May 19, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • Page 19 ‘Invictus’ depicts post-apartheid South Africa has a dreary record. Attendance at their games is down and the fans that remain are diehard whites. The blacks root for any team playing against them. Mandela sees rugby as a way to begin unifying the people. He summons the captain of the Springboks, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), and explains that if the entire nation can be inspired by the team, it will be a first step in joining the people in a common cause. Performances in “Invictus” are very good, the story is based on actual events, the film focuses on a forward-thinking, inspirational leader, and it is effectively directed. But there are problems. The film has a onenote tone. It lacks dramatic peaks. Director Clint Eastwood focuses on a fairly small number of characters who act as though they are part of a historical epic rather than people undergoing a serious problem besetting the nation. There is so much rugby footage that the movie becomes a hybrid of political history and sports flick with the balance far too skewed to sports film. Freeman is so good as Mandela, it would have been great to see more scenes with him as leader of a nation than as a sports fan. He was a great choice for Mandela, but his performance is worthy of a stronger script. Morgan Freeman stars as Nelson Mandela, the newly elected leader of South Africa, in ‘Invictus.’ by Dennis Seuling “Invictus” (Warner Home Video) is set in South Africa shortly after Nelson Mandela has become the nation’s president. The country is deeply divided along racial lines. The blacks hope for payback for the years they suffered under apartheid. The whites fear they will be the victims of a government whose policies will be predicated on revenge. Mandela (Morgan Freeman) realizes the only way to a unified nation is reconciliation. The divisiveness of the country is reflected in its national pastime: rugby. The Springboks, the national, whites-only team, ���������������� ��������� ������������ Mon-Thurs 11:30-10 Fri 11:30-11 Sat 12-11, Sun 12-10 Blonde and muscular, Damon has the look of a rugby player, but never conveys the qualities that allow him to convince his team to learn the words of the new national anthem or take part in workshops in ghetto areas. Damon never lets the audience see just how this captain inspires his teammates. “Invictus” is available in DVD and in a Blu-ray/DVD/digital copy combo pack. Extras on the Blu-ray edition include a picture-in-picture analysis of the movie with Eastwood, cast and crew commenting in small inserts throughout the film, the featurette “Mandela Meets Morgan,” and a 22minute documentary on Eastwood’s career. “Extraordinary Measures” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) is about the shaky relationship between two men who partner up to discover a treatment for Pompe disease, a form of muscular dystrophy that usually kills its victims before the age of nine. John Crowley (Brendan Fraser), a Bristol-Myers executive, has two children suffering from Pompe disease. The elder is eight, and the statistics indicate she is already on borrowed time. Her brother is six. (continued on Crossword page) OPEN 7 DAYS Authentic Cuisine from Spain Lunch • Dinner • Cocktails �� ����������������� ��������� ���������������� ��������������������� ����������������������� �������������� ������ ������������������������ ������������ ������ ������������������������ ����������� ������ ������������� ���������������������������������� ������ ������������������ ������������������������������ ����������������������������������� ������������ �������������������������������������� C • O • R •T• I • N • A R I S T O R A N T E “A HIDDEN GEM” Fine Dining For Lunch & Dinner Lunch Starts at $7.00 • Monday-Friday 11:30AM–2:30PM Dinner Starts at $12.00 • Monday-Thursday 5:00PM–9:30PM Friday & Saturday 5:00PM–10:00PM Dine & Dance - Live Entertainment Wednesdays: Ray La Rovere - Piano, Emil Rizzo - Mandolin Saturdays: Mike Constantino, Piano Cook Up Some Business! Advertise your restaurant in The Villadom TIMES. You’ll reach 56,300 households. Private Party Room For Up To 60 People Call for Reservations - 973-942-1750 118 Berkshire Ave., Paterson, NJ (Totowa Section) • www.cortinarestaurant.com K IRK E RS INN TOP GERMAN AMERICAN 3-31-10 ester/janine RESTAURANT IN CortinaRestaurant3x3A(3-31-10) BERGEN & PASSAIC COUNTIES 3 x 3” BEERS ON TAP Plus Our Regular Menu • Reservations Suggested Sauerbrauten • Schnitzels • Bavarian Sausages Goulash • Potato Pancakes • Dumplings Spaetzel and more. GERMAN FULL BAR Open Monday-Saturday – Noon-Midnight • Closed Sunday www.kirkers.com • All Major Credit Cards Accepted 237 Diamond Bridge Ave, Hawthorne • 973-427-7700