What I really liked about The Legend Of Bagger Vance is the great care that director Robert Redford did in evoking the feel and ambiance of Savannah,
Georgia in the Great Depression. I really did feel like I was back in that time
watching this story about a match between the greatest golfers of their era,
Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. A match where a local man, Matt Damon
gave the greats a run for their money.
Harve Presnell one of Savannah's leading citizens has invested everything in
the development of a new golf course and when stock market crashed he loses
everything and takes his own life. Staving off her father's creditors Charlize
Theron vows that this course will open and will feature a match between the
two best of their time Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. However for a little local rooting interest the townsfolk insist on a local player in with the big
guys.
Said local player is Matt Damon who went to war in 1917 and came out bitter,
disillusioned and drunk. Back in the day people in Savannah thought Damon
might have a future in professional golf then really at its beginning. But he
hasn't swung a club in a decade.
This entire story is seen through the eyes of young J. Michael Moncrief who in
time grows up to be Jack Lemmon who appears at the beginning and end of the film in his farewell role. Lemmon also provides the narration for The Legend Of Bagger Vance.
Damon eventually accepts, but it's only when Will Smith comes along playing
the title role as a most mysterious man who offers to be his caddy that Damon
plays. Smith imparts some real life lessons that both Damon and young Moncrief take in.
Other than Will Smith the only time you see any black people in the film is when Damon is discovered, living reclusively, drinking heavily and in a poker
game with several black people. In segregated Savannah of the Twenties while
you see a genteel version of the South it still has its racist mores and only Damon and Moncrief break them. The only black face you see in the crowds
at the celebrated match is Will Smith's.
Joel Gretsch as Bobby Jones and Bruce McGill as Walter Hagen exactly fit the
conception I had of both Jones and Hagen. They were as different as baseball
legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Hagen was a cheerful hedonist who was
quoted as saying he didn't want to be a millionaire just live like one. Jones was
the epitome of clean living and good sportsmanship. Among those covering
the match was Grantland Rice played here by Lane Smith in his farewell role.
How the match comes out is for you to watch the film for. But some life lessons are learned by all the players.
