Movie Review: Legend of Bagger Vance

Story: Sport as a metaphor for life is not a new concept. I admit to using my own marathoning experience in the same way on occasion. This time out, director Robert Redford (I prefer the edgy Redford doing films like Quiz Show and Ordinary People rather than the Horse Whisperer and River Runs Through It) uses the golf course with all of it's accompanying sunsets, weather and easily cued violins as his storytelling canvas. Based on Steven Pressfield's novel and scripted by Jeremy Leven, imagine Savannah, Georgia, circa 1930, drenched in sepia tones, in the midst of the Depression (yet amazingly clean and tidy) when we meet a young, local golf phenom, who returning home from WW1, was traumatized, lost his 'swing' and became a drunk for the past ten years. He is enticed back into a local golf exhibition - competition against two real life golf legends, Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones by his ex-sweetheart and the magical appearance of a wise, angelic, Zen-like caddy. Eventually the movie begins. The schmaltz is laid on thick. There are virtually no surprises. I must admit I rolled my eyes and looked at my watch quite a bit. And when a hole-in-one invoked angelic singing voices I pretty much threw my popcorn into the air. Luckily I was too tired from yesterday's Marathon to leave. I am sure there are golfers out there who will enjoy this visually pretty, yet very predictable overdone film. Did I mention there was a dreaded narrator? FOUR!

Acting: Will Smith has mastered the charming, toothy, sage-like, non-threatening black man role. He is a talented man and he carried the film. There was something about him that reminded me of a young Morgan Freeman. Matt Damon (looking like Redford did in the Great Gatsby) is too young and unweathered to play the role of a man who has been traumatized and drunk for ten years. I like Matt Damon but he is not seasoned enough to play these parts yet. Charlize Theron is in way too many movies. This woman needs a rest. Can you say overexposed? Bruce McGill (The Insider) is wonderful as Walter Hagen as is Joel Gretsch (another young Redford look-alike) as Bobby Jones. Young J. Michael Moncrief is adorable as young Hardy Grieves.

Pets: One alligator

Visual Art: Most of the film takes place on the golf course where there are no paintings, sculptures or posters. But the scenery was pretty.

Soundtrack: Soaring and corny.

Opening Credits: Just the sound of a cricket and a black and white title. Not good at all. Definitely needed a segue here.

Theater Audience: Once again I found myself in the secret balcony with just my two Marathon buddies. It was very special indeed.

Sappy Factor: 8

Oscar Worthy: NO

Nit Picking: The costumes looked too much like costumes. Everything was too ironed and polished for the time period.

Length: 10 minutes over the 2 hour rule

LOBO HOWLS: 5