THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED

RATING:

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Stephen Dillane, Peter Firth, Elias Koteas, Peyton List, Joshua Flitter. Written by: Mark Frost. Directed by: Bill Paxton.

Rated PG for some brief mild language.

There’s a montage in the middle of The Greatest Game Ever Played that shows three of the characters, all competing to take the 1913 U.S. Open, rapidly swinging their golf clubs. The editing cuts are frenetic with adrenaline and the orchestral score speeds to keep pace with the athletes. The moment occurs amidst pouring rain, mud and grime flying with each strike of a ball. While taking place on a posh country club, all three competitors come from impoverished backgrounds. Each one of their hits chips away further at the class barrier. Before this moment, it was a “gentlemen’s” game.

Some still argue that golf remains a sport for the rich. At the Toronto film festival, one journalist went off on an improvised speech at a breakfast table detesting the game for solely being accessible to the Lexus driving, country club crowd. While it’s true the upper echelons of society are more equipped to handle membership fees needed for frequent practice, golf is not as exclusive as it was decades ago. This film, the second directorial outing by Bill Paxton, deals in part with how those in the lower, if not non-existent, income brackets began to widen the gate for all players.

The Greatest Game Ever Played depicts the true yet little known story of 20-year-old Frances Ouimet. Played by Shia LaBeouf, the blue-collar immigrant and former caddy entered the 1913 U.S. Open only to accomplish a feat that would be considered unthinkable in any period or game of all sports history. With the obvious exception of Tiger Woods, the names of golfing champions do not become widely recognizable in mainstream culture for those not in-the-know. It is this fact, and not the nine decades passed, that have kept Ouimet such a historical secret.

This film, however, does so much more than depict the struggle of class distinction. Paxton said he wanted the scenes on the course to play out more like an old Western shootout as opposed to the quiet hush found in most films in this genre. The result is an energized and stylish take on the game that will rouse any fan of exciting storytelling, even if they’re not a fan of golf. As this applies to myself, the review is written from a perspective not familiar with the sport.

Early word, however, is that the film is satisfying nine-iron holders as well. This might be that while fueling the sequences of the competition, Paxton does not ignore the quiet, contemplative portions inherent to golf’s design. He reserves the sanity shattering pressure of the putting moments to visually relay the players’ psyches. The best examples of this are in the scenes revolving around Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane). The Goliath to Ouimet’s David, Vardon enters the competition with numerous championships under his belt and is portrayed as a master of the game. To echo his power of concentration, the backgrounds slowly and beautifully dissolve away, piece by piece, each time he makes a hole. In another moment painting his psychological burden, ghosts from Vardon’s past are superimposed on the reflection of the shiny black of his clubs. These scenes are accomplished artfully and subtlety, never showboating for the sake of it.

The usage of the Vardon character in what is essentially Ouimet’s story might be the best part of the film. Typical underdog fashion would’ve been to villainies him to amplify Ouimet’s glory. At the very least, he would’ve been downplayed for the gentleman he was. Embracing the true events that prove the material, however, screenwriter Mark Frost (adapting his own novel) parallels his journey and hardships to the main character’s and encourages the audience to empathize with him. The result is a match that, no matter the outcome, the victor will be morally deserving.

LaBeouf thoroughly researched his role, reading every piece of literature by and about Ouimet. He plays the part earnestly, resisting temptation to canonize the man and his obstacles. He opts instead to reveal all of his traits with truth. Confusion and doubt masking an ultimate faith or at least hope in his innate talent. Dillane, as the sports god with the humble origins, brings a seasoned class to the show, especially in a scene where Vardon defends his young opponent to his powerful sponsors. Josh Flitter as Eddie Lowery, Ouimet’s caddy, does the remarkable by allowing us to believe that an eight-year-old was on par with Ouimet as a friend and partner. He impressively plays the precocious, sage-like sidekick role without going overboard. Finally, Elias Koteas as the senior Ouimet. In a film containing so many themes, rich vs. poor, underdog vs. the favorite, his role can be said to throw in the father oppressing his son’s dream dynamic. To the filmmaker’s credit, they realized that Ouimet’s goals were not solely based on making his father proud, but ultimately coming into his own as a man. His father’s love and approval, however, were always desired in his heart. Without revealing too much, Koteas, using a single expression, blows you away in a wordless gesture toward the film’s conclusion. The only remotely negative criticism I can offer this film is that the love subplot seemed superfluous. In a film with so much already going on, these portions could’ve been stripped away without hurting it. Other than that, The Greatest Game Ever Played excels on all counts. Without a doubt, this is one of the best films of the year!