Review of The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) by Jordan T — 08 Jan 2009

Will Smith doesn't make bad movies. The film itself may not always be good, but the Fresh Prince always is. Smith plays every role very well, and this is no exception as the mysterious caddy with a nice southern drawl and interesting philosophy.

Thank God Redford didn't decide to add a twist where Theron & Smith are long lost lovers, but he should've let Jack Lemmon (the narrator) have Theron's line about Matt Damon tying the game.

Not Damon's best, but he's good too. We know Bagger was real to the characters as everyone saw him, but who was he? I wish that was revealed and that they just would've showed his face at the end and not his outline.

The first half hour is rather forgettable and it's not til shortly after when Mr. Vance arrives that things get better. The movie doesn't hit its stride until the last hour though when the tournament begins.

Ebert says it best in that it "could be a movie about prayer, music or mathematics because it is really about finding yourself at peace with the thing you do best. Most of the movie is about an epic golf tournament, but it is not a sports movie in any conventional sense.

It is the first zen movie about golf." The score is very nice and the photography of a beautiful golf course makes you feel serene.