Robert “Bobby” Tyre
Jones Jr (Jim Caviezel) was perhaps the most naturally gifted golfer
in the history of the game. Battling a disabling illness and a
volcanic temper, Jones struggled through a succession of early defeats
to reach the pinnacle of his sport – becoming, at age 28, the only man
ever to win the coveted Grand Slam of golf. But it was his devotion
to his wife Mary (Claire Forlani) that led to the astounding
announcement that shocked the world.
CRITIQUE
Bobby Jones was a
complicated guy. To the world, he was golf’s greatest player, but
there was more to him than just sports. Jones, who never made a dime
from playing golf, was a lawyer with degrees from Georgia Tech and
Harvard. He loved opera, had a wife and two children, and won the
Grand Slam of golf – all four major tournaments in a single year – and
retired from the sport all before the age of 30. Jones had to earn a
living, so he was not able to play golf every day, and when he did
play, he never seemed to be enjoying himself. It would be easy to say
that because Jones never made money off the sport that he played for
the love of the game, but there is something else at work here. Jones
is a man obsessed, driven to play and deriving little cheer from the
game.
Bobby Jones: Stroke
of Genius does well recreating the period – the 1920’s and 30’s – and weaves in
pieces of the social backdrop (the coming of Prohibition, for example)
without being heavy handed or winking at the audience, something that
fewer and fewer biopics seem capable of. The film does not focus on
Jones’ whole life, focusing rather on his childhood and his
championship golf. The film is a love letter to Jones. We learn at the
end that he served as a Major in World War II, and that he founded the
Augusta National Golf Club and started the Masters Tournament there,
but there is no mention of the club’s exclusion of blacks and
women. Are the facts of Jones’ life sugarcoated? Perhaps. Were there
darker aspects of his personality that go unmentioned? Perhaps, but if
knowing all the details of someone’s life is a prerequisite to
enjoying a film, the film fails.
The performances in
this film are quite good. Caviezel does well as the tortured Jones,
whose obsession with golf excellence is made only more difficult by
his physical struggles. Also notable is Malcolm McDowell as Jones’
friend and biographer, O.B. Keeler, who chronicled Jones’ exploits in
addition to carrying his stomach medicine and whiskey. It is Keeler
who points out in the end that everything Jones did – from golf to
Harvard to law to early retirement – he did for someone else. Jeremy
Northam is Jones’ main rival, Walter Hagen, who admits to playing only
for money. The point of view the film seems to take is that there is
something less honorable about Hagen’s playing only for money, but he
seems to enjoy himself so much more than Jones. Northam plays Hagen as
a man who is simultaneously in awe of Jones’ ability and unable to
accept his superiority. As Jones’ wife Mary, Claire Forlani does well
with what she is given, but her role is a bit cliché: the wife who
wishes nothing more than for her husband to give up his passion and
spend more time at home with her and the kids. Mary sees the side of
Bobby that the rest of the world never does, but much of this is
treated so lightly that it is never long before we are off to another
miracle shot, another decisive tournament win.
“Amateur” has
something of a negative connotation now: a beginner, someone who does
not get paid for what they do, inexperience. For Bobby Jones it was a
badge of honor. Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius is not a perfect
film, but it is a perfect love letter of one of the game’s
greats. Almost totally overlooked during its theatrical release, the
film is worth seeing, if for no other reason that the performances and
the brilliant cinematography. Anyone interested in learning about
Jones’ life would do best to look elsewhere.
THE VIDEO
Bobby Jones: Stroke
of Genius is presented in the original 2.40:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The
transfer is beautiful, perfectly capturing the film’s remarkable
cinematography. There are no noticeable flaws, and the overall picture
is incredibly sharp.
THE AUDIO
This DVD features
an English track in 5.1 Dolby Digital, as well as a French track in
Dolby Surround. The soundtrack is not the most startling thing about
this film (golf is a quiet game, after all), but the
presentation is crisp, with good sound dispersal throughout.
THE EXTRAS
Director’s
commentary with special guest Professor Richard Brown, NYU professor
of film and video:
The two talk about the making of the film, where it was shot, and how
the film relates to the real life people and events.
Bloopers:
A relatively lengthy gag reel that shows the cast and crew having fun
on the set, blowing their lines, and generally having a good time.
Deleted scenes:
Four deleted scenes cut from the film to speed up the first act.
“Celebrating the
Legend – The Making of Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius:
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and how the cast
brought their characters to life.
The Legacy:
A series of five featurettes that focus on the real Bobby Jones, from
archival film footage of his return to St. Andrews in the 1950’s, to
information about his charity organization.
Photo Gallery:
Promotional and behind-the-scenes shots from the film.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Bobby Jones: Stroke
of Genius is a highly watchable film with great performances throughout, and the
film’s photography is among the best in recent memory. The bonus
material on this disc is detailed and interesting. Add this overlooked
film to your Netflix queue; it is great for all ages.
