The boys in the boat

I loved book, I saw the PBS documentary, but was sorry to see early poor reviews for this film. Saw a promo on tv that it was opening on Christmas Day, and snagged a seat, but I had very little expectation that it would be good. Boy, was I wrong! This film held my attention fully, and given the terrible nature of our society right now, it was a total breath of fresh air to be transported to another time and place. Not since Indiana Jones have I felt so fully ensconced in The Great Depression, by the beautiful cinematography, perfect costuming, and fine acting depicting the sheer difficulty of just surviving in the US then. I understand some poignant issues for Joe Rantz needed to be removed from the movie due to time constraints, but all are easily accessible to anyone wanting more information. In short, I have a newfound respect for George Clooney, who made a very fine film.

The Boys In The Boat is a cinematic gem that gracefully navigates the waters of history, sportsmanship, and the indomitable human spirit. With a compelling storyline rooted in real-life events, the film effortlessly pulls you into the world of rowing, beautifully capturing the essence of teamwork and resilience. The performances are exceptional, conveying the depth of emotion that accompanies the pursuit of Olympic glory. The cinematography is stunning, making each stroke of the oar a visual spectacle. This is not just a sports movie; it's a heartwarming and inspiring tale that will resonate with audiences of all ages. The Boys in the Boat is a triumph that leaves a lasting impression, celebrating the triumph of the human spirit against all odds.

While The Boys in the Boat is a compelling film, some viewers may find fault in its pacing, as certain moments may feel rushed or unevenly distributed. Additionally, some critics argue that the film, at times, leans heavily on sports movie clichés, potentially making it predictable for those well-versed in the genre.

As a former rower, I'm glad I saw this movie. There's a certain mental stamina, in addition to physical strength, required to row a boat fast and in sync with others that not many people realize. This movie definitely made an effort to capture that, but it didn't always quite hit the mark. The creators definitely felt a lot of respect for the sport, but I don't think they would have quite sold it to me if I didn't feel the same.

The script was the biggest weak point for this movie. It was very uninspired, totally predictable. The dialogue was very wooden, and the characters were almost entirely flat. Joel Edgerton sold me on his character as a very guarded, stern-faced coach with a heart of gold, but the rest of the cast was pretty unremarkable. It's not all their fault though, most of them get very little to work with. The last scene actually made me roll my eyes, it was so cheesy and frankly amateur.

The music was a interesting. I really didn't like the score in the opening and first few scenes, but it really got me at the story's pivotal moments. That should be what counts I guess.

I did really enjoy the set though; the costumes to the production design were excellent and really painted a picture of an America that has been suffering from 5 years of the Depression that are starting to claw their way through hope and resilience to a bit of a better place.

All and all, this was a really warm feel-good story, just not one of the best movies ever made. I'm glad I saw it, but will probably never watch it again.

These were the days of an almighty depression, when the world and its people were enveloped by recession, when food was hard to find, most folks were in a bind, and a group of desperate lads, came together as one plus seven. Coach Al Ulbrickson selects the team that he believes can win, makes a change or two to bolster a new cox as the kingpin, there are trials tribulations, before they challenge other nations, at the 36 Olympics taking place, Deutschland, Berlin. So the tensions elevated and the heats are raced and rowed, the strategy is simple at half way they just explode, but the Germans take a shot, in front of Adolf their despot, you'll have to watch the final sequence to find out winning boatload.

Boys in the Boat is maybe my favorite nonfiction book of all time. The story of Joe Rantz is inspiring tragic and incredibly easy to root.

The boys in the boat movie captures the beauty of rowing and team work, but it only begins to scratch the surface of the depth of these real life characters.

The biggest flaw in this movie is the writing and at times the dialogue. The writers boil down the tragedies of Joe Rantz and his teammates to simplistic and generic back stories when it would have lead to a more emotional movie to focus on how little these people were given in there life's and how much they were able to accomplish.

While it was still enjoyable and inspiring to watch this classic story, with the material that they had, they should have created a much more emotional and factual film.

I would recommend this movie to anyone but I would highly recommend people read the book.