BOBBY JONES—Stroke of Genius

MPAA Rating: for language

Reviewed by: Ed Cox
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating:

Better than Average

Add to your list?
View your list

E-mail this page to a friend

Moviemaking Quality:

Primary Audience:

Adults

Genre:

Drama, Historic

Length:

2 hr. 00 min.

Year of Release:

2004

USA Release:

______

Relevant Issues

This film is based on a true story. Overcoming a sickly childhood, Bobby Jones became a golfing phenomenon by the age of 14, later earning the title “Best Golfer in the World.” He won all four major golf tournaments in one year—the Grand Slam—a record that has never been broken. He then stunned the world by retiring from competitive golf in order to devote his time to his wife and family. He was only 28.

Producer’s synopsis: “Before Tiger Woods… before Jack Nicklaus, before professional sports became the behemoth industry it is today, shined one of the most gifted natural athletes the world has ever known. A man whose extraordinary talent and will to win earned him the Grand Slam of golf—a record he still holds to this day—and universal recognition as one of the greatest golfers in history. A reluctant hero, his grace and charm made him one of the popular figures of his day. His name was Bobby Jones.

James Caviezel (The Passion, The Count of Monte Cristo, Frequency) brilliantly portrays Jones in this inspiring story of an extraordinary man struggling to find balance in his life. As a boy, his competitive zeal and mastery of the sport propelled him into the national spotlight drawing huge, even boisterous, crowds to the tournaments he played. But his fiery temper and pressure from family, friends, fans, and press turned his fun into toil. His fierce ambition collided with his personal integrity, and he faced the reality that the hopes, dreams and fortunes of the people he loved the most were being sacrificed for his career. Under this unbearable burden his heroic nature became clear.

Completing degrees in mechanical engineering, English literature and law, he then fell in love with Mary Malone (Claire Forlani - Meet Joe Black, , Mystery Men), and started a family, all the while planning an exit from the competitive world of golf, with hopes of returning to playing it for fun again, as he did as a boy.”

“After playing Jesus, I was attracted to the role of Bobby Jones,” said Caviezel. “He was an extraordinary man who overcame his weaknesses and achieved one of the greatest triumphs in sports history. More importantly, he was a man of integrity and faith—a devoted husband and father. His life shows us that greatness comes from goodness, and having your priorities straight.”

“Bobby Jones—Stroke of Genius” chronicles Jones’ rise to fame: his heavenly golf swing; his dashing smile; his unrivaled intensity, wit and intelligence; and his impeccable integrity—during one major tournament, he admitted to slightly moving his ball before striking it, despite the fact that no one else saw it; the one-stroke penalty cost him the tournament. And yet, Jones’ primary obstacle to greatness were his weaknesses—a spirited temper, a self-imposed perfectionism, grueling stomach pains brought on by stress, and a crippling disease. Through it all, Jones emerges victorious—an inspiring example of human courage in the face of adversity.

Review

JIM CAVIEZEL ON PLAYING BOBBY JONES

“I knew very little about Bobby Jones. I just loved the story, and I felt that (despite having just played Jesus) I couldn’t think of a finer man to play. It’s a great film for young people who are trying to find their way. Nowadays, sports stars and other celebrities say, “I’m not your kid’s role model.” It’s an excuse to act however they want. But Bobby Jones wasn’t about that.

He was a man who was flawed, but who had an extraordinary amount of integrity, something money can’t buy. His pureness drew me to him. That’s my own heart, and exactly the kind of character I try to emulate. No man is perfect. In order for a piece of coal to change into a diamond, it has to undergo some serious heat and pressure. Bobby Jones had to learn to control his temper. And he had to struggle with a horrible, crippling disease. Yet he handled his suffering like a champion; never talking about it or complaining.

These are the challenges that forged his character. When you have an ailment as a young person, you have to work harder at things, and that work ethic pays off later in life. People like that tend to excel. The same was true for me in sports. I had to work for it. And acting was the same way. Maybe my work ethic is how I compensate when things didn’t come easy. When life seems unfair, you have to persevere. Bobby Jones would throw his golf clubs out of frustration, and eventually his temper almost cost him his career. But that’s not how the story ends. Bobby Jones overcame his weaknesses. He triumphed, and that’s why this film transcends golf.

In The Passion you saw violence, because violence was a real and important part of the story. With Bobby Jones, we see the reality of a human being who struggles, who has problems like we all do. He suffered a great deal, but he finished well. Bobby Jones played the game of life as well as he played the game of golf. Sports teaches you a lot about lifeàlike the importance of having rules. To succeed in life, God gave us commandments to follow. They’re hard, but we have to try. If we fail, we get back up again and that’s what Bobby did. He learned about life, and about love and family. He learned that there’s more to life than winning championships.”

Watch the trailer at: www.bobbyjones.tv

• Positive
• Neutral
• Negative
• Young people
• Critics