Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius (Special Edition) | James Caviezel, Claire Forlani

Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius (Special Edition) | James Caviezel, Claire Forlani | Smarty Jones

DVDs:

Bobby Jones, Strok...

	Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius (Special Edition) James Caviezel, Claire Forlani Sony Pictures, 2004 average customer review:based on 43 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius

Bobby Jones , Stroke of Genius is one of the best golf movies I have seen. Jim Caviezel does an excellent at portrying Bobby Jones. And Claire Forlani did a great job as his wife.
If you like golf you will enjoy this movie.

Jeffrey Steron

Smarty Jones

When my dad and I went to see this Bobby Jones movie we were alone in the theater because Smarty Jones was running in a race that day and everybody else wanted to stay home to watch Smarty Jones. I thought it was the best movie I ever saw.

A Rather Surprisingly Good Biography of an Icon

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, June 05

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Lovely filming, what was the story again?

The tale of Bobby Jones is one known to almost any golfer. At the very least, his greatest feat, claiming the Grand Slam, is firmly in their minds. A film on Bobby Jones and his eventual triumph was long in the coming.

The photography is probably the greatest asset of this work. Views of the Old Course at St. Andrews, Oakmont, and many other famous courses and clubs make up for whatever may be lacking in terms of story and development.

As for the story itself, the depiction of Jones, while living up more or less to what many of us imagine, lacks some of the complexity it could have had. For example, no mention is made of the series of instructional films made in the 30s after his retirement from competative golf, seen by most as having given him back in full whatever money he missed out on by maintaining his amateur status. His motivation to make these films, and essentially abandon his amateur status, is not covered. We also don't get to see Alastair Mackenzie, the architect of Augusta National, whose interaction with Jones would have spoke a great deal as to both of thier views on the game.

Hopefully in the coming years more films reexamining the legends will be made so the newer members of the golfing community will at least know why they call it the Grand Slam, who Ouimet was, and why Harry Vardon was idolized so much.

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TEE TIME

BOBBY JONES STROKE OF GENIUS is a reverential exploration of a great figure in the sport of golf. Jones fought a debilitating spinal disease to become the greatest amateur golfer of our time. He is the only golfer in history to win the grand slam. Director Rowdy Herrington shows a respect for the game and he does his best to canonize Jones. Jim Caviezel (Passion of the Christ, Frequency) embodies the role well, although at times he seems so unhappy it's hard to feel joy with him when it does occur. Claire Forlani lends good support as his supportive wife; Malcolm McDowell plays the rare good guy as Jones's sportswriting friend; and Jeremy Northam brings a good amount of egoism to his role as rival Walter Hagen. The movie so sanitized, however, it doesn't really capture the drive and torment of Jones so much as to elevate his genius. (He also got two degrees and finished law school during all this). It's an admirable movie, but not a truly engaging one.

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