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The Greatest Game Ever Played

By J. Byron Dean

Release Date: September 30, 2005
MPAA Rating: PG for some brief mild language
Genre: Drama

A movie that is both rich in historical accuracy as well as enormous talent has proven, yet again, that The Walt Disney Company is a master storyteller. Unveiling a piece of America's sports history could have been a laborious task but Disney makes it interesting and fun. One does not need to understand the lingo of golf to fully enjoy this fine film.

When we think of "the greatest game ever played," we usually think of baseball but this movie is not about the whole of sport but about one special US Open Golf tournament from 1913 where an unknown amateur astonished the masses by winning and beating the man that the world of golf considered the very best.

Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf, Emmy Winner for his role in Disney's "Even Stevens") was a young man growing up in the suburbs of Boston that just happened to be fortunate enough to live directly across from The Country Club (the foremost golf club of Boston). Living in a time when money was hard to come by and needing to find work at an early age was commonplace, Francis began caddying for the club at 10 years-old. From this experience, he developed an unusual and devoted love for the game. Even amidst protests from his strict father (Elias Koteas, "Traffic"), who felt that it was a waste of time to pursue a game that would not put food on the table, he continued to practice with his brother in the backyard with homemade clubs and golf balls that he would find abandoned by players on the course. As young Ouimet's love of the game grows, he finds himself skilled enough to begin playing in amateur tournaments and also finds himself winning. But with constant badgering from his bitter father, he decides to give up golf and concentrate on a career in business. He promises his father that he will quit and holds to his word until the eventful day that he is invited to play in the US Open that, to his luck and joy, is being held at his own Country Club across the street from his home.

While the thrill of simply playing held enough excitement for Francis, he had the added pleasure (and pressure) of knowing he was going to be going up against his idol and world-renowned champion, Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane , "King Arthur" and "The Hours"). The match proves to be all that anyone could imagine - a blue ribbon day in the annals of sports and the proudest day of a young man's life! It truly was "The Greatest Game Ever Played!"

Disney brings life to the screen as if traveling back in time with beautiful photography, historically correct costumes and dialog as well as the equipment used to play the game from the early 1900s. With lush turn-of-the-century sets and a close eye paid to detail, along with a movingly beautiful soundtrack, the film guides us along smoothly and seamlessly. We feel not only the excitement of the match but the pain of being poor in a time when status was something that one was born into and guarded with fierceness to keep the unworthy out and a young man's struggle to do what he loves the most and still keep peace with his father. Shia LeBouf (in his first adult role) brings honest and sincere emotion to Francis Ouimet. Shia's strong acting shows that he is ready and quite able to handle dramas and roles that are more serious. His ability to play the game is also excellent. It was reported that his golf coach felt he was a "natural" and all of the golf swings we see LaBeouf perform in the film are his alone. Elias Koteas, as Ouimet Sr. brilliantly gives us a strong character that hides his hurt for being a second-class citizen with strict rules for his son and whole family. Josh Flitter (Eddie Lowery, Ouimet's caddy) is adorable and so believable that one often forgets he is the actor and not the original Eddie brought back through a time machine! The rest of the cast, Marnie McPhail (as Mrs. Ouimet), Stephen Dillane (as Harry Vardon), Stephen Marcus (as Ted Ray) all give stellar performances and add to the genuineness and complete enjoyment of the film's story.

With only two swear words (damn and hell, each said only once) and a brief bar fight (seen in the background and only for a few seconds) the film has received a PG rating but is still suitable for families. There is no sex in the film in any form.

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