BOBBY JONES, STROKE OF GENIUS Most Inspiring Movie, 2004 - 4 stars Not the Greatest Game Ever Played, but Still Worthwhile To fully appreciate The Greatest Game Ever Played, it’s good to compare it with Bobby Jones, Stroke Of Genius. Both films cost between $20M and $25M. Both were about the game of golf at the turn of the 20th century. Both focused on young, underprivileged underdogs who went on to become the best amateurs in the game, beating out their professional competition. And both show the influence of the great Harry Vardon. Bobby Jones, Stroke Of Genius, of course, is about Bobby Jones, only amateur ever to win all three tournaments of the Grand Slam in the same year. And he did it while also working on three college degrees simultaneously – thus the “Genius.” Jim Caviezel (Passion of the Christ) did a decent job playing Bobby, although he didn’t look anything like the man. And Aiden Quinn was good as Harry Vardon – even down to his golfing ability – although he was all but cut from the film because he wouldn’t shave a goatee he had grown for another film. While Bobby Jones is about an entire golf career, The Greatest Game Ever Played is about one tournament: the 1913 US Open, held at Brookline Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. That was the year that a caddie – Francis Ouimet, who lived across the street from the country club – beat the two top British professionals, including Harry Vardon, and won the tournament – the biggest upset in golf history. Shia LeBeouf (Holes) does a great job playing Ouimet, and Stephen Dillane (The Hours) is superb as Vardon. The biggest difference between these two films is in the direction. With Bobby Jones, Rowdy Herrington (Road House) opted to do a very straight drama in the tradition of Chariots of Fire. It turned out to be far more than he could handle. The script is weak. There is far too much time spent on the young Bobby Jones, which contributes very little to the main plot. And visually, it is, well, boring. There are only a handful of creatively interesting shots. But in The Greatest Game, director Bill Paxton (Apollo 13, acting) pulls out all the stops. Not only is the script taut, but every part of it is essential. And the visuals are incredible, including effects that have never been seen in a sports film before, let alone one about golf. The art direction – including sets, costumes and graphics – is also superb, creating a totally believable and visually sumptuous world. You don’t have to love golf to love this movie. That can’t be said about Bobby Jones. While both films have heart, The Greatest Game also has fun. When I first saw The Greatest Game, there were a couple of things that bothered me. I didn’t feel the love relationship between Francis and Sarah Wallis (Peyton List) was believable because their ages seemed so different. I just couldn’t see her falling for a boy. I also had trouble accepting a ten-year-old caddy, Eddie Lowery, played like a true ham by Josh Flitter. It seemed like a typical Disney element (the kid who is smarter than the adults that surround him), and I just didn’t buy into it. Then I discovered that that really was the way it was! Which doesn’t make it any easier to believe, but at least it’s true. These are two very different films about similar events. While Bobby Jones Stroke Of Genius is a good film (3 to 4 stars), The Greatest Game Ever Played is a great film (5 stars). Both directors had a vision; but Bill Paxton has proven that he can carry his out. Waitsel Smith, May 22, 2006 Text, © 2006 Waitsel Smith. Pictures, © Sony Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

close window

make a comment

order DVD