Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius

This film which carries no studio name could almost have been made by Fox or Warner in the golden age because of craftsmanship;but it tells the truth as they almost never did. It is a shame the people who promoted this so much seem to have missed an opportunity (hopefully the DVD is more successful).Of course release dates and all come into play ;and Caviezel's current fame cuts both ways . But it seems even golfers have ignored this film judging by the poor Box Office.Definitely in the same league as Seabiscuit ; with outstanding performances by all three playing Bobby Jones as well as a wonderful supporting cast . It is a very moving story when told with all the warts and problems to see.

I'm not a golfer and if I'd known this was a "golf movie" I probably would have stayed home. I knew Jones was a famous golfer but this film transcended golf--and for an independent film it had a real Chariots of Fire kind of spirit to it! This elegant, classically told and beautifully photographed homage to the Jones legacy is not only entertaining but there's some great truths contained in the dialogue. (They'll forgive you for losing but not for quitting). I attended a sneak advance screening of the film. The whole theme of the evening was a `life well lived' and was very inspiring. The more I've (now) read about Jones the more I appreciate this film about a humble guy whose integrity, sportsmanship and refusal to play for money made him a role model for the ages. It's not surprising I guess, to see that some critics seem to have it out for Caviezel who is very understated but excellent in this well-acted film. I think he's our next Gary Cooper. Or maybe Jimmy Stewart (as anyone could tell who's heard him speak). More films like this! Keep up the good work.

Bobby Jones has the same feel as the many old movie biographies of the 1950s, like the Glenn Miller Story, but it is better written and better acted and certainly the historic artifacts are better, although it is true that everything looks so new! There is no high drama, but one gets a sense of the sheer effort it took for Jones to succeed. Anyone who knew only the bare outlines of his career, and about his background, may have assumed that he was a "natural"to whom the game came easily. The opposite is true and the movies demonstrates, ironically, why amateurs have disappeared from golf. The effort needed to excel is too great except for the most gifted of golfers. Tiger Woods would not be what he is if he had to work at another job for 9 months a year.

But my questions is: what do some people hate morality tales, but especially the ones that are true. Is it inverted snobbery? I think so.

Golfers will love this film about one of the greatest golfers of all time. I say one of the greatest because it is hard to say that any one golfer was the greatest given the changing conditions, the degree if competition, and the changes in equipment. While Jones undoubtedly was the best of his generation, arguments can be made that Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus were the greatest of their generations and that Tiger Woods is the greatest of the present generation.

From a historical standpoint, this movie is very accurate and a great deal of attention was paid to every detail. As to authenticity of the sets and costumes this movie is the best I have seen in years. All too often movies take shortcuts which infringe on their authenticity. Even the uniforms worn by the Marines in this picture are authentic replicas of the uniforms worn by Marines in the early '30s down to the ribbons.

The film does have some shortcomings though. Ihe acting is not that great and the story gets a little hammy at times but the reality still shows through. Much too much is made of the reporter from the Atlanta Journal who is used as a foil. While the Journal did follow Jones closely, it wasn't nearly as close as depicted in the film. But the story brings out the humanness of Jones quite well, better than does the usually told legends.

Not being a golfer or a fan of biographies of sportsmen, this viewer found a surprising amount of satisfaction in this recreation of the life of Bobby Jones, whose fame in the game of golf is legendary. So the question arises: "How can a film about golf maintain such a viewer's attention and appreciation?" The answer lies in the physical production of this beautiful little film. Capturing the essence of the world in the 1920s and 1930s not only in costuming and manners and atmosphere but in sociologic and philosophic vantages, Director Rowdy Herrington has ably explored the life and times of the reluctant hero in a way that exhumes a period in history when everyone needed something to believe in. Actors Jim Caviezel, Malcolm McDowell, Jeremy Northam, and Claire Forlani not only look their parts: their demeanor before the camera absorbs the state of mind of America lapsing from the riotous 20s to the massive depression of the 30s.

Bobby Jones physical problems, both self induced and genetic, are explored with just enough veracity to make him more of a well-rounded character than a cardboard saint (we don't learn the name of his neurological disorder - syringomyelia - until the final credits). His struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds to move through every golfing challenge of his day and succeed beyond the realm of possibility is well captured in Caviezel's delicately nuanced performance.

Not a great movie, but certainly worth more attention than it received in the theaters. You don't need to be a golfer to appreciate the beauty of this little moment of nostalgia. Grady Harp