The Legend of Bagger Vance
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Movie Reviews of The Legend of Bagger Vance
Movie Review: Slow Play Ruins Golf
Summary: 1 Stars
Matt Damon has a terrible swing and I would like a match with him if he reads this...Anytime, anywhere. Not only poor swing mechanics, but he, his playing partners and the whole movie take forever to play out shots. This may have been acceptable with a more compelling story, with major plot points explained or with chemistry among any of the actors. But in this case a 2 stroke penalty is in order. Sadly this film was one of Jack Lemon's last pictures, and one he should have never laced up his spikes for. Damon's southern accent sounded like Denzel Washington, and Will Smith and Charlize Theron also play over par. I've heard the book is a great read. Golf is difficult enough without having to put so much effort into this tale. Michael Duranko
www.bootism.com
Movie Review: FOR THE "WILFULLY" STUPID AND EVERYONE ELSE!
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently read a quote about golf from 1908 that I really liked. It observed, simply, that to be obsessed with golf "is not so much a sign of pitiable insanity as of 'wilful' stupidity." Well count me as one of the "wilfully" stupid and if you are too then THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE is a movie that you will absolutely love.The movie tells the story of a has-been champion golfer, Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon), who goes to war and loses his identity. More importantly he also loses his swing (which to any golfer who knows IS his identity). He leaves behind the course, his life and the girl. The girl (Charlize Theron), upon the suicide of her father, becomes the owner of a championship golf course and, in order to put it on the map and get herself out of debt, plans an unlikely exhibition golf match and invites the day's golf greats Bobby Jones (Joel Gretsch) and Walter Hagen (Bruce McGill) to come and play. There's just one problem. The local city fathers, in order to draw a local gallery, demand that a local representative join the match. Who else is to be invited? None other than Junuh. Never mind that he has become a pathetic drunk and hasn't swung a club in years. We need a miracle, right?
Right! Enter Bagger Vance (Will Smith), a mysterious, ghostly caddy who appears out of nowhere and not only helps Junuh find his swing and his game but also face the demons that have come to roost between his ears and find himself again. Wil Smith steals the show and, in one of the final scenes, will literally dance his way into your heart.
Directed by Robert Redford, THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE is a beautiful movie to watch and goes well beyond golf as a game. This movie speaks of golf as an incomparable parable of life. Jack Lemmon is wonderful in a cameo as an elderly golfer who is ready to take his game to a higher (perhaps angelic) level and narrates the tale as he thinks back to the magical events he witnessed as a boy.
Whether you like golf or not THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE will be a movie that you will love. Again, for the "wilfully" stupid, it's a great movie to watch just before your next round.
THE HORSEMAN
Movie Review: "See The Field......."
Summary: 4 Stars
This review refers to the VHS edition(20th Cent Fox/Dreamworks) of "The Legend of Bagger Vance".....
Out of the mist,on a moonlit night,comes Bagger Vance."A man's grip on his club, just like a man's grip on his world" are the first words of wisdom the mysterious stranger imparts to a once promising golfer. The golfer Rannulph Junah, a legend in his own time,the golden boy with the authentic swing,the pride of Savannah, Ga.,would surely make the golfing world sit up and take notice. But things don't always go as planned.The horrors of WWI took it's toll on Junah.He was a changed man and disappeared from Savannah, his beautiful fiance, and life for the next 10 years.
Told in narrative, from the viewpoint of Hardy Greaves, a wide eyed child, now an aging duffer,the story is one that will captivate and inspire.It is now the time of the Great Depression.The city fathers are pinning their hopes on Junah,to play in an exhibition tournament,that could bring the town back to life.He has lost his zest for life, his will to compete and most of all his swing.It is up to Bagger to help him "see the field...", as he inspires Junah through a tense 2 days of play.He touches the golfer and all those around with his words and leaves a lasting impression on the town.
It is directed by Robert Redford,who always inspires and seems to find the heart of man with his wonderful stories("A River Runs Through It"). The film stars Will Smith as the mysterious Bagger Vance, Matt Damon as Junah and Charlize Theron as Adele, the fiance he left behind. Jack Lemmon adds a touch of elegance as the now older Hardy Greeves, and J.Michael Moncrief plays the younger Hardy exceptionally well.Other notables include Harve Presnell, Lane Smith and Bruce McGill.It is one that may be enjoyed by the family many times over(rated PG-13 for mild sexual content).
A wonderful tale of golf and life!....enjoy...Laurie
also directed by Robert Redford:A River Runs Through It
Movie Review: Painful to watch
Summary: 1 Stars
Who would have thought with this cast that the movie would be as horrendously horrible and unbearable to watch as it was. I honestly thought it was one of the worst movies I have seen. Everybody is trying WAY too hard to make this 'artful', 'magical', etc. In the end, it was about 4 hours longer than I wanted to spend watching it. I definately do not recommend it unless you are looking for a good snooze. I like Damon, Smith, and Theron (normally), and I LOVE golf, but this was just way over-the-top of cheesy, horrible movie-making. Painful and embarrassing for such a fine cast to have made this movie.Movie Review: Drama at its finest.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a drama. Don't watch it looking for action of a lot of laughs, but don't think you won't enjoy it just because it doesn't have tons of humor or action. It deals with very real pain and develops some very strong characters.The movie is set in the Savannah, Georgia in the middle of the Great Depression. Rannulph Junuh, played by Matt Damon, is a war veteran and former golfer who at one time possesed a lot of talent, but has now lost his "swing", not to mention his faith. Despite this he has been asked to play in an exhibition match against the two greatest golfers of his day. His caddy is Bagger Vance, played by Will Smith. Bagger is an angel, Junuh's gaurdian angel. He is the guide who shows Junuh the way to rid himself of his inner demons, and move on with his life.
This movie is wonderful film, and another of Redford's works of art. The acting is superb, and will be hard to surpass. The casting was done very well, and the story extremely well written. Don't miss this one.