Review of The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) by Jake C — 29 Jan 2013

Possibly one of the greatest sporting movies of all time. This masterpiece is truly compelling, powerful, deeply touching & the cinematography is brilliant. Matt Damon & Will Smith are fantastic & the chemistry between them is palpable. It uses the Great Depression of 1920's America with the Great War still fresh in everyone's mind as a back drop & how even in dark times sport can bring everyone together in unison & lift the soul.

An ex amateur golfer has the world at his feet & promises great things in the world of golf but sadly the war to end all wars, WWI, breaks out & Rannulph Junuh takes up the call to bare arms in the conflict ripping Europe apart. After the war this promising golfer goes missing for ten years after witnessing the horrors so many young men shouldn't had to endure & loses not only his game but the will to carry on a normal life. But his ex fiancée decides to hold a golf tournament on the course her father build before the Depression hit to help pay off her estates debts. She asks the two greatest golfers of that time, Walter Hagen & Bobby Jones to compete for the $10,000 prize along with the local hero Rannulph Junuh. Much like other golf movies, Tin Cup & Happy Gilmore, our hero suffers serious doubts about his ability but a mystical caddy appears from nowhere to help our troubled star over come all his demons to play the game of his life.