The Legend of Bagger Vance
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Movie Reviews of The Legend of Bagger Vance
Movie Review: Beautiful and sugary-sweet with essential truths thrown in
Summary: 4 Stars
Robert Redford has a knack for for bringing out the child in himself and his viewers. He presents his oh-so attractive characters with relish and paints his scenes in the most beautiful light. The symbolism is rampant. Damon's character, in a drunken, post-war tramautic stupor says to the local townspeople who have come to enlist him to play in the big tournament, " I lost my swing ". The story is sugary sweet, with the drama kept to a minimum; the happy ending is never far away. The pain in this movie is almost enjoyable to watch. We know we have left the real world far behind.
So why is it that this film works? The characters are entertaining and likable. The scenes are beautiful. The story is new and is expertly told. There are jewels of wisdom that inspire; the way in which these truths are revealed touches the essential emotions. As in all fables, the jewels of truth stand out and intersect our world. I guess, like Redford, I am an optimist and have a weakness for beauty, simplicity and for the timeless truths. The fact that I love golf doesn't hurt. One other comment: Damon has a terrible golf swing!
Movie Review: A two-hour cliche
Summary: 2 Stars
Robert Redford makes movies the way I play golf: badly. After watching "The Legend of Bagger Vance," I was fully convinced that Robert Redford knows nothing about making movies. Not once during the entire film does any aspect gel with another, whether it be concerning characters, story, tone, mood, development, or camera shots. "The Legend of Bagger Vance" is nothing but a dainty train wreck, and here's why:
-Will Smith's character is so wise and flawless when it comes to deciphering golf and life that you really just can't put any kind of stock in him at all. He suddenly appears into the film, spills a bunch of existential gibberish to Matt Damon in a poor southern accent, and walks out of the story. The character of Bagger Vance is someone you are supposed to learn from and have a deep respect for. The presentation of his character made me want to hit him with a nine iron.
-Too many lines recited by extras read like they are newspaper headlines, something you never come across in everyday dialogue. There's far too many people running along the side of the road sputtering out a bunch of superlatives about how their favorite southern hometown golfer has finally overcome his demons in the great war and how his golf skills have resurfaced to only surpass the pros he is playing against. Does that sound like rubbish to you? That's because it is.
-The camera work is dramatically pointless, or pointlessly dramatic, depending on your mood. There is plenty of slow motion and disorienting zoom thrown in for no good reason. The flashbacks and hectic fast talking that spring up during the developing segments only remind you that this is a crappy period piece, not a profound allegory. The soundtrack, sounding like it was lifted straight from the Lifetime channel, does you no favors as well.
-Charlize Theron talks too rapidly and does not have a convincing southern accent to pull it off anyway.
-Matt Damon may be the best member of the cast here, but he has nothing to work with. He supposedly "lost his swing" while serving in WWI, having witnessed all kinds of inhumanities during battle. He refuses to play golf for a long time, even for a local tournament against the pros for big prize money. But for inexplicable reasons, he gets his swing back and decides he wants to play. The lack of reasoning for his turnaround is just one of those dumb things you have to ignore in order to enjoy the movie.
-J. Michael Moncrief plays the narrator as a child, and he is bad. Jake Lloyd bad. He's so obnoxious; running around, being a pest, crying because Junah (Damon) might loose a game of golf, and sporting by far the worst southern accent out of the whole cast. Just thinking about him irritates me. Hand me my nine iron again, will ya?
When you put all of this together, there is nary a moment in the movie that doesn't make you want to roll your eyes or sigh in impatience. Every frame just seems to be dedicated to the lowest common denominator, insulting your intelligence no matter who you are. Even my wife, who has a high tolerance for bad movies, couldn't make it through the whole thing without verbal displays of frustration.
Movie Review: A HOLE IN ONE
Summary: 5 Stars
Having little interest in the game of golf, I found myself pleasantly surprised at this wonderfully made film which has golf as its catalyst. Robert Redford has a strong sense of time and character in this study of a war-torn vet who finds his redemption at the hands of a mystical stranger and caddy. Matt Damon does a fine job as Junuh, a young man who lost all of his men in a WWI battle and has retreated within himself, giving up his love for the game of golf. Charlize Theron shines as a strong willed Southern belle who arranges a golf tournament featuring Walter Hagen (Bruce Mc Gill) and Bobby Jones (Joel Hertsche) to emerge from the great depression. A delightful little boy (J. Michael Moncrief) convinces Damon to join in the tourney as a representative of the fine city of Savannah. A marvelously restrained Will Smith shows up as Bagger Vance, a caddy who seems to have all the right answers for Damon. The movie is framed by a narrative of a mature Moncrief, wonderfully evoked by Jack Lemmon in his last movie appearance. The Georgia scenery is breathtaking and Rachel Portman contributes a wonderful score that carefully compliments the film's period. While not a dramatically driven movie, BAGGER VANCE is pleasant and wholeheartedly enjoyable.Movie Review: Quite Interesting....
Summary: 4 Stars
As a not so great fan of sports or the movies about them, this film is one of those that takes control, and sticks in your mind for a very long time.
Matt Damon plays Randulph Junah, a man who has seen the perils of war, and feels that he has lost his swing, when he tries to get in the game of golf again...a game that he loved. Enter Bagger Vance, played by Will Smith (one of the best performances this man has done) a man who believes in Junha, and knows in his heart that he can bring his swing back where it belongs.
Charlize Theron's character, Adele Invergordon inherits the golf course that her father left after his untimely death (suicide) and has come up with a way to save the course from uncertain demise, attract ppl to the course by offering a tournement for high ranking golf players to perticipate in. It is during this, that Junuh finds his swing, and his love for the game, and soars to the utmost heights of the game!! But will he win the overall tourney??? A true classic...rent it today!
Movie Review: My Favorite Golf Movie Ever
Summary: 5 Stars
I had been wanting to see this movie for quite some time and then when I was gone to the beach we went to Wal Mart to get some stuff. I saw the movie in the 5 dollar movie bin. It turned out to be one of my favorite sports movies ever. I recommend this to anyone, even if you don't care for golf, it is still a great movie.