Customer Reviews

The Greatest Game Ever Played

5 star:		(102)
4 star:		(36)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

One doesn't have to have read Mark Frost's book (he adapted his book for the screenplay) to enjoy this movie. Obviously, the book contains much more detail regarding the personal histories of Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, JJ McDermott & others leading up to (and following) the 1913 US Open, and there was no way that Frost could have included all of the minute detail without at least doubling the length of the movie. One also misses the discussion of the technology available to the turn-of-the-century golfer, as well as some of the geo-political forces that led to Vardon & Ted Ray making their tour of the United States.

However, what one does get is a beautifully filmed story that has the predictable feel-good nature one would expect from a Disney film, without being sappy. The principals bear a striking resemblance to the historical figures (right down to Eddie the caddie), and the historical match is accurately rendered. While one doesn't get the book's stroke by stroke narrative, one does get to enjoy the energy of the galleries as well as the immense pressures bearing down on the tournament leaders.

I only have a couple of significant complaints about the movie. One is with the wholy fictional relationship (concocted for the purposes of this film) between Francis Ouimet and the upper class young lady. It smacks uncomfortably of Jack-Rose relationship in Titanic, and when the movie focuses on this relationship, it skates dangerously close to outright corniness. Fortunately, once the tournament begins, this subplot is thankfully relegated to the background. By & large it interferes only minimally with the story.

My other beef is with the fact that Harry Vardon comes off as a far too one-dimensional character, as he as portrayed as an ambitious, single-minded, golfing machine, very nearly bereft of passion or emotion. Frost's book provides far more depth to Vardon than one will find here. One would not know from the movie that his American tour came not long after his recovery from a bout with tuberculosis (first striking in 1903, after his 4th British Open) which not only derailed his career (and almost ended it) for several years, but came close to killing him. If the audience could more fully appreciate all of the tremendous obstacles Vardon had overcome, they might be more sympathetic towards him. While not cast as a villain, Vardon's role in this film definitely is that of Ouimet's nemesis more than anything else, which strikes me as unfair.

The one other thing which strikes as unfair is the fact that the audience really has no idea just how tremendously talented these men were. Frost's book devotes considerable space to the equipment of the time, which was downright primative compared to the clubs and balls today's players use. I can only imagine the kinds of scores Vardon & Ouimet might post with today's equipment. However, audiences who don't understand the nature of golf technology in 1913 may only see shots that can be seen a hundred times or more on any PGA tour event on any given weekend, and they may not appreciate the true greatness of these earlier players. Having made this complaint, I have to admit that I don't know how the film could improve in this area. I would suggest that you read the book.

However, this is a movie that one can enjoy without having any knowledge of golf in general or the 1913 US Open in particular. Unlike so many films that claim to be "based on" or "inspired by" true events (but in fact have almost no resemblance to historical events), what you see in this film by & large is what actually happened. Most people should find this to be enjoyable.

If you love golf, you'll love this movie. Even if you don't love golf, you'll enjoy it. The cinematography is phenomenal. The makers of this movie used a specially designed camera in many scenes to follow the ball from shot to stop. One of my favorite shots was Ted Ray's blast through the woods, between the trees, and onto the green with the camera following the ball all the way! As others have said, it's the best golf movie yet, largely because the camera work and film editing added much to the magic of this true come-from-behind story. I also think the close working relationship between director Bill Paxton and the author of the book, The Greatest Game Ever Played, Mark Frost, added to the movie's charm and authenticity.

Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon had something in common. They were `common', according to the societal standards of their respective times. One is American, the other English, born a generation apart. Vardon grew up to become a world-renowned golfer, but could never join "the club" in his own homeland because he came from the underclass. However, he did become a hero to growing boys in Europe and America, including young Francis Ouimet, who grew up across the street from the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. Francis began caddying at a tender age, and there were those who saw something special in him. These gentlemen, and Ouimet's mother (at least in the movie), encouraged him to take his love of golf from the caddie stage to the player's arena. With the odds against him from several directions, he played his way into the hearts and minds of his American countrymen and the world, and into the record books, by playing as an amateur in the 1913 U.S. Open and winning.

Shia LaBoeuf (Holes) is perfect as Ouimet, and Stephen Dillane portrays the stoic, haunted Vardon. The movie overall was well-cast, and Josh Flitter, who plays Eddie Lowery, almost stole the show!! It's a good bet you'll be mesmerized by this wonderful film. Just remember, in the immortal words of 10-year-old Eddie, when holding onto that golf club "Easy squeezy, lemon freezy!"

Carolyn Rowe Hill

We watched this movie in the theaters with the whole family, including two kids under 10. I'm not a golfer, but my husband loves the sport. The movie has great story line, funny moments, a bit of romance and some thrilling episodes. It would make for a nice evening of quality family time.

Please note that the DVD is in widescreen format. That's the only reason I'm not buying it at this time, I'm hoping for a full screen version.

It's pretty much inconceivable that Hollywood will ever tell a true story in a completely accurate way. A certain amount of dramatic license is forgivable, and probably even necessary in order to compress the story into a couple hours. Even fabricating a sub-plot involving a fictional love interest is okay if it doesn't take over the film.

So, despite the historical inaccuracies in this movie (with regard both to Francis' personal life and the details of what occurred during the Open), this is an enjoyable film that captures the spirit and the essential facts of this classic David and Goliath story.

To fully appreciate THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED, it's good to compare it with BOBBY JONES, STROKE OF GENIUS. Both films cost between $20M and $25M. Both were about the game of golf at the turn of the 20th century. Both focused on young, underprivileged underdogs who went on to become the best amateurs in the game, beating out their professional competition. And both show the influence of the great Harry Vardon.

BOBBY JONE, STROKE OF GENIUS, of course, is about Bobby Jones, only amateur ever to win all three tournaments of the Grand Slam in the same year. And he did it while also working on three college degrees simultaneously - thus the "Genius." Jim Caviezel (Passion of the Christ) did a decent job playing Bobby, although he didn't look anything like the man. And Aiden Quinn was good as Harry Vardon - even down to his golfing ability - although he was all but cut from the film because he wouldn't shave a goatee he had grown for another film.

While BOBBY JONES is about an entire golf career, THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED is about one tournament: the 1913 US Open, held at Brookline Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. That was the year that a caddie - Francis Ouimet, who lived across the street from the country club - beat the two top British professionals, including Harry Vardon, and won the tournament - the biggest upset in golf history. Shia LeBeouf (Holes) does a great job playing Ouimet, and Stephen Dillane (The Hours) is superb as Vardon.

The biggest difference between these two films is in the direction. With BOBBY JONES, Rowdy Herrington (Road House) opted to do a very straight drama in the tradition of Chariots of Fire. It turned out to be far more than he could handle. The script is weak. There is far too much time spent on the young Bobby Jones, which contributes very little to the main plot. And visually, it is, well, boring. There are only a handful of creatively interesting shots.

But in THE GREATEST GAME, director Bill Paxton (Apollo 13, acting) pulls out all the stops. Not only is the script taut, but every part of it is essential. And the visuals are incredible, including effects that have never been seen in a sports film before, let alone one about golf. The art direction - including sets, costumes and graphics - is also superb, creating a totally believable and visually sumptuous world. You don't have to love golf to love this movie. That can't be said about BOBBY JONES. While both films have heart, THE GREATEST GAME also has fun.

When I first saw THE GREATEST GAME, there were a couple of things that bothered me. I didn't feel the love relationship between Francis and Sarah Wallis (Peyton List) was believable because their ages seemed so different. I just couldn't see her falling for a boy. I also had trouble accepting a ten-year-old caddy, Eddie Lowery, played like a true ham by Josh Flitter. It seemed like a typical Disney element (the kid who is smarter than the adults that surround him), and I just didn't buy into it. Then I discovered that that really was the way it was! Which doesn't make it any easier to believe, but at least it's true.

These are two very different films about similar events. While BOBBY JONES STROKE OF GENIUS is a good film (3 to 4 stars), THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED is a great film (5 stars). Both directors had a vision; but Bill Paxton has proven that he can carry his out.

Waitsel Smith

But I loved this movie. It is a great family movie that any age person could watch. Good story, good movie direction, and very informative. Why can't more movies be this way, I really do miss the family movies.....highly recommend this to everyone.

I knew I'd like this movie because of Shia LaBeouf and Bill Paxton, both of whose work I admire. I wasn't disappointed. Paxton manages to infuse the sport of golf (which I normally find boring beyond description) with tension, drama and interest, and Shia's performance wins the day. It has great supporting players, particularly Josh Flitter as his spunky caddie Eddie and Stephen Dillane as golf pro Harry Vardon. The story is very uplifting and it's Disney-fied, to be sure, but this is the rare case of a story actually deserving that slightly gooey Disney touch, since it truly is a great underdog tale. Paxton overdoes it a bit with the FX touches, using flashy camera moves at times when he could have easily played it straight, but overall he gets the job done, and gets the movie done right.

The disc is a great treat because of one extra in particular: the interview with the real Francis Ouimet! In 1963 he was filmed walking back through the course where he won his victory, and narrating exactly what happened. It gets a little dry and technical at times and people like myself who don't know anything about golf will get a little lost during his more detailed descriptions of it, but it's a treasure nonetheless. Hearing his own story from his own lips is priceless, and golf-enthusiasts and history buffs alike will be fascinated by his description of how the game of golf changed over the 50 years between his win and his interview. I especially liked the lesson in the difference between golf clubs in 1913 vesus 1963. The only thing that would've made it complete is if there was an extra highlighting the difference between 1960s-era clubs and modern-day ones. I hate golf, but I love history.

The other two extras are short, informative and sweet. One tells the story of the two champs from a modern-day perspective, and the other is a behind-the-scenes look narrated by Bill Paxton that gives a brief overall view of the different elements that went into the movie. And for die-hard fans of the movie, there are TWO separate commentary tracks, one by Paxton and one by the screenwriter, who also wrote the book the movie is based on (and has the same title). In my opinion, these two should have combined forces to offer commentary together on one track. You have to really LOVE the movie to sit through both of those, and I have to admit that I don't love it enough for that, but I'm sure they're pretty informative. It's too bad that not one of the actors could join in. Also absent is Stephen Dillane. He doesn't appear in any interviews in any of the extras at all, which is a shame, because he was my favorite actor from the film.

Overall, this is one you can watch with the whole family and it's well worth checking out.

Francis Ouimet, the son of poor immigrants, falls in love with golf, despite the fact that it is a game played by the wealthy and well-born. He gets as close to the golf course as he can, by being a caddy. His hero is Harry Vardin, himself a product of a poor household, who has won many professional golf championships. Despite opposition from those in charge, Francis manages to play in the U.S. Open against his idol, Harry. When his usual caddy takes an offer of cash from another player, Francis settles for a 10-year-old boy named Eddie. The unlikely pair succeed beyond anyone's expectations by ending up in a tie with Vardin and another golfer. The 18-hole playoff is full of suspense, with the three players having identical scores through the first several holes. Eventually the third player falters and Francis is left in the playoffs with Vardin. This is a heart-warming movie, suitable for the whole family which has the added plus of being a true story.

First I will say that this film is a must-see; it is a great one. For some reason, only five copies were made available at my local video store; as a result, this film was unavailable for a good month after it came out because it was constantly rented out. It appeals to a wide audience on a variety of levels and is just an extremely well-done film.

The film is wonderfully cast. I was already quite familiar with Shia Lebeouf from the Disney show "Even Stevens" and from the (also great) movie "Holes". But this movie greatly heightened my appreciation for young Mr. Lebeouf; the movie is quite dramatic and intense and this young actor played the part as if he were Francis Ouimet himself. The part of Ouimet's caddy, Eddie Lowery, was played by young Josh Flitter. Flitter's acting shows the same integrity and maturity that his character, Lowery, seems to have had back in 1913 at that US open. Both performances were A+.

Bill Paxton directed this piece and does an extraordinary job with the cinematography. We see Harry Vardon mentally shutting all the people around him out as he concentrates on his swing; the people on camera slowly disappear as into a cloud. We see shots made by Ted Ray take off like rockets. We see close-ups of shots made in dense rain digging up the mud; of shots made from water spraying the water onto the air as the ball flies securely toward the hole; of shots made from the sand pits sending sand flying as well as the golf ball. The game is at least half the movie, and it is very well filmed. Even if you know nothing of golf, you will appreciate the filming of this piece and the sense of excitement it brings to your heart.

This movie actually made me want to take up golf (I have never played)...it was that good. I give it an A+A+A+A+A+...that's five A+'s for five stars!

Wow, here is another great golf movie. That's at least three in the past few years that I've really enjoyed, that were well-done, beautifully-filmed and inspirational. The other two were "Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius" and "The Legend Of Bagger Vance."

This is a true underdog story, if there ever was one. To have an amateur defeat all the professionals and win the United States Open Golf Tournament - which really did happen - is an unheard-of feat. Francis Ouimet's victory over golf legends Harry Vardon and Ted Ray is fact. It is an amazing story and the filmmakers did a super job in presenting it here. It isn't something just for golf fans; this is a fun movie. Kudso to actor-turned-director Bill Paxton for an outstanding job.

Shia LaBeouf is winsome as Ouimet as is Steven Dillane as Vardon. For those who don't know, Vardon was like the Tiger Woods of his day, maybe even more unbeatable. In the film, Vardon is pictured as a warm, nice guy; a genuine human being. the other major competitor, Ray (Stephen Marcus) is shown as somewhat of a brutish nasty guy.

The fourth main character of this golf story might be the coolest person in the film: a fifth-grade boy who winds up being Ouimet's caddie in the Open. He (Josh Flitter) brings a lot of humor and charm to the movie.

As with another sports film of 2005 - "Cinderella Man" - here is another excellent movie that got unjustly ignored when it came to awards. I guess nice films don't win awards.....just the hearts of their viewers.