In going after a "Seabiscuit" type of movie about the famous '30s amateur golfer Bobby Jones, the filmmakers chose a double epithet for a biopic that gets nowhere near that film's captivating sports story from the same era.
Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004)
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Reviews Counted:73
Fresh:19
Rotten:54
Average Rating:4.6/10
Consensus: This earnest, monotonous biopic lacks dramatic tension and simplifies Jones' life.
Theatrical Release:Apr 30, 2004 Wide
Box Office: $2,536,460
Synopsis: For some athletes, the ultimate win comes through a stroke of luck, but for Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., "Bobby Jones," it was truly a stroke of genius. His natural skill and uncanny passion for the... For some athletes, the ultimate win comes through a stroke of luck, but for Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., "Bobby Jones," it was truly a stroke of genius. His natural skill and uncanny passion for the game of golf earned him the title of "The Best Golfer in the World." But it was his style that set him apart. A dashing smile. Impeccable integrity. Unrivaled intensity. Legendary wit and intelligence. An epic passion for life, born out of adversity. For a brief moment in time, this incredible man became an American hero. Bobby Jones - Stroke of Genius tells the story of that man. Overcoming a sickly early childhood, Bobby Jones' earned recognition as a sports phenomenon by the age of 14. Triumphing over his own spirited temper, self-imposed perfectionism and the barbs of public scrutiny, he often endured pain and grueling physical strain to achieve victory on the golf course. Of the 13 titles that he collected during his short career, four of them - the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, the British Amateur and the coveted British Open - were won within four months of the same year, earning him the title of Grand Slam Champion, a record that has never been broken. The next year he retired from competitive golf. He was 28. The film stars Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ, The Thin Red Line), Claire Forlani (Meet Joe Black, The Rock), Jeremy Northam (The Singing Detective, Gosford Park, An Ideal Husband) who are joined by an ensemble cast of some of today's most compelling actors including Connie Ray (About Schmidt, Stuart Little, Hope Floats), Brett Rice (The Punisher, Monster, Remember the Titans) and Malcolm McDowell (The Company, Between Strangers, A Clockwork Orange) as O. B. Keeler. Making their screen film debut are Devon Gearhart as 6-8 year old Bobby Jones and Thomas Lewis as 14 year old Bobby. -- Official Site [More]
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Claire Forlani, Jeremy Northam, Connie Ray
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Claire Forlani, Jeremy Northam, Connie Ray, Brett Rice, Malcolm McDowell
Director: Rowdy Herrington
Director: Rowdy Herrington
Screenwriter: Rowdy Herrington
Producer: Kim Dawson
Studio: Film Foundry Releasing
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Reviews for Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius
The film has its sappy, predictable moments, but the gorgeous cinematography, apt direction and fine acting more than compensate. Think of it like Chariots of Fire on the golf course.
Caviezel é claramente velho demais para o papel, o que já o tornaria uma escolha inadequada - mas, além disso, jamais convence ao retratar o temperamento explosivo de Jones.
... plodding, special interest movie that feels more like a Golf Channel original production than a full-blown major motion picture.
The sort of film wherein Bobby can't win a tournament until he can control his temper.
This would have gone straight to video had it not been for the box-office success of "The Passion of the Christ."
Much like the many 'Jesus' movies, the film stays clear of controversy and plays it safe, making the casting of Jim Caviezel even more ironical.
...[so] reverential that star Jim Caviezel may as well be playing Jesus...Stroke of Genius strikes me as a labor of love; for most audiences, it will be just a labor.
It's Jesus Goes Golfing and by the halfway mark, I was hoping the caddies would rebel and give Jones a 20-minute scourging with a cat o' nine irons.
Destined to reach a tiny audience of serious golf fanatics and Caviezel fans Caviezel convincingly projects Jones's sincerity, flashes of anger, and bursts of pain.
[T]here's just not that much thrill in watching that little ball rolling toward the hole.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
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| 98% 98% | Up |
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| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
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| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
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