Mr. Caviezel's naturalness provides this movie's artistic salvation.
Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004)
Tomatometer
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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
While it's somewhat bloated and intermittently dull at two hours-plus, the polished visual treatment and Caviezel's sober performance lift this above the standard network movie-of-the-week level that might otherwise have been its natural domain.
It is nice to be reminded every so often that competition can be emotionally rewarding as much, if not more, than monetary gain.
Flawed as it may be, it respectfully honors a man who deserves to be honored.
The picture looks good and plays well, if deliberately, like a golfing version of Chariots of Fire.
Relaxed, leisurely and unforced, exactly the way a pleasant round of golf ought to be.
This would have gone straight to video had it not been for the box-office success of "The Passion of the Christ."
Caviezel manages to mix integrity and humanity in his portrayal despite the limitations of the fairly mundane script.
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.
Bobby Jones had a golf swing remembered as sheer poetry in motion, and much of the movie about him demonstrates the same grace.
Was Bobby Jones really this great a guy? Who knows? But after watching the greed that has consumed sports and the anti-heroes that have consumed modern films, finding someone to clap for is an OK way to pass the time.
No doubt we should be grateful that Jones' story isn't churned up into soap opera and hyped with false crises and climaxes; it is the story of a golfer, and it contains a lot of golf.
A great sports movie and an inspirational family film about an American legend.
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.
Amazingly, it engages your attention and even respect while trotting out every clubhouse cliche in the book.
The movie struggles to drum up excitement during the golfing games and gets bloated by trying to examine every angle of Jones.
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