Reel Critics:

“Invictus” bears the hallmark of Clint Eastwood’s directorial style — a minimalist elegance with recurring themes of loss, redemption and forgiveness.

The title refers to an old poem that Nelson Mandela kept in his prison cell while incarcerated for 27 years.

In 1994 Mandela was elected president of South Africa, and with the end of Apartheid the country was in a fragile state. The parallels with our nation’s current problems make us more keenly aware of the daunting challenges he had to face in office.

Mandela came up with the unusual idea of uniting his nation by campaigning for the much-maligned rugby team in the run-up to the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The mostly-white Springboks were hated by the blacks as a symbol of the old ways.

The story line goes like this: Mandela enlists the support of team captain Francois Pienaar and inspires him to gain the nation’s support toward that goal.

No one portrays dignity and wisdom better than Morgan Freeman, so who better to portray such an iconic figure as Mandela? Yet he does so with a twinkle in his eye that keeps him from being too saintly. Matt Damon, as Pienaar, does a creditable job with an Afrikaaner accent on and off the playing field.

“Invictus” has something for everybody — noble deeds, exciting sports and Damon in shorts. Who could ask for anything more?

‘Princess’ a throwback to Disney’s earlier years

The Disney studio draws on many previous classics in “The Princess and the Frog.” Old fashioned storytelling and hand-drawn animation set the stage.

Updated plot elements from “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan” and “Song of the South” are clearly in play. But this time, for the first time, the princess role is finally given to an African-American girl.

Tiana is the child of hard working parents. They infuse her with a dream of opening their own restaurant in New Orleans. She saves every penny from her job as a waitress to make that wish come true.

But strange events lead to her becoming a frog along with an unfortunate prince already under the same magic spell.

As frogs on the run from evil forces, they befriend a trumpet-playing alligator.

A snappy talking firefly takes over the role once played by the likes of Jiminy Cricket and Tinkerbell.

Many adventures ensue as they try to make their way to a good witch who can release them from the awful spell.

The whole enterprise is a lively romp with lots of eccentric characters.

But the Voodoo Villains and dark forces behind them might be a little scary for younger kids.

Overall, it’s an entertaining step backward toward Disney’s glory years.

SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a financial services company. JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office.