Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius

Not being a golfer or a fan of biographies of sportsmen, this viewer found a surprising amount of satisfaction in this recreation of the life of Bobby Jones, whose fame in the game of golf is legendary. So the question arises: "How can a film about golf maintain such a viewer's attention and appreciation?" The answer lies in the physical production of this beautiful little film. Capturing the essence of the world in the 1920s and 1930s not only in costuming and manners and atmosphere but in sociologic and philosophic vantages, Director Rowdy Herrington has ably explored the life and times of the reluctant hero in a way that exhumes a period in history when everyone needed something to believe in. Actors Jim Caviezel, Malcolm McDowell, Jeremy Northam, and Claire Forlani not only look their parts: their demeanor before the camera absorbs the state of mind of America lapsing from the riotous 20s to the massive depression of the 30s.

Bobby Jones physical problems, both self induced and genetic, are explored with just enough veracity to make him more of a well-rounded character than a cardboard saint (we don't learn the name of his neurological disorder - syringomyelia - until the final credits). His struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds to move through every golfing challenge of his day and succeed beyond the realm of possibility is well captured in Caviezel's delicately nuanced performance.

Not a great movie, but certainly worth more attention than it received in the theaters. You don't need to be a golfer to appreciate the beauty of this little moment of nostalgia. Grady Harp

My dad loved golf, and I wish I did. Unfortunately, I'm like my mom--as unathletic as you can get. But I enjoyed this film about the greatest amateur golfer who ever lived.

Bobby Jones didn't do it for the money. Isn't that an anachronism in this sports-crazed age of million dollar salaries! Bobby's record as the only golfer to win the big three of golf tournaments still stands. He walked away from it after this accomplishment to devote his life to his family.

I really like this movie. It portrayed a time when values meant something. Jim Caviezel does a great job as do the rest of the cast. The guy who plays Jones' arch rival, Walter Kagan almost steals the movie.

Good movie!, shows the beautiful of the golf game and the life of a true gentlemen and a legend! In this movie you can feel the beauty of golf, a game of masters, that involve the society of the 1920's, 30's and 40's trough the life of a legend, Bobby Jones (Caviezel), the only golf player that has ever won the grand slam (the four biggest tournaments in the same year), and the one that designed and started the Augusta National, home of the Masters!.

But the more important things, is that you'll be close to the good and bad events in Bobby's life, his bad temper, his values and his life as a son, husband father and player. You can really feel the very human side of Jones noble character; you'll also see great acting roles of Claire Forlani as his wife Mari Malone, Jeremy Northam as his rival and friend Walter Hagen, Malcolm McDowell, as loyal friend O.B. Keeler.

Enjoy this good film with really good golf (i'm not a golf fan, but i loved the way the game is shown here)

We saw this movie last night on its opening night for the public. It was a good movie about a man who loved to play golf, and over his lifetime transformed himself into a man of integrity, perseverance, and great intelligence. He knew what was really important in his life and he made a plan that allowed him to fulfill his destiny in golf and in his personal life. He was the best golf player in the world, but he was also an awesome man personally. One of his greatest accomplishments was bringing his father and grandfather together, healing a life-long rift.

The movie was well done. It was both entertaining and enlightening. It definitely kept our interest for the whole two hours. We felt his sense of life-long struggle, that life was never easy for him, and we celebrated his accomplishments, both on and off the golf course. The actors did a wonderful job, especially Jim Caviezel as Bobby and Malcolm McDowell as OB Keilor, the newspaper reporter who wrote about Bobby's career from the very beginning. Jeremy Northam also had a good supporting role as Walter Hagen.

We'd recommend that you see this movie; you don't have to love golf to enjoy it (but if you do, you'll enjoy it all the more). It's worth seeing in the movie theater.

A nice, indeed refreshing departure--along the lines of Sea Biscuit, Radio, and Chariots of Fire--from today's largely vacuous movie fare. The generational interplay between grandfather, father, and son together with the undergirding theme that there are things more important than championships, combine to make this a fine film.

This film is not for those whose entertainment tastes demand sex, gratuitous violence, or fast paced action. On the other hand, if you are tired of that type entertainment and enjoyed the above mentioned films, or Master and Commander, you should find this a very worthwhile picture. Unfortunately, it was not well-attended the day I saw it, though I did attend a matinee.