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Click above to purchase "The Legend Of Bagger Vance" at
amazon.com
The Legend Of Bagger Vance
review by Zach B.
Rated PG-13
Studio: Dreamworks
Running Time: 127 minutes
Starring Matt Damon, Will Smith, Charlize Theron
Written by Jeremy Leven
Based on the novel by Steven Pressfield
Directed by Robert Redford
Retail Price: $26.99
Features: Robert Redford: Insight Into "The Legend Of
Bagger Vance" featurette, Production fearturette, Theatrical
Teaser Trailer, Theatrical Trailer, Production Notes, Cast
and Crew Bios
Specs: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, English Dolby
Digital 5.1, English DTS 5.1, English Dolby Surround,
English Subtitles, Chapter Search (20 Chapters)
One of the most anticipated movies of the year 2000, "The
Legend Of Bagger Vance" was pushed from August 2000 to
November 2000 in hopes that the film would get some major
nominations. The film did not get any major nods, and the
film recieved lukewarm reviews despite Redford helming and
an amazing cast. Many were disappointed by the film, as it
opened to some lukewarm reviews. It also quickly bombed,
only making back about half of its 60 million dollar budget.
I originally wanted to see this movie in the theaters, but I
never got the time. Well, my chance finally came. What did I
think of Redford's latest opus? You're about to find out.
"The Legend Of Bagger Vance" is told through the eyes of
Hardy Greaves, a young boy in Savannah, Georgia during the
depression era. Greaves has heard a lot about Rannulph
Junuh, an amazing golfer who went off to World War I with a
lot of pride, but came back shattered. In the meanwhile, his
ex-girlfriend, Adele Invergordon doesn't want to sell her
father's estate after he commits suicide. The depression has
hit hard, and she's struggling to pay off her debts. She
feels she can bring people to her father's golf course and
make money if she holds a tournament with some great
southern golf greats, all with a ten thousand dollar prize.
Two big legends, Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen come aboard to
play, but Junuh is also recuirited. Junuh is a bit reluctant
at first, but he gives in. However, Junuh, wants a
magnificent player, has lost his "authentic swing". Then,
out of the blue, the mysterious Bagger Vance appears and
becomes Junuh's caddy. However, Bagger is more than a caddy.
His words and advice aren't just for the game of golf, and
extend far off the course. With all of Savannah having hope
in Junuh, he goes off to play and hopefully recapture what
he's lost... not just the swing, but his life.
Again, I wanted to see this movie originally, but after
watching it, I was surprised how good it actually was. I'm a
sap for movies with great acting and some interesting
metaphors, but this movie is really, really well executed. I
really don't understand why so many reviewers didn't like it
so much. Many complained it was slow and boring, but I found
it to be neither. The film's two hour plus running time went
really fast when I watched it, and I was always intrigued
what was going to happen next.
The strongest point to this movie is the fantastic
acting. Simply put, this is one fine cast. Will Smith gives
an incredible as the kind-hearted soulful but often
mysterious Bagger Vance. Smith really embodies the role, and
he's so good in it. He's kind of like a live-action Jimminy
Cricket. Matt Damon is fantastic as Junuh, a man who's
teared apart by his past and who's trying to come to grips
with his life. Charlize Theron, who's always great, plays
Adele Invergordon, a character who's more secure, but still
has to realize things about Junuh. The supporting players
are fantastic too, and everyone does justice for his or her
role. But I saved the best for last. Jack Lemmon plays the
older Hardy Greaves, who narrates the story. Jack Lemmon is
an amazing talent, and he brings such dignity to his small
role (he was uncredited too... seems like something he'd
request and/or would be in the essence of the role). On
another note, the whole cast gives off great southern
accents.
On a more production side, Redford can still direct a
movie, and he directs this one with much vision and life. I
really thought he did a great and masterful job. The script
itself, adapted by Jeremy Leven, has some great dialogue and
lines. There are some excellent shots with some great
visuals, and the editing is excellent. The costumes and sets
are really well designed, as you really feel like you're
back in the south during the late 1920s.
Still, what I felt missing from "Bagger Vance" was that
there could have been more of Mister Vance himself and more
of his wisdom, and more on Junnuh's painful past. But the
way the movie is set up, and how things are portrayed, it's
not that bad. You'll just want more of it, really. What I
really liked though were the ending shots and how
entertaining the movie was, it really flew by.
In all, "The Legend Of Bagger Vance" is really well done.
It's a period piece without being a period piece, and has
some great characters as well as great values to be learned.
This movie deserved major nominations for its acting and
designs for sure. While the film didn't fare so well at the
box office (Dreamworks calls it a "30 million dollar hit"),
I only hope it gains a much larger audience on video.
"The Legend Of Bagger Vance" is presented in a bold,
1.85:1 anamorphic transfer. Colors and hues are well drawn
out, and the lovely shots look pretty fantastic. Fleshtones
are accurate, but unfortuantley, the transfer has a good
amount of blemishes and grain, shimmering here and there
plus some softness at points, as well as fuzziness (check
out 06:34 to see what I mean). Still, it looks quite good.
Once again, Dreamworks releases dual soundtracks on to a
release. "The Legend Of Bagger Vance" features Dolby Digital
5.1 and DTS 5.1, as well as a 2.0 Dolby Surround track. The
tracks are pretty much neck and neck, but I have to say the
DTS wins this round by a hair. While the Dolby Digital
appears to be louder, the DTS sounds have a lot more depth
to them. I was surprised how good both tracks actually were,
I wasn't expecting much for this movie.. Rachel Portman's
beautiful score sounds excellent, the crickets chirping at
night bring a lot of atmosphere and when the actual golf
match starts, there are some pretty interesting surrounds,
namely, with the golf clubs. You may not think there's much
to the movie as far as sounds, but there's a lot, and it
sounds fabulous. Both tracks also have clear, crisp dialogue
with nothing interfering. Great mixes all around.
There's not much here. There isn't a commentary by
Redford, but the closest thing is the four minute,
twenty-four second featurette-of sorts Robert Redford:
Insight Into "The Legend Of Bagger Vance". Stills from
the production are shown and Redford narrates, and it makes
me yearn for a commentary track from him. Redford is pretty
insightful and comments on what storytelling means to him,
golf and the film itself. If you liked the film, don't miss
this.
A Production Featurette is also included, but it's
strictly fluff. You can tell it's strictly fluff by the
featurette's narrator, who makes it sound really
promotional. It has clips from the film, a behind the scenes
shot or two and interviews with Redford, Theron, Smith,
Damon and the kid who played the young Hardy Reaves. This
was a disappointing featurette, considering how much longer
other Dreamworks featurettes have been and how they've gone
more in-depth (I guess there was no HBO First Look for this
movie).
Rounding off the disc is the excllent Theatrical
Teaser Trailer and engrossing Theatrical Trailer
(both in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 Dolby
Digital), plus Production Notes (which are also in
the keepcase insert) and Cast and Crew Bios. On the
menus note, they are really well animated and designed with
the excellent Portman score and some very good clips from
the movie.
Don't let the bad reviews turn you off, "The Legend Of
Bagger Vance" is an excellent and incredibly underrated
movie about overcoming the past and moving on. Dreamworks
once again gives a great presentation for a standard
release. Though the transfer could have been better and some
more features dealing with the production and background of
things in the film would have been nice, if you had any
interest in the movie at all, be sure to check it out.
 (4.5/5 - NOT included in
final score)
 (4/5)
(4/5)
 (2/5)
 (3.5/5, NOT an average)
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