This was such an odd experience for me. I already knew the outcome of the 1995 Rugby World Cup before seeing this, and I wonder if that hindered the drama. But drama seemed very lacking in this film with seemingly so much at stake. I think the film needed to bring more of the post-apartheid life in South Africa to life...maybe even having a character (even if fictional) that actually had to deal with the racism and atrocities personally. Mandella's used too much for a character who has no arc whatsoever. He is more of a cheerleader than anything else in the case of the rugby element.

The film tries to balance both Mandella's role as president and the rugby world cup looming, and I think there's just something missing. I never felt like I was "brought in" to the film.

I think part of it has to do with the fact that I don't fully understand rugby and this film doesn't really do much to enlighten a novice to the sport. Rugby, like soccer, also has an arbitrary time scheme and the "overtime" didn't make a whole lot of sense. It just seemed to be a hard sport to convey in a film to make it dramatic.

It's not a *bad* film necessarily, but I just never got into it. I don't think it deserves Oscar recognition, but it will most likely be nominated for picture, director, both actors, and possibly screenplay.

This is going to be a somewhat weak crop of Oscar films this year it looks like.

out of

A rugby film that does not depict a person rolling beer down a first year player's back and through his crevice only to be collected in a used cleat underneath and force fed to any player who scored his first try that day is not a rugby film I want to watch.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I'm a rugby fan and really want to see this movie. I'm particularly a big Tri-Nations tournament fan as the guy who introduced me to the sport was an Aussie. I've never seen the Springboks play live, but the history is pretty rich, which is exactly what you want for a sports movie. I'm curious to see how the play translates to the big screen given that most US citizens aren't completely familiar with the rules.

But the biggest thing I'm worried about in this movie is pulling off a white South African accent... it's not an easy thing to replicate. He seemed to be doing it pretty well in the trailer. I worked with a guy originally from Zimbabwe (left the country when it was Rhodesia)... he spoke English, but I barely understood a word he said in the year I worked with him.

Rugby is a great game. The continuous play will make it unmarketable in the US. TV carriers need breaks to show their commercials. But if you've ever gone to a match, it is absolutely addictive.

Matt Damon's accent, in my opinion, was outstanding. Nothing wrong with his or Freeman's performance.

I still don't understand the scrum part of a rugby game and I wish they would've held on a few more of those shots to find out how they get out of it...kind of cuts away and I was a bit confused.

To me the biggest problem with the film was that it didn't make up its mind whether to be a full on sports movie or a movie about forgiveness and coming together. While both are played around with, it never really drives it home in my opinion. I would've liked to get to know some of the other players, for instance.

You're sick ... and well-informed ... as always.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

The ball goes in, where it is basically battled for between only two people with their feet (all the others are holding those two people up). The ball then is moved back through the scrum by a comined effort of feet and pushing the other team backward. The ball cannot be picked up until it has made it's way through the scrum. The "offsides" line is established by the middle of the scrum. No player outside the scrum can cross that line until the ball has come out.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I had a glorious day against the midshippmen way back in the fall of 89.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Did you sing "the Candyman" song too?

bringing back some beer soaked memories....

Who can take a bicycle
Rip off the seat

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

The S&M Man, The S&M Man
cause he mixesit with love
and makes the hurt feel good
The hurt feel good