Great Film: The Legend of Bagger Vance
Another Excellent Fantasy-Sports Film
I usually like fantasy movies and I really enjoy sports films. Combine
the two well - like "Field Of Dreams" and like this movie - and I am
sure to rate this extremely high. I've seen it three times and enjoyed
it immensely each time.
It reminded me a bit, too, of "The Natural," but instead of baseball,
this one features golf and real-life legends Bobby Jones and Walter
Hagen playing the local guy, "Rannulph Junuh" (Matt Damon). Like "The
Natural," this is beautifully photographed, has a wonderful feel-good
ending, a variety of characters, a beautiful lead woman and good
acting.
The no-name child actor in here, J. Michael Moncrief, who plays "Hardy
Greaves," narrates the film as an older man looking back on this story.
The kid is a fine actor, too, and I really enjoyed his Georgia accent.
Charlize Theron is the beauty, playing "Adele Invergordon," a woman who
organizes this famous golf match between the greatest amateur player of
the world, the best professional and "Junuh," who is the focus of this
story. Theron's known for her dramatic roles but she exhibits a nice
comedy touch in here.
Damon does his normal fine job of acting and Will Smith, as the angelic
caddie "Bagger Vance," is uncharacteristically low-key, which I found
nice to see. Bruce Magill did a good as Hagen and Joel Gretsch,
likewise, for Jones. Magill is obviously the best real-life golfer here
among these actors. Damon had to learn the game from scratch, and did a
fine job with his swing.
The only part of this film that went a little overboard - but it's the
fantasy part of the story - was the New Age-type preaching by "Bagger."
However, some of his speeches were simply golf visualization, which has
always been taught as a means to concentrate better on one's
shot-making. I didn't think hearing the Lord's name in vain a half
dozen times was necessary in here, either, but what are you gonna do?
Other than those things, this is great film and I one I throughly
appreciate every time I see it.
Cast
- Walter Hagen played by Bruce Mcgill
- Bagger Vance played by Will Smith
- Adele Invergordon played by Charlize Theron
- Spec Hammond played by Thomas Jay Ryan
- John Invergordon played by Harve Presnell
- Rannulph Junuh played by Matt Damon
- O.B. Keeler played by Michael O'neill
