This film is a Clint Eastwood movie. He has a way of putting his mark on each of his films, making it distinctly Eastwood. The movies tend to get to the point of the story. They are tight and don’t waste space or the audience’s time. Once again with Invictus, his style of moviemaking works for him and this tight, no nonsense film can proudly be called an Eastwood film.

The film is essentially about the period of Nelson Mandela’s life when he was released from prison after twenty-seven years. Afterwards he was elected President of South Africa. He presided over a divided country. The blacks don’t trust the whites and vice versa. In order to unite the country Mandela (Morgan Freeman) came up with the idea of using sports.

Rugby is the sport of choice in South Africa and the Springbok team represented South Africa. The team was lead by Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) and he and his teammates were far from favorites to win the 1995 World Cup. Still Mandela thought they could and he enlisted the help of Francoise to inspire the team to greatness.

This is the bare bones of the plot and the bare bones of the script. We get glimpses along the way of the country, Mandela and Pienaar but there are no “getting to know you” scenes. It is either basic to the plot or it is not shown.

At first this lack of detail is off putting but as the film progresses the audience is drawn into the quest for glory of the rugby team and with Mandela’s vision of unity. The emotions of the story have a life of their own and eventually make the movie a rousing success.

Most of us know little to nothing about the sport of rugby, but that is not a block to enjoying this film. As long as you can appreciate the dream of unity Mandela has, and how he uses the team to achieve that goal then you will be able to follow the film. Freeman and Damon are at the top of their game and they are in the hands of the maestro himself. Eastwood does things the “Eastwood way” and ends up with one of the best movies of the year.

Final Grade: A Must See Film!

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American Beauty 1999 is certainly not ranked number one, but it is a fine example of an iconic image for movie poster history. Pulp Fiction 1994 is a highly sought after poster, especially this Cannes Film Festival version. The Gold Rush 1925. Metropolis 1927 36×83 size sold for $690,000 making it the most expensive poster.

The Mummy 1932 was recently sold for $435,500. The Black Cat 1934 sold for $286,800 and the style B is going under the auction block in November 2009. 1927-28 Oscar Best Picture winner Wings.
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King Kong 1933 is 41×81 in size. Frankenstein 1931 had a recent auction price of $189,000. Babe Comes Home is 1927. The Mad Doctor is a Mickey Mouse poster from 1933.
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Jules et Jim 1962 was paid homage to in Cameron Crowe’s Vanilla Sky 2001 which is just an ego poster for Tom Cruise. If one must choose a Tom Cruise poster it would have to be Risky Business 1983. Gun Crazy 1950 aka Deadly is the Female is a great example of pulp art.

Le Divorce 2003 is a nicely designed poster with the Eiffel Tower snugly tucked in the cleavage. The Rocketeer 1991 is a great example of art deco work making this poster highly sought after. Jaws is a very famous poster. Of course the picture shown on the poster is not even in the movie, in fact it is a hand drawn image.

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Notorious Bettie Page 2005 has a classic look of an iconic image but the popularity may not be enough to push this poster too high on the list. Star Wars Episode One 1999 is a well thought out designed poster with the Darth Vador image in the shadow of young Annikin. This Alien 1979 poster is a very recognizable image that should put it at a decent number on the list. Also from 1979 is Manhattan with Woody and Mia at the 59th street bridge, both scene and poster are etched into movie history.
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All About Eve 1950 poster is a throwback to the 1950s design era. Grand Hotel 1931 was the best picture winner of that year and the poster captures the feeling of that movie. Casablanca is of course a classic, and so is the poster and it is a bonus as an Academy Award winner. Naturally Chinatown has to be on the list. The wild vivid colors are beautifully designed.

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Posters for The Final & Edge of Darkness and another in the series of Kick Ass pos

Let me say that I have not seen this movie. I normally don’t do this, but I can’t help myself. This movie has been made so many times. It has been done on Sex and the City, other Hugh Grant movies, and more.

The story is Sarah Jessica Parker who plays Meryl Morgan, an overcaffeinated New York City woman who, and despite running the city’s most faaabulous boutique real estate firm, blabs about her biological clock to complete strangers and has a rare talent for jumping up and down and shrieking. Hugh Grant is her estranged mate Paul, who cheats, leaves rambling voice mails and stammers. Both are playing to their respective stero-type. When the pair stumble onto the murder scene of of Meryl’s client and get an eyeful of the killer, they are conveniently whisked into temporary witness protection in a small Wyoming town with a red neck and a heart of gold.

Ick!!

This stinker is someone reeks of producers that had to throw some money away this year for tax purposes. It is hard to believe this movie gets made.

Final Grade: Septic Tank Smell – Stay Away.

Academy Awards Odds (More Academy Awards odds to follow when the nominees are announced)
2010 Academy Awards – Odds to Win Best Picture

1. Up in the Air 3/1
2. The Hurt Locker 7/2
3. Precious 6/1
4. Inglorious Basterds 15/2
5. An Education 8/1
6. The Lovely Bones 9/1
7. Public Enemies 10/1
8. Up 10/1
9. Avatar 10/1
10. Shutter Island 10/1
11. A Serious Man 12/1
12. The Road 15/1
13. Nine 15/1
14. Invictus 15/1
15. Cheri 15/1
16. Biutiful 15/1
17. Bright Star 15/1
18. A Single Man 20/1
19. The Human Factor 20/1
20. Taking Woodstock 25/1
21. Amelia 25/1
22. The Informant 25/1
23. The Last Station 25/1
24. The White Ribbon 30/1
25. Star Trek 50/1