When Clint Eastwood takes on a project, the film world takes notice. The Hollywood legend's latest, in particular, has drawn people's attention as it features Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, a role for which he had been preparing for some years for another film, the adaptation of Mandela's book The Long Walk to Freedom. Freeman brings that research to his long-time collaborator Eastwood's new film, Invictus. It is the third film the pair have made together, following the legendary Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby.
This film is an adaptation of John Carlin's book Playing the Enemy, about how the newly elected President Mandela sees the forthcoming 1995 Rugby World Cup as a catalyst for uniting a nation divided by the scars of apartheid. With so many black South Africans seeing their national team, The Springboks, as a symbol for the old regime, Mandela enlists the help of the team captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), to inspire their countrymen with a good run in the tournament. "I would have made this movie whether it was revolving around a rugby game or a game of Monopoly!" says Eastwood. "I just had such admiration for [Mandela]. I knew Morgan was perfect for the part because he had been approved by Nelson Mandela. There was no question he would be involved and I think he captures the man perfectly." Freeman has been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for the part, while Damon received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance. Damon's casting brought with it a special perk - a meeting with the man otherwise known as Madiba. "I got to meet Mr Mandela when we were in South Africa," Damon says. "They said: 'Bring your family along,' which was just so special for us. My children are too young to realise who he is now, but they'll grow up learning about him and one day they'll be able to look back on the picture we had with him and know they had met him. It was a great honour."
Making a movie about real-life events can be rich in rewards but also fraught with pitfalls. On one hand there are tremendous performances such as Jamie Foxx's in Ray or Michael Sheen's Tony Blair; on the other hand, there are near career-ending failures such as Kevin Spacey's Bobby Darin (in Beyond the Sea). For Damon, there was also a physical dilemma to overcome. "Francois is 6ft 4in," says the actor. "I'm not short - I'm about 5ft 10in- but obviously there is a difference. I went to Clint and said: 'How are we going to get around this?' and he just said: 'Let me worry about that.' We did different set-ups and various tricks to make me look taller. I mean, we couldn't make me look 6ft 4in, but hopefully it's not a question that will come up in the audience's minds."
Similarly, bringing any sport to the big screen - especially one that is largely unfamiliar to an American audience - can be a logistical and artistic nightmare, but Eastwood, who has directed more than 30 features in his career, made sure he had experts on hand. "I didn't really know too much about the game, but I talked to a lot of people who did," Eastwood recalls. "We had a coach at the University of California who helped me a lot, and once we got to South Africa, both Francois and Chester (Williams, a member of the 1995 squad) to get an idea of what the games were like." There was also the challenge of recreating matches that had really happened, replacing rugby players with actors. "We actually hired rugby players to play almost all of the on-field parts," he says. "Chester was the coach and what he kept saying was: 'Let's play proper rugby!' so my job and my crew's job was to work on the fly and stay out of the way."
Although they share similar traits as actors (best known for action films, but with a willingness to vary their roles), Eastwood and Damon are at very different points on the career spectrum. Eastwood has, in the opinion of many, had a dream run. Undertaking an acting apprenticeship in the golden age of the Hollywood studio system, he went on to redefine the western genre with the Dollars trilogy, create a cinema icon in the 1970s with Dirty Harry, and act in such award-winning films as In the Line of Fire, Unforgiven and Gran Torino. Along the way, he has welcomed variation in his choices, trying out comedy (Any Which Way But Loose), romantic dramas (The Bridges of Madison County) and even a musical (Paint Your Wagon). That's all without mentioning his other career as a director, which has brought him two Best Director Oscars. As Eastwood confirms, he shows no sign of slowing down despite having reached the grand old age of 78. "No one's told me to go yet, so as long as there are still films that interest me and challenge me, I'll keep making them." As for his acting career, are there any roles that he is particularly proud of? "That's for other people to decide," he replies. "Once you make the film it's done. It's for the audiences to judge what role is their favourite, or what role is better than the other one."
While Damon is hardly at the beginning of his career, he would certainly envy the longevity of his director, another he can add to his list of well-known collaborators (which includes Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh and Anthony Minghella). His role as Pienaar has earned him nominations for a Golden Globe and an Oscar, but does this kind of recognition really matter to an actor? "Oh, more than anything!" Damon jokes. "No, it's a great indicator as to how you're doing, for sure. If the movies you are making get nominated for these huge awards, you know you're doing a good job.
"I was just saying at the press conference today that I was told by an executive that a nomination for these movies can be the difference between a movie making money or not, because there's normally five movies nominated for Best Picture (10 this year), and some people may only watch that many movies in an entire year - that nomination can be the difference between them going to see your movie and going to see someone else's. So from that financial perspective it's a huge thing, but for an actor," he pauses, "it's fantastic but it's only a 'congratulations'. It's the movie that's the reward."
The financial benefits of a good run at awards season remain to be seen, as the film has yet to open in many international territories. However, it was a modest success at the American box office, debuting at No 3 just behind the fellow sport-themed Oscar nominee The Blind Side. Critically, the movie has been treated well, with special praise reserved for Freeman's performance as Mandela. Whether the film's stars are triumphant at the Oscar ceremony on March 7 or not, it is surely another example of Damon's diversity as an actor and yet another positive chapter of Eastwood's career, one of the most illustrious that Tinseltown has produced.
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW
Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2
Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC
Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
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What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
The biog
Name: James Mullan
Nationality: Irish
Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”
Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.