Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius | | Cast : | James Caviezel, Claire Forlani, Jeremy Northam | | Director : | Rowdy Herrington | | Studio : | Columbia Tristar Hom | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | April 30, 2004 | | DVD Released Date : | May 24, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 03, 2005 | | Summary | A Rather Surprisingly Good Biography of an Icon | Content
 | Not being a golfer or a fan of biographies of sportsmen, this viewer found a surprising amount of satisfaction in this recreation of the life of Bobby Jones, whose fame in the game of golf is legendary. So the question arises: "How can a film about golf maintain such a viewer's attention and appreciation?"
The answer lies in the physical production of this beautiful little film. Capturing the essence of the world in the 1920s and 1930s not only in costuming and manners and atmosphere but in sociologic and philosophic vantages, Director Rowdy Herrington has ably explored the life and times of the reluctant hero in a way that exhumes a period in history when everyone needed something to believe in. Actors Jim Caviezel, Malcolm McDowell, Jeremy Northam, and Claire Forlani not only look their parts: their demeanor before the camera absorbs the state of mind of America lapsing from the riotous 20s to the massive depression of the 30s.
Bobby Jones physical problems, both self induced and genetic, are explored with just enough veracity to make him more of a well-rounded character than a cardboard saint (we don't learn the name of his neurological disorder - syringomyelia - until the final credits). His struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds to move through every golfing challenge of his day and succeed beyond the realm of possibility is well captured in Caviezel's delicately nuanced performance.
Not a great movie, but certainly worth more attention than it received in the theaters. You don't need to be a golfer to appreciate the beauty of this little moment of nostalgia. Grady Harp, June 05 |
| Rating | | | Date | May 25, 2005 | | Summary | Lovely filming, what was the story again? | Content
| The tale of Bobby Jones is one known to almost any golfer. At the very least, his greatest feat, claiming the Grand Slam, is firmly in their minds. A film on Bobby Jones and his eventual triumph was long in the coming.
The photography is probably the greatest asset of this work. Views of the Old Course at St. Andrews, Oakmont, and many other famous courses and clubs make up for whatever may be lacking in terms of story and development.
As for the story itself, the depiction of Jones, while living up more or less to what many of us imagine, lacks some of the complexity it could have had. For example, no mention is made of the series of instructional films made in the 30s after his retirement from competative golf, seen by most as having given him back in full whatever money he missed out on by maintaining his amateur status. His motivation to make these films, and essentially abandon his amateur status, is not covered. We also don't get to see Alastair Mackenzie, the architect of Augusta National, whose interaction with Jones would have spoke a great deal as to both of thier views on the game.
Hopefully in the coming years more films reexamining the legends will be made so the newer members of the golfing community will at least know why they call it the Grand Slam, who Ouimet was, and why Harry Vardon was idolized so much. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 20, 2005 | | Summary | Smarty Jones | Content
| When my dad and I went to see this Bobby Jones movie we were alone in the theater because Smarty Jones was running in a race that day and everybody else wanted to stay home to watch Smarty Jones. I thought it was the best movie I ever saw. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 07, 2005 | | Summary | An extremely boring, cheesy, and inaccurate portrayal | Content
| To begin, the facts within the movie are inaccurate. The film attempts to portray a series of opposing forces pulling at Bobby from different directions; i.e his mother disapproving of his golfing as it detracts from his schooling, and his father encouraging his golfing at the expense of his studies. This if false, as his mother was really an avid golfer, and the family used to go golfing together quite avidly.
The list goes on with false portrayals of of his tournament play, the nature of his relationship with Walter Hagen, his home life, the nature of his study habits, and even the portrayal of the personality and character of Bobby Jones himself is inaccurate within the film.
As if the above list is not enough to ruin the film, the production of the film was the final straw.
The story line was scattered and choppy. It didn't flow and if you did not have some prior knowledge of the life of Bobby Jones, you would probably not be able to understand the significance of many of the scenes.
The dialogue was cheesy, the story line was poorly edited, and the facts of Jones' life were both distorted and often outright wrong.
The only positive lights in this film were the scenes of St. Andrews. But its pretty hard to botch up footage of the greatest golf course in history. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 31, 2005 | | Summary | "Whatever you do, don't stop hitting the ball" | Content
| Over earnest, intermittently dull, and with an excessively embellished musical score, Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius is still pretty entertaining, and golfing fanatics are going to totally love it. Other viewers certainly don't have to know anything about golf to appreciate the film because the pleasure in watching is leaning all about who Georgia born golf legend Booby Jones actually was, and also watching actor, Jim Caviezel do a terrific job of bringing the highly moral, focused, and often-reluctant star golfer to life.
Bobby Jones was the only man ever to win the four major tournaments in one year. A man of integrity, he disliked fame, hated the thought of playing for money, and was the consummate gentleman amateur who won simply by showing up. Battling ill health, and plagued by a nervous disorder, Bobby retired in 1930, at age 28. This good hearted biopic traces the golf master's evolution from a sickly Atlanta childhood, where his father encouraged him to play golf against his mother's better judgment, to a 14-year-old competition wonder where he goes up against the pros., to his Grand Slam rout of the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, British Amateur and British Open titles.
The movie's story is generic in every respect, but the pleasure of watching is in Caviezel's totally nuanced performance, where he brings a surprising degree of emotional heft to the role of Jones. Gifted from an early age, and totally driven, Caviezel plays him as a man who has tremendous veracity and honesty, and who wants to do the right thing by his wife, Mary (a gorgeous Claire Forlani), while also satisfying his concerned but loving parents Bob and Clara (Connie Ray and Brett Rice). He's so ambitious, and single-minded, that he eventually goes on to complete two Masters, obtain a law degree, and try his hand at selling real estate while still playing championship golf!
Throughout the film the viewer is introduced to a variety of affable and genial folk, both in America and in Scotland, who influence and affect his life: O.B. Keeler (Malcolm McDowell), is the Atlanta Journal sportswriter who becomes Jones' best friend and confidant; Walter Hagen (a strutting and preening Jeremy Northam), is Jones's main competitor - a pleasure-seeking professional who is at times Bobby's friendly mentor but can't help be annoyed by his rival's ingenuous success, and Dan Albright, who plays Bobby's rigid, bible-bashing grandfather, who thinks Bobby should be doing something more productive with his time.
Although the movie is set against the background of the tumultuous 1920's where prohibition was in force, it doesn't really offer any lasting social comment, except in one scene where Bobby - forced to explain why he won't play for money - precipitously and calmly states that "money will ruin this game one day"; it's a starling reminder of how far money and sports have come.
The movie is gorgeous to look at, with the locations in Georgia and Scotland well chosen, as well as some of the most exquisitely contoured and gentle fairways. Much care has obviously been lavished on the costumes, designed by Beverly Safier, and other period detail given what was undeniably a limited budget. Yes - the film is at times ambling, staid, and considered, just like the game itself. And despite the vigorous, lets get on to the next chapter narrative, Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius remains relaxed, leisurely, and unforced, exactly the way an enjoyable round of golf should be. Mike Leonard March 05.
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