Could there finally be a rugby-based movie worth watching? Clint Eastwood is directing 'Invictus' (formerly 'The Human Factor') — featuring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon — that tells the story of Nelson Mandela, Francois Pienaar, and South Africa's underdog run at the 1995 RWC.
Here's the plot synopsis from the studio:The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.
I am not a huge biopic fan (especially when the characters are still alive) but the heady brew of rugby, Eastwood, Freeman, and Damon all the sudden put this movie on my must-see list for this fall/winter. The movie is set for a December 11 release and I am sure that we will organize a team event to check it out.
In the meantime, check out some pictures from the shoot and a delightfully cheesy concept poster that seems to be based on the artwork from such Eastwood classics as 'Every Which Way But Loose' and/or 'Where Eagles Dare':
Friday, September 18, 2009
Nelson Mandela/RSA Rugby Biopic
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Rugby on ESPN
ESPN is going to be airing the USA/Canada RWC Qualifying match LIVE this Saturday at 4:00 pm. This is the first time that ESPN has aired live rugby on it's flagship station rather than giving us horribly edited rebroadcasts on The Ocho — so set your DVRs, tell you friends and family, and let's see if we can't show the network(s) that there is a demand for more rugby coverage. I mean, if we don't watch this who will!?
You can also pass along this article that ran in USA Today about The Eagles and the unique challenges facing our amateur players versus the monied programs from the top-tier nations. There is a good chance that rugby can piggyback on the recent exposure of the US Soccer program and help drum up interest in some of the "fringe" team sports being played at the highest levels in this country.
