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A disillusioned war veteran, Capt. Rannulph Junah (Matt Damon), reluctantly agrees to play a game of golf. He finds the game futile until his caddy, Bagger Vance (Will Smith), teaches him the secret of the authentic golf stroke which turns out also to be the secret to mastering any challenge and finding meaning in life.The Legend of Bagger Vance doesn’t break any new ground, but with Steven Pressfield’s inspirational novel to guide them, director Robert Redford and screenwriter Jeremy Leven have tilled fertile soil with a graceful touch. Redford does for golf what A River Runs Through It did for fly-fishing: the sport is a conduit for a philosophy of living, and Redford achieves the small miracle of making golf a central metaphor that’s visually compelling.
Set in Savannah, Georgia, during the early ’30s, the story charts the redemption of disillusioned World War I veteran and former golf champion Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon), who emerges from self-imposed obscurity in an exhibition match against legendary golfers Bobby Jones (Joel Gretsch) and Walter Hagen (Bruce McGill). Having earlier abandoned the socialite (Charlize Theron) who has organized the tournament to promote her late father’s spectacular golf resort, Junuh now depends on the support of a young fan (perfectly cast newcomer J. Michael Moncrief) and the mysterious Bagger Vance (Will Smith), a smiling Jiminy Cricket who serves as Junuh’s caddy, golf guru, and Socratic angel of mercy.
As Junuh regains the “authentic swing” he feared was lost forever, Redford guides his splendid cast through a spiritual journey that is specific to the discipline of golf and yet potently universal. As always, Redford also conveys his respect for nature and the rhythms of life as well as a sweet nostalgia for simpler times and purer values. With the casting of Jack Lemmon as the film’s present-day narrator and elderly version of Moncrief’s character, The Legend of Bagger Vance gains even greater dignity and, indeed, the glowing aura of legend. –Jeff Shannon
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February 1, 2006
#1
The problem with this picture, where at the premiere showing there were many walkouts is in the “casting.” Matt Damon is totally unbelievable as well as uninteresting in this movie. Pehaps the worse bit of casting is placing Joel Gretsch in the part of Bobbie Jones. Gretsch has only appeared in one previous film-a porno film, cannot act, everything is like in the same tone of voice, and he obviously is not ready for a role in a major motion picture. This film will open with the smallest gross of the three major releases set for Nov. 3rd. What a pity. Casting director Debra Zane should have chosen her cast better and steered away from pathetic Joel Gretsch.
February 1, 2006
#2
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
http://www.bootism.com
February 1, 2006
#3
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.
February 1, 2006
#4
Robert Redford shows you some beautiful sceanery. Will Smith and Matt Damon do their best. But this film was put together so shoddy I cant beleive it. Microphones appear everywhere throughout this film. If your depressed and need some inspiration though shallow as it is go see this film. Robert Redford gets an “F” for editing. You loose the magic of the film when you see microphones dangling around. The theaters already pulled this one from their screens. Wait for Blockbuster.
February 1, 2006
#5
This film struck me as an attempt to make the game of golf as a metaphor for our entire lives. Lets face it, it is simply a game, not some ancient Zen teaching that the Buddhists left us to figure out. Some good acting on the part of Matt Damon and Will Smith, but otherwise it was a very odd film. It was a film that also attempted to munipulate a simple game into something much larger then it really is. Not to mention it being incredibly boring! Directos must really come to face with the facts in the future, movies that are strictly about a sport aren’t very good films, especially this one, where Will Smith tries to divulge the meaning of life through a golf game!