AT THE MOVIES WITH DILLON KIMMEL
A legend in the sport but well past his prime, Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane) was considered the greatest golfer ever by the beginning of the twentieth century. Five-time British Open champ, Vardon had dominated not only his fellow Brits but also the Americans for years. But his fame and expertise began to diminish by 1913, and many questioned whether Vardon had anything left for another championship run.
Meanwhile, the Brits were still fuming over the American’s recent win in the U.S. Open, an event Britain had owned for years. Determined to take the cup back from the Americans, the British aristocracy enlist Harry Vardon for one more run. Vardon is reluctant, however, to undertake such a rigorous task, as he is not getting any younger. But in a country where titles still mean everything, Vardon did not come from the right roots. And though he is a legend, he is not considered elite. Fueled by a promise of an honorary title if he brings a victory back to his country, Vardon agrees.
Two thousand miles away in Massachusetts, 20-year old Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) is a typical New Englander, still living at home and dreaming of playing professional golf. But he, too, lacks the social status to be taken seriously in the sport. As a caddy at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, Ouimet knows the course inside and out, though his father (Elias Koteas) strongly disapproves of his son’s goals. After failing to qualify for the U.S. Open, (scheduled to be played in Brookline that year) Ouimet’s father convinces him to hang up the golf clubs for good.
A few months later, however, everything changes. Vardon (Oiumet’s childhood hero) announces his participation in the Open, and Oiumet is invited to participate as well as an amateur. A complete unknown in the golfing world, Oiumet finds himself teeing off against golfing legends. But none have more on the line than Vardon, whose future social standing in Britain is in jeopardy if he loses.
And thus begins a true David vs. Goliath story: the young, upstart peasant boy from small-town USA against the greatest golfer to ever play the game. It truly was “the greatest game ever played.”
The Greatest Game Ever Played will surely prove to be another family classic. A charming performance by Shia LaBeouf anchors the strong cast, and Oiumet’s fifth grade caddy, Eddie (Josh Flitter), nearly steals the show with his hilarious one-liners. Elias Koteas is also quite impressive as Oiumet’s gruff and rough father.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the film is its unusual cinematography. The camera frequently zooms in on the character’s tee shots, and the audience gets to see the shot as the golf ball would. Also, to visually capture Vardon’s strategy for zoning out his surroundings while playing, the camera pans as the people and landscape around Vardon vanish, leaving only the fairway and green in front of him. It gives the audience an effective look into Vardon’s mind.
Based on a true story, The Greatest Game Ever Played wins viewers with its effective balance between comedy and drama, as well as with its strong character performances. Shia LaBeouf, better known for his slapstick role on the Disney Channel’s Even Stevens, especially shines in his silver screen debut. The cinematography keeps the viewer’s attention, and all loose ends are tied up at the end; no head-scratching or gaping plot holes to be found. Overall, director Bill Paxton does a solid job of weaving a genuine, fell-good story that is sure to give audiences that warm and fuzzy feeling after leaving the theater. I give it 3.5 stars.
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