Tommy's Honour

"Tommy's Honour" (2016 release from Scotland; 115 min.) brings the story of father and son Tommy and Tommy Jr. Morris. As the movie opens, a reporter from the Times of London wants to interview Tommy, by now an old man. But Tommy informs the reporter that the only story he is willing to give him, is about a young man. We then go back in time to the 1860s, and we learn that the young man referred to is Tommy Jr., an up-and-coming lad who loves the game of golf. His dad is a the groundskeeper of the local golf club and started the Open Championship. Along the way, we get to know other characters, including an aristocrat for whom the Morris lads play organized golf, and a young waitress who catches Tommy Jr.'s eye. At this point we are 10 min. into the movie, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the big screen adaptation of the book of the same name by Kevin Cook(who co-wrote the movie's script). The director is Jason Connery (yes, son of Scottish icon Sean Connery, and best known for his acting work in UK TV and movies). The movie is a mix of sports movie, family drama, romance, and war of the classes. The tensions between father and son are the most obvious, with the older Morris sticking to the 'agreed' behavior between working class and aristocrats, while young Tommy is eager to break the rules. When he pushes for a better financial arrangement, the Captain of the golf club sneers "Your station in life was set well before you were born", and later on (when Tommy wins yet another major golf event) "You're a hero to this town, but a gentleman you will never be", ouch! I found the movie a bit lightweight, to be honest, as those tensions never really feel real. It isn't until much later in the movie (when Tommy Jr.'s love life becomes the focus) that we feel emotionally involved. Along the way, the gorgeous photography (entirely filmed on location of course) makes this movie feel like one long advert for the beauty that is Scotland. The acting performances are fine: Peter Mullan as Old Tom Morris, Jack Lowden as Tommy Morris, and none other than Sam Neil as the Captain/villain aristocrat.

"Tommy's Honour" opened in US theaters this weekend. I imagine it's not a coincidence that this is the very weekend after the Masters, the Super Bowl of golf when interest in the game is at its peak in the US. This is an okay movie, in particular if you has a special interest in golf. I found it to be pleasant, nothing more, nothing else.

I enjoyed this lovely heartfelt biopic, history, drama, and romance. You don't need to know anything about golf, or even like it, to enjoy it. The lead actors, Jack Lowden, Peter Mullan, Ophelia Lovibond, and Sam Neill, are great. While the very first section of the movie is a little thin and TV-movie-ish, with predictable family scenes and sappy music, it recovers itself and becomes quite interesting once the major threads of the drama get underway, so stick with it and your attention will be rewarded. I'm happy to be aware now of this little-known chapter of fascinating history.

While the Morris family did not invent golf, they did create a following for it. This movie is based upon a true story. While I find it rather primitive to grow up in 19th century, that is when this story happened. It was a time of classes! You had your rich, born with a silver spoon in your mouth, upper class. Then you had the poor servants, such as the waitress, the golf grounds keeper and his family. Old Tom Morris was the grounds keeper for the premier golf course in Scotland. Young Tom Morris was his son, who reached for the stars and demanded respect as well as being treated as an equal! Together they were the best golfing pair in the world!!

Surprised that I enjoyed this film a lot, as was not expecting the story to be enthralling as it was.

Based on the true story of the father and son who basically founded the professional game of golf enjoyed by millions today.

Peter Mullan as always gives a good performance, but the real star is Jack Lowden as the son. His star is ascending

With scant knowledge of or interest in golf and no notion at all of the Morris father and son partnership, this film was not an obvious viewing choice. However, Mullan and Neill were a draw-card enough and so I found myself whisked up to the wilds and links of Scotland. Beautiful scenery, a social interest story of class, and a creeping disapproval of the unkindness of some religious attitudes drew me in. The central performances of Lowden and Lovibond illuminate the piece, and create the emotional heft. Even with no engagement with golf, it's impossible not to care about the fortunes of this young couple. Watch it with an Open mind and heart.