The Legend of Bagger Vance

It handles a sports movie the way Billie Holiday handled a trashy song, by finding the love and pain beneath the story.

As entertaining, charming and conceited as other Robert Redford joints, but it's also insufferably obvious.

So meticulous in its craftsmanship and so earnest in its storytelling that it feels both physically and spiritually airbrushed.

A pleasant myth.

The trouble lies in its stereotypical style, its schmaltzy emotionalism.

Middlebrow art has its built-in pitfalls, not the least of them sentimentality and intellectual flabbiness -- both of which are in abundant supply in Bagger Vance.

Not only is it excruciatingly boring -- but its central premises are so banal and dubious as to border on offensiveness.

almost 10 years later, but Iove this movie.. and agree with Michael P and **** A.. why aren't movie critics called movie cynics.. It takes something dark, twisted almost abominable for them to give it a thumbs up.. I always know now, that if a critic hates it , i run to see it and likewise if they love it ... I RUN.. AS pretentious as they are, if the general public understands it and likes it , they only have contempt... I find them ( movie critics) as only in competition with other criitics, it is not popular to "like " a movie, they find that below themselves and I find them contemptible ..

Having seen films of this nature I was sceptical as to the potential quality I was going to see, but I doubt there is a finer example of movie magic than this. Perfectly paced movie, with the utmost heart and passion to tell a story, this movie is a pleasure in every respect. From the perfectly pitched performances, wonderful edited scenes, and the marvellous attention to detail in everything from wardrobe to cinematography, this movie crafts a masterpiece. I watch this film often to renew the experience.

It's a beautifully romantic story based on a Steven Pressfield novel that uses a Depression-era exhibition golf tournament set in the heart if the South to tell the story of how war-scarred onetime hometown idol Rannulph Junuh (Damon) found his golf game again, and in the process, himself. Damon takes alternate turns being likable and frustrating as the promising local gold champ who leaves everything behind, including Adele Invergordon (Theron), the woman who loves him, to go to war only to disappear. But the jewel of the film is Smith's role as Junuh's inflappable caddy, Bagger Dance. Smith displays none of his trademark swagger, instead acting as a mythical advisor who knows the secrets of life but also has the wisdom to know that each man must discover those secrets for himself. J. Michael Moncrief is the adorable young boy who never stops believing in Junuh and the character through whose eyes the story is told. Jack Lemmon provides the narration. Theron is beautiful as always and navigates the tricky role of abandoned fiancee who in spite of waiting for ten long years without any word, never stopped loving her man. Redford's direction is gentle, reverent and steeped in the romance of the South and the game of golf. The cinematography highlights the natural beauty of the greens.

This is a charming sports based film set in the 1930s - its less to do with sports science and more to do with changing the way you look at things, at seeing and reacting to things differently and living in the moment, in an age of pre-mindfulness. Yes its quite sentimental in tone, a bit too cheesy for some but it has some nice aspects and I thought it has quite an impressive cast, with both Will Smith and Matt Damon in key roles as the main characters. The music is a bit over the top cheesy in my book but I quite enjoyed following the story - even if you can guess what happens, its still nice to see how things play out. There's some good dialogue present and its somewhat thoughtful, if you think about it. Not a film that will overly appeal to many, this is a fairly decent film if it sounds of interest, so yes I'd recommend it on that basis.

Robert Redford directs an inspirational creation of patience and precision. The Legend of Bagger Vance excels with mythic performances from Matt Damon and Charlize Theron.