The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)

This movie may be focused on golf but there's so much more to this movie than meets the eye;In this Film; there's love, loyalty, friendship, struggle, determination and it's all tied together beautifully through the beautiful game that is golf. Definitely a family movie at it's best, Well done to everyone that created this artistic masterpiece, I'm sure many will enjoy watching it.

I cannot believe it has been so many years ago that I first rated this movie (TEN! I would give it an eleven if I could!) but never wrote a review. First off, I will admit to some biases. I have played and adored golf for almost 60 yrs, since I was 7. Secondly, I was born and raised in the Boston area. Third, I DESPISE arrogant, holier-than-thou, self-righteous people, and am glad that among lots of western nations, the US is or at least was one of the least-conscious class societies. Fourth, Francis' incredibly loving mom reminds me of my mom. So if you share some of these things, and have never seen this movie, you may just LOVE IT!!! I found myself wanting to rip out the throat of INCREDIBLY ARROGANT Lord Northcliffe, played magnificently by Peter Firth. And best of all, this flick is based on a true event. Ouimet's (pronounced WEE-met) big upset win in 1913 US Open Golf. How big an upset was it? In 2005 when flick was released, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were two of top 3 golfers (1st and 2nd?) in world. This 1913 upset was as if the Massachusetts State Amateur champ defeated Tiger and Phil at US Open. I consider it THE greatest upset ever in sports. Even more than the 1980 (and 1960) wins by the US Olympic hockey teams over the Soviet Union.

My father was a life member of the PGA. He joined in 1931, so he was in the group of golfers that followed Francis Ouimet & Harry Vardon. I grew up with golf & found the film to be quite good, but I suspect it takes a golfer or one who knows the game to not be bored. It's not an easy sport to make exciting. However, if one has ever been present at a tournament which is match play, you know that the suspense & tension is such that you can cut it with a knife.My main issue with the film is that, while it spent quite a lot of time dealing with Francis Ouimet's social inferiority in 1913 society, it didn't fully tell the story. Today top professional sportsmen & athletes are superstar celebrities, wealthy, & the elite of society. Back then it was far different. Francis Ouimet was poor & had caddied as a child. He competed as an amateur, but an amateur was supposed to be a gentleman & a person of wealth & position.... elite. Ouimet had to step into this elite society.... but at least he could... as an amateur. Professional sportsmen were considered & treated as mere "tradesmen," because they played for cash prizes. We get a couple of scenes that show the social tension, but unless a viewer is already aware of the situation, it's not fully explained. We see Harry Vardon idolized by the galleries & theatre goers, but viewers who are unaware of the situation are left to wonder at the snide, rude remarks made towards & about Vardon by the so-called "gentlemen." Professional golfers, like Harry Vardon, were not allowed in the club houses nor the use of any of the club facilities. They had to change clothes in the caddy shack or in their cars & if they ate, it was in the caddy shack with the caddies. These class striations persisted until after WW2 when Ben Hogan refused to play in tournaments unless the pros had equal access to club houses... the dining rooms, locker rooms, showers, etc... as the amateur players. It would not have taken much to clarify this situation, but as it was, I suspect that the film left many viewers confused.

Let me get this straight - I hate golf. I hate it to the core. I decided to watch this movie purely because of the acting talent on show. Even after the first 5 mins, I was still unable to prevent my preconceived notions of golf from affecting my movie-viewing experience. But after two hours - BOYY..I've never been so wrong about something before..This movie is an EPIC..The very best Sports MOVIE I've ever seen..Some of the scenes are truly sensational..The one where Vardon stares straight at Francis when the entire crowd was looking in the direction the ball went off Francis' tee..And the scene where Francis comes to the support of his truly adorable cute little Caddie(By far the cutest child actor I've ever seen)..They were priceless..The emotional depth of the story involving various struggles..The father-son relationship..The fractious upper and lower class relationships..The struggle to realize one's dreams - make this a movie everyone can relate to. After watching the intricacies involved in playing the sport of Golf, I have only one word to describe my changed perspective towards it - "RESPECT".