Review: Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius (*** 1/2)

BOBBY JONES, STROKE OF GENIUS
A film review by Steve Rhodes

Copyright 2004 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****): *** 1/2


BOBBY JONES, STROKE OF GENIUS is a great sports movie and an inspirational
family film about an American legend, Bobby Jones, who took the meaning of
the word "amateur" back to its roots -- the love of the game. A part-time
golfer and full-time student, he wanted to win all of the major tournaments
without turning pro or even earning a dime off of his skills, and then he
wanted to retire. All of which he did, becoming the first person to win
what was then known as the Grand Slam of Golf. Contrast his dedication to
his sport with today's young athletes who'd be happy to turn pro out right
out of high school if they were offered enough money.



The film is by Rowdy Herrington -- the director of GLADIATOR. No, not that
GLADIATOR but the 1992 boxing movie starring a pre-Oscar Cuba Gooding Jr.
Herrington may not have the credentials of an A-list director, but the
film's star is certainly an up-and-coming actor. After playing someone
worshiped as divine in the year's most popular movie, THE PASSION OF THE
CHRIST, this time James Caviezel plays someone who is worshiped for his
divine game of golf. Caviezel's Jones is a very human hero who suffers from
some serious health problems and who smokes and drinks quite a bit. He also
has such a fiery temper that the younger Jones (Devon Gearhart plays him as
a little kid, and Thomas Lewis as a teenager) is said to have "the face of
an angel and the temper of a timber wolf." A very polite and instantly
likeable Southerner, he is the toast of his small Georgia hometown before he
is acclaimed around the world as golf's very best. The story starts at the
peak of his career in 1936 in St. Andrews, Scotland and then flashes back to
his childhood as a sickly but persistent kid who follows golfers around like
a loyal puppy.



Rowdy Herrington and Bill Pryor's script takes the risky approach of making
Jones's story into an epic tale filled with numerous other characters,
including Jones's fellow golfers and his extended family and friends. The
best of the other characters is Jeremy Northam, who gives a deliciously
wicked performance as Walter Hagen, a.k.a. "Sir Walter," golf's most
notorious playboy and the man to beat until Jones enters the game to compete
against him. Sir Walter loves it when people say of him that he regularly
breaks eleven of the Ten Commandments.



The poem "If" becomes Jones's personal motto, and he loves to quote from it.
Jones has a strong sense of right, which causes him to lose the U.S. Open by
one stroke after he insists on assessing a penalty on himself for doing
something that literally no one else sees.



A thoroughly enjoyable movie, it is funny, sweet and heart-warming. It's a
good-spirited and touching film that will appeal even to those who have
barely played golf. In my one attempt at age 12, I got 102 -- on a
nine-hole course.



BOBBY JONES, STROKE OF GENIUS runs 2:13. It is rated PG for "language" and
would be acceptable for kids around 8 and up.



The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, April 30, 2004.
In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the Camera Cinemas.



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