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It goes without saying that New York Times executive editor Bill Keller has a more informed perspective on Nelson Mandela than most of the critics currently assessing Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus.” Keller was, after all, the NYT’s Johannesburg bureau chief in the time that Mandela came to power.
So it’s interesting — if not particularly meaningful — that he, of all people, is thoroughly persuaded by Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of the former South African president, gushing in a profile of the film that Freeman’s work is “uncanny — less an impersonation than an incarnation.”
Keller acknowledges, as have several critics, that Freeman hasn’t mastered specifics such as the accent (he rather diplomatically says that Mendela’s voice is “less about accent than cadence”), but excuses this on the grounds that Freeman has more abstractly captured Mandela’s spirit.
He gets the rumble and halting rhythm of Mr. Mandela’s speech, the erect posture and stiff gait. There is a striking physical resemblance, enhanced by the fact that Mr. Freeman, 72, is just a few years younger than Mr. Mandela was in the period the film covers. More important, Mr. Freeman conveys the manipulative charm, the serene confidence, the force of purpose, the hint of mischief and the lonely regret that made Mr. Mandela one of the most fascinating political figures of his time. This is not, as the film’s screenwriter, Anthony Peckham, put it, “Rich Little doing Mandela in Vegas.”
I don’t have a problem if Freeman goes for a looser interpretation — there’s nothing duller than biopic performances where more effort has gone into mimicking mannerisms than locating a human being inside the shell. It seems to me that the most crucial element to capture in a portrait of latter-day Mandela (particularly given the less-than-strenuous demands presented by Anthony Peckham’s script) is his wit and intelligence. If Freeman chooses to channel that through his own star persona, fair play to him.
I do, however, scratch my head every time someone mentions the “striking physical resemblance” between Mandela and Freeman — beyond the fact that they are both gracefully composed, senior black men, they look about as alike as Frank Langella and Richard Nixon. Which is to say, not at all.
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5 responses so far
1 12-03-2009 at 11:08 am
/3rtfu11 said...
I don’t see how some here believe Morgan Freeman’s Oscar win was undeserved. Considering that the Academy made a choice to dot the – I(s) and cross the T(s) when it came to awarding Million Dollar Baby. He’s won it. After 4 nominations, 2 for each actor category – he won for supporting, which by the way usually goes to newcomers or vets anyway – Clive Owen attempted to follow Hollywood’s lead in starring in genre fluff because the money was great and the they(s) assured him he could do quiet stuff in-between – didn’t happen not Freeman’s fault – in fact Church said on the Jay Leno show watch me lose to Morgan Freeman – many thought he should’ve won for Shawshank – he lost his Street Smart Oscar to Sean Connery – who many felt was overdue.
The Oscars are rarely about the best and always, always, about who you know and where you are.
2 12-03-2009 at 11:26 am
Fitz said...
The Langella/Nixon-Freeman/Mandela comparison is very apt. Both men embody their characters without having to fall back on miming i.e. Hopkins in Nixon.
3 12-03-2009 at 7:36 pm
Sarah El said...
The thing about Freeman looking like Mandela is very like Langella playing Nixon; clearly, neither freeman nor Langella are the politicians they are portraying, but they have a similar presentation and with the right habitation of the role, as Langella did and as it sounds Freeman does in Invictus, the somewhat vague similarities in appearance can seem much stronger.
4 12-04-2009 at 4:53 am
Erik said...
Bottom line is you should look for someone who can inhabit the role, not just look the part: Nixon in “Nixon” or “Frost/Nixon” = good. Nixon in “Watchmen” = bad.
5 6-13-2010 at 4:47 pm
John Bright said...
The solid silver statue of Nelson Mandela by Billa Dhand, does anyone think that also resembles Morgan Freeman?