Review of The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) by Karl P — 09 Jan 2008

The movie was good, strong in different points and weak in others, but overall I enjoyed it very much.

The film started out and, for the most part, finished as a golf movie. Redford doesn't add much that's new in the way of artistic direction (which is what golf movies need to be great - like the Greatest Game Ever Played), and everything that he tries feels decidedly amateuristic.

But the redeeming parts of the story are the characters, which can make or break a movie. Will Smith and Matt Damon were great! I'm disappointed that Redford and/or the writer didn't spend more time on the relationships that Bagger Vance (Smith) built. Though it wasn't the core of the movie (if it was, Redford did a fantastic job of undermining and understating it), but I think I would have rather seen that the most. Despite that, the acting was good, I appreciated the characters and there were enough small twists to allow it stray from generic golf movies that let me appreciate it.

Overall, I think the movie was trying to tell too many different small stories and it couldn't pick just one. I'd recommend it to any fans of drama, Will Smith, Matt Damon, Golf or anyone who appreciates great sunset shots and inspiration. Go check it out.