disappointed. That said the quality is comprehensive for the ground that it covers.
The "Behind-the-Story" featurettes are made up of the 28-minute "Mandela Meets Morgan" and the seven-minute "Matt Damon Plays Rugby." The former gives a wonderful overview of how the project came about and many of the details that went into making the picture. The mini-doc shows footage of Morgan Freeman meeting Nelson Mandela, who apparently requested that if a film was ever made about him that Freeman should be the actor to play him. When asked about meeting Mandela, Freeman said you know you are in the presence of greatness so what do you say to him? The shorter doc delves into Damon preparation for the role of South African rugby captain Francois Pienaar. Upon meeting the player for the first time, Damon promised him that he looks bigger on screen.
"The Eastwood Factor" is a 22-minute look at the career of Clint Eastwood. Directed by film critic, historian and documentarian Richard Schickel, the snippet is an edited version of a bigger doc on the actor/director. In the edited version, it is way to brief to truly capture the man's career, but it works wonderfully as a great enticement to pick up the full version. One of the nice elements is Eastwood strolling around the Warner Bros. lot giving his recollections of his decades of work at the studio. It's funny and personal.
The disc also includes an INVICTUS music trailer and BD-Live functionality.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
