`Legend' is an enjoyable, old-fashioned fable
By BILL FUSZ
Scene Movie Critic
From time to time, a movie comes along that is just a joy to watch. Some may not nominate it for an Academy Award, some may say it's not the most innovative movie of the past year and some may even say it's slightly corny. But despite all that, the film simply captures and holds your attention. "The Legend of Bagger Vance" is such a film.
Directed by Robert Redford ("A River Runs Through It"), "The Legend of Bagger Vance" is set in Depression Era Savannah, Georgia. It tells the story of a hometown hero, Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon, "Good Will Hunting"), who, before World War I, won practically every great golf tournament in the South, as well as the heart of Savannah's wealthiest heiress, Adele Invergordon (Charlize Theron, "Cider House Rules").
The war changes Junuh, however, when he is sent to command Savannah's boys in Europe and they meet defeat at the hands of the Germans. A broken man, upon his return he deserts Savannah and Adele and spends the 1920s playing poker in a drunken stupor, the description of which is one of the film's funniest moments.
Adele has tough times to face as well, besides Rannulph's dereliction. Her father invested all of his money in creating the greatest golf course in America. Unfortunately, the Depression made this a poor investment and he committed suicide.
In order to save her father's dream, Adele announces a grand golf tournament to feature Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen (real golfers, played by Joel Gretsch and Bruce McGill respectively), the two greatest living golfers. The city demands that a local golfer be included as well, and no local golfer is better than Junuh.
The majority of the movie is about the golf tournament and how Junuh struggles to regain his golf game and bring pride to the town. He is assisted by two caddies: Hardy Greaves (J. Michael Moncrief), a youthful admirer of Junuh who grows up to be the narrator of the film (Jack Lemmon), and the title character, Bagger Vance (Will Smith), a mysterious caddy who appears out of nowhere and has come to help Junuh get his "authentic swing" back.
Incredible directing and excellent acting are what lift this movie above the lackluster. With breathtaking shots of the course and a knowledge of just how long to hold a shot before losing the audience's interest, almost every frame displays Redford's mastery of cinema.
Damon and Theron both give strong, if unremarkable, performances. The previews, which suggest a love story, are misleading though. This is a golf story. With that in mind, the two do an excellent job of keeping the romance a lighthearted accent to the movie.
Smith and newcomer J. Michael Moncrief are the film's gems. The role of the wise mentor and the hero-idolizing child could all to easily be played to stereotypical perfection. Instead, they both deliver inspired performances which truly make the film.
With golf being a metaphor for life, "The Legend of Bagger Vance" explores the relationship between people and what they do best. It could just as easily have been about any sport or any activity of human endeavor. For this reason, you do not need to be a golfer or even know anything about golf to enjoy the film. But for those who do love golf, this is as fine a film as has ever been made about it. It may not be a hole-in-one, but "The Legend of Bagger Vance" definitely makes birdie.
--4 out of 5 shamrocks
All Scene Stories for Thursday, November 9, 2000
