"Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius"
In the modern history of the game of golf there are
four tournaments that define the sport - the British
Open, British Amateur, US Open and US Amateur
championships. In 1930, Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. stunned
the golf world when he set his cap to win the Grand
Slam of golf - and did it! His story is told by
director Rowdy Herrington with Jim Caviezal in the
role of "Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius."
Herrington, working the script that he, Bill Pryor and
Tony De Paul scribed, tells a straightforward,
historically accurate account about the man who
performed a Herculean feat that has not been repeated
in over 60 years. "Bobby Jones," though, is a niche
film that may have problems attracting a non-golfing
crowd that has little or no awareness of the man and
his many accomplishments. Duffers, those who like "Tin
Cup" and "The Legend of Bagger Vance," will likely be
pleased with the telling of the story of the golf
legend.
Jones's story begins with 6-year old Bobby (Devon
Gearhart) batting golf balls with his cut-down 1-iron.
His daddy, Big Bob (Brett Rice), encourages his sickly
son to play, hoping to give the boy better health and
exercise. Soon, young Bobby is trailing behind on the
course, mimicking Scottish pro Stewart Maiden
(Alistair Begg), and begins to play in earnest. A few
years later, at age 14, Bobby (Thomas Lewis) won the
Georgia Amateur and became the youngest player to
qualify and compete in the 1916 U.S. Amateur
Championship, almost winning the event and earning the
title, "Dixie Whiz Kid."
Although Big Bob encouraged his son to play the game
and hone his natural golf skills, his mother pushed
the teenaged Bobby to get an education. He graduated
from Georgia Tech at the tender age of 18, later
earned an English degree from Harvard in three
semesters and went on to Emory University Law school
for just a year before taking and passing the Georgia
Bar exam. During these years of procuring a higher
education, he continued to play the game and made a
solid amateur career. But, beginning in 1923, Bob
Jones began to become a legend. In 1926 he became the
first player to win "The Double" - the U.S. and
British Opens, - both in the same year. His status as
the greatest golfer, ever, came with his winning the
Grand Slam in 1930, a feat never repeated.
Herrington does a solid job in telling Jones's story
and bases much of it on the facts of the golf master's
illustrious life. It is a by-the-numbers document that
chronicles Bobby's truly remarkable life and his truly
remarkable achievements. Jim Caviezal gives a sober
performance as a perfectionist who wants to be true to
those closest to him - his father (Rice), mother
(Connie Ray), grandfather (Dan Albright) and wife,
Mary (Claire Forlani) - much to the detriment of his
own mental and physical well-being. Caviezal's
performance, unfortunately, lacks dimension and keeps
the viewer at arm's length, never allow us to see what
made the man tick.
Supporting performances are good and varied with
Jeremy Northam putting a credible spin on his Walter
Hagen golf pro character. Hagen was a flamboyant
player who pioneered making a professional career out
of the sport and captures the man's insouciant, bon
vivant attitude perfectly. Brett Rice is also fine as
Bobby's dad and fervent supporter throughout his
meteoric career. Malcolm McDowell, as Atlanta sports
journalist and Bobby's confidant, O.B. Wheeler, shows
his usual versatility and ability to put on a
believable southern drawl. Claire Forlani has the
usually tough role as the loving, supportive wife but
the actress gives her character, Mary Malone Jones,
dimension. Background characters are fully realized,
such as Paul Freedman as aging caddy Angus who
maintains a loyalty to Jones whenever the man returned
to the famous St. Andrews golf course. Other
supporting cast members also help flesh out the
background.
The script is hit or miss at times, in one case
introducing a character quirk with 14-year old Bobby
ritually rubbing his lucky charm before tee off. This
behavior is dropped through the rest of the film until
the climax when the adult Bobby suddenly reverts to
the habit once again. There are other elements that
are there to introduce conflict and resolution that
seem tacked on to give the film verisimilitude. There
is a rushed feel to the production that makes "Bobby
Jones" appear like it was put out to capitalize on
Caviezal's starring turn in "The Passion of the
Christ." The rough edges should have been smoothed out
before sending it to the big screen.
Techs are fine with cinematographer Tom Stern doing
yeoman's work behind the camera to capture the golf
"action" (not a word I would normally attach to the
sport). Costume, by Beverly Safier, does an exemplary
job of creating the period look and feel for the film.
The varied golf course locations, especially the St.
Andrews links in Scotland, are given their due.
"Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius," like last year's
sports drama, "Seabiscuit," is an earnest attempt to
portray the life of a sport legend. It does the job
but it is definitely targeted for a specific niche
audience - you duffers out there know who I'm talking
about - that may garner fair attendance. I give it a
B-.
For more Reeling Reviews visit www.reelingreviews.com
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laura@reelingreviews.com
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