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Look how silky this movie is, and how completely in command of its tone. Robert Redford's "The Legend of Bagger Vance" could be a movie about prayer, music or mathematics because it is really about finding yourself at peace with the thing you do best. Most of the movie is about an epic golf tournament, but it is not a sports movie in any conventional sense. It is the first zen movie about golf.

I watched it aware of what a delicate touch Redford brings to the material. It could have been punched up into cliches and easy thrills, but no: It handles a sports movie the way Billie Holiday handled a trashy song, by finding the love and pain beneath the story. Redford and his writer, Jeremy Leven , starting from a novel by Steven Pressfield , are very clear in their minds about what they want to do. They want to explain why it is possible to devote your life to the love of golf, and they want to hint that golf and life may have a lot in common.

I am not a golfer. It doesn't matter. Golf or any game is not about the rules or tools, but about how you conduct yourself. Civilized games make civilized societies. You look at the movie and you see that if athletes are not gentlemen and gentlewomen, there is no reason to watch them. Michael Jordan is a gentleman. Roger Clemens is not. You see how it works.

"The Legend of Bagger Vance" takes place in Savannah, Ga., in the first years of the Depression. A man builds a great golf course, goes broke and shoots himself. His daughter Adele ( Charlize Theron ) faces ruin, but risks everything on a $10,000 tournament. She invites the two greatest golfers in the world: Bobby Jones ( Joel Gretsch ) and Walter Hagen ( Bruce McGill ). And she also persuades Rannulph Junuh ( Matt Damon ), who was the greatest player in Savannah until he went off to World War I and something broke inside. He spent the 1920s drinking and playing poker.

Junuh doesn't much want to return to golf, which for him also means returning to civilization and to his own better nature. Three people encourage him. One is Adele. Before the war they were in love. One is a boy named Hardy (J. Michael Moncrief) who dreams about golf. And one is Bagger Vance ( Will Smith ), a caddy who appears out of nowhere and assigns himself to the rehabilitation and education of Rannulph Junuh.

We have here the elements for a cruder movie. We can imagine how Jones and Hagen could be painted as hard-edged professionals, how the caddy could be sketched with broad strokes like some kind of an angel in a sitcom, how the little kid could be made insufferable and cute, how Adele and Junuh could fight and make up and fight, all according to the outlines they hand out in screenwriting class.

That's not how this movie goes. Nothing in it is pushed too far; it is a masterpiece of tact. Not even the outcome of the tournament is pumped up for effect; quietly, the movie suggests that how the tournament is won is more important than who wins it. As for the romance, it's in a minor key good for regret and tremulous hope; Charlize Theron's wise, sweet Adele handles Junuh like a man she wants to teach about tenderness.

Every actor makes the point, and then pauses, content. Matt Damon's Junuh is not a comeback hero but a man who seems surprised to be playing golf. Jones and Hagen are not the good cop and the bad cop. They're both good--sportsmen who love the game but don't talk a lot about it. Jones is handsome, a golden boy. Hagen is dark and has a gut and smokes all the time. Jones plays a beautiful game. Hagen is always getting into trouble and saving himself. Both of them are . . . having fun. Just fun.

Will Smith could make Bagger Vance insufferable, but the part is written and played to make it more of a bemused commentary. He has theories about golf, and ways of handling his player, and advice, but it is all oblique and understated. No violins. Is he a real person or a spirit? You tell me. Oh, and the kid: He's necessary because he has to grow up and become an old man ( Jack Lemmon ) and tell the story, so that you can see that lessons were learned.

The photography by Michael Ballhaus makes the great course look green, limitless and sad--sad that every shot must fall and every game must end. There is a dusk here that is heartbreaking, like the end of every perfect summer day. The spectators do not make spectacles of themselves, but seem to identify with the aspirations of the players. Hagen and Jones know each other well, and during the marathon tournament they watch Junuh carefully, and decide that he will do. Redford found the same feeling in " A River Runs Through It ," where the standards a man forms through his pastime give value to his whole life. Golf, Bagger tells Junuh, is "a game that can't be won, only played."

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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The Legend Of Bagger Vance (2000)

Rated PG-13 For Some Sexual Content

127 minutes

Charlize Theron as Adele Invergordon

J. Michael Moncrief as Hardy Greaves

Will Smith as Bagger Vance

Bruce McGill as Walter Hagen

Matt Damon as Rannulph Junuh

Joel Gretsch as Bobby Jones

Directed by

• Robert Redford
• Jeremy Leven

Based On The Novel by

• Steven Pressfield

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The Legend of Bagger Vance

By Peter Travers

Peter Travers

Personally, I’d rather slice into the deep rough than have some mystical caddie blowing hot air in my ear about the symbolic meaning of my golf swing. If you read Steven Pressfield’s 1996 novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance, you know that the title character isn’t just a caddie but a godly personification of the epic Hindu text Bhagavad-Gita. You also know that the fictional golf golden boy Rannulph Junuh isn’t just some soul-destroyed World War I hero who’s lost his authentic golf swing, but Arjuna, an Indian warrior in need of spiritual guidance. As Bagger says in the book: “Before Time was, I am. Before Form was, I am.” Holy best-selling New Age prattle. Before the movie is, I am outta here.

Luckily, Robert Redford did not make the movie version of Bagger Vance that I feared. As a director, most notably in his great, underappreciated Quiz Show, Redford has the gift of cutting through mumbo jumbo to find the soul of a tale. Junuh, played with a seductive aura of privilege by Matt Damon , is a legend in Savannah, Georgia, in 1916. He has looks, intelligence, money, a tournament-winning golf style and the prettiest girl in town, Adele Invergordon (Charlize Theron). But the war damages Junuh’s psyche. Back from the trenches, he uses alcohol to retreat from Adele, from life, from golf. Then, in 1931, Adele and Savannah call on Junuh for a favor. Adele’s father, a suicide casualty of the Depression, has left her the Krewe Island Golf Resort. To save the place from going belly up, Adele organizes an exhibition match between two golf legends, Bobby Jones (Joel Gretsch) and Walter Hagen (a superbly wry Bruce McGill). Savannah’s civic leaders demand a local boy to take on the Goliaths. Ten-year-old Hardy Greaves (the sweetly guileless J. Michael Moncrief) keeps a scrapbook on Junuh and pleads for his idol. Adele offers sex. But Junuh’s decision to get back in the game is motivated by a more mysterious source.

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His name is Bagger Vance ( Will Smith ), a stranger who appears one night when Junuh is on the driving range and who offers his services as a caddie. For “five dollars, guaranteed,” Bagger will help Junuh get back his lost swing. Thanks to a charmingly low-key performance by Smith and a screenplay by Jeremy Leven (Don Juan DeMarco) that goes lighter than the book does on lofty pronouncements, Bagger isn’t the albatross he is on the page. Redford slyly eases humor into the proceedings. He is also blessed with Theron, a live wire who has the acting chops to match her looks. Hello, gorgeous. ut the focus is on the match — thirty-six holes played over two days, with reporters, visitors and all of Savannah breathing hotly down the necks of the golf champs. Redford’s films, from Ordinary People to The Horse Whisperer, always start with a pungent sense of place. Ace cinematographer Michael Ballhaus ( GoodFellas ) evokes old Savannah in all its verdant glory. Redford revels in the etiquette of the game’s rules; in the crisp, formal dress of the players; in the concentration required for precision performance. Though duffer Damon clearly is green on the greens — PGA master Tim Moss gave him a crash course — the more experienced McGill and Gretsch deftly suggest the differing swing styles that also help define their characters. “Entertainment — that’s what the people want,” says Hagen. But it isn’t the merchandising of golf that interests Redford, it’s the art of the game. In one breathtaking scene, Jones, oblivious to the crowd, raises his club for a glorious, gliding swing that shows even fallible humans can achieve a state of grace.

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“Play your own game,” Bagger tells Junuh. The point isn’t lost on Redford, who once had considered playing Junuh himself, with Morgan Freeman as Bagger, in an older-and-wiser take on the story that might have struck more resonant chords. Still, Junuh’s odyssey on the links stirs undeniable excitement as Redford lofts this heartfelt fantasy over the trap of banality to create a true sense of wonder. Despite sentimental seepage in Rachel Portman’s score and in the prologue and epilogue featuring Jack Lemmon as the older Hardy, Redford plays the game of filmmaking to reveal what he holds sacred: story, character, feeling, thoughtful pacing, and an alertness to nuances of honor and shame that most movies skip in the rush to the rush. In this new millennium, Redford’s game couldn’t be less trendy or more vitally alive.

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The Legend of Bagger Vance Reviews

The real sparks are between Damon and the mischievously enigmatic Smith, who dispenses wisdom like a cross between Krishnamurti and Uncle Remus.

Full Review | Mar 7, 2018

Some people will find it simplistic and cliched.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 28, 2010

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 7, 2008

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Benign, banal, and sometimes boring inspirational drama.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

Accepting the zen of golf is easy. It's The Legend of Bagger Vance and a callow Will Smith as a mystical golf guru that's hard to swallow.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 25, 2004

Instead of taking on a life of its own, Redford's film reminds you of ones you've seen before. Legends deserve better.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 20, 2003

The movie does contain some heartfelt performances.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Feb 8, 2003

Sit this one out. Please.

Full Review | Original Score: F | Jan 10, 2003

Uplifting feel-good drama from director Robert Redford - chock-full of flaws and easy to criticize, but nonetheless enjoyable.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 30, 2002

Eastern theology suffers the same fate as Western theology in today's Hollywood, which gave God a minimal role in The Prince of Egypt.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Aug 16, 2002

... most decidedly a fantasy, and the rules for fantasy are that the controlling intelligence behind the fantasy gets to change the rules at any time

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Jul 31, 2002

Robert Redford's beguiling drama reminds us even the most hopeless causes can be turned around through the power of positive thinking and perserverance, if we're willing to embrace the possibility of success instead of the probability of failure.

Full Review | Jun 15, 2002

La cinta es melosa en grado superlativo, sin embargo tiene momentos emotivos que encantarn al auditorio (me incluyo, me incluyo).

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Jun 8, 2002

Quando a histria chega ao fim, a impresso que fica a de que Lendas da Vida percorreu um longo caminho e no chegou a lugar algum.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 30, 2002

The Legend Of Bagger Vance takes a dry, sluggish and eerily zombie-like hobby and makes it even LESS interesting.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Apr 30, 2002

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Mar 22, 2002

There were times when it carried me away.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 28, 2002

A thoroughly watchable fable about life, the universe and everything.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 10, 2001

While everything about Bagger Vance looks stunning, its perfectionism comes at the price of genuine drama.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Oct 24, 2001

The Legend Of Bagger Vance Review

23 Feb 2001

126 minutes

Legend Of Bagger Vance, The

Robert Redford's golfing parable was an attempt to drag some old-fashioned morality back into 21st century cinema.

Although beautifully shot, it's slow going, but if you can bear the pace and the wholesome performances of golfer Matt Damon and mystical caddy Will Smith, it does make rewarding viewing.

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Movies | 03 05 2016

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• DVD & Streaming

The Legend of Bagger Vance

• Drama , Sports

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Will Smith as Bagger Vance; Matt Damon as Rannulph Junuh; Charlize Theron as Adele Invergordon; Bruce McGill as Walter Hagen; Joel Gretsch as Bobby Jones; J. Michael Moncrief as Hardy Greaves

Home Release Date

• Robert Redford

Distributor

Movie review.

The Legend of Bagger Vance finds the meaning of life in a little white ball. Its conclusions are balanced, but the setup is a bit shaky, sometimes feeling haphazard and lopsided. In 1916, a young Rannulph Junuh wields a mean driver, using his magnificent golf skills to captivate America’s budding sports world and win the undying adoration of his hometown, Savannah, Ga. Then WWI sends him overseas. He survives, but what he sees and experiences sends him into an emotional tailspin. He’s unable even to face the hero’s welcome sure to await him in Savannah, so he just disappears. His beautiful girlfriend, Adele, meanwhile, suffers through his absence and the suicide death of her father. Even though the great depression is now in full swing, she vows to never sell her father’s greatest achievement, a luxurious golf course and country club. To save it, she initiates an exhibition tournament between two of the country’s greatest golfers, Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones. That’s where Junuh comes back into the story. She needs him to fill out the scorecard as the local celebrity. He doesn’t want to at first, but gives in rather quickly. Bagger Vance appears (magically) out of nowhere to be his caddie and coach, and teach him all the life lessons that golf can possibly teach.

positive elements: Those lessons include honesty, fairness, serenity, peace and determination. The tournament has come down to the wire, and playing by the rules may well cost him the game, but Junuh refuses to compromise. He won’t cheat even when an easy opportunity presents itself. Bagger gradually shows him how to overcome adversity and emerge from the shadows of his own private torture. He uses the disciplines of golf to get his message across. Hard work, even if it is “beneath one’s dignity” is lauded (the depression-era setting lends itself well to communicating this virtue).

spiritual content: None.

sexual content: Early on, it is implied that Junuh and Adele’s on-screen kissing leads to sex. Later, Adele strips down to her camisole and offers to sleep with Junuh, hoping to lure him into accepting her invitation to compete in the tournament. Even worse, Hardy (a young boy of about 10) watches the whole exchange. After Adele leaves, Junuh tells Hardy that his “education” is over and he can go home. Hardy immediately brags to his friends that he watched Adele “strip down to her skivvies.” Hagen is known for his womanizing. One scene shows him tapping a golf ball around his living room (a woman lying on the floor provides the “cup” with her cleavage).

violent content: Vignettes of WWI combat. When Adele’s father kills himself, a gunshot rings out and the camera lingers on his limp hand from which the weapon falls.

crude or profane language: Not much by today’s standards, but if one takes into account the film’s 1930s backdrop, Junuh cusses like a sailor. Two s-words and a handful of mild profanities cross his lips in the course of two hours. He also misuses the name of Jesus three or four times.

drug and alcohol content: Junuh drinks to excess in order to try and forget the experiences that haunt him from the war. Half-serious, half-joking, he tells Hardy that the last brain cells to get destroyed when you drink are the “memory cells.” He and his friends drink, smoke and play poker. Hagen smokes while he plays in the tournament.

conclusion: In this age of quick cuts, roiling action, fast zooms and hand-held cameras, it’s a relief to sit and watch a movie that takes its time. Director Robert Redford makes sure the scenes linger as the screen fills with expansive green fields and the unbroken luster of languid southern afternoons. And you don’t have to be a golf fan to enjoy the mood.

It’s also nice every once in a while to see life boiled down to such a simple essence. You know it doesn’t last and won’t translate well to the real world (not to mention the golf course), but at least you are touched with a moment of inspiration. You’re given a visual handle on how to better travel from the shadows into the sunlight. That’s all a bit esoteric, but The Legend of Bagger Vance only works if you take the time to step back a bit, relax and forget about how busy the rest of your life is. And isn’t that why movies were created in the first place?

At the risk of sounding stodgy, I do have one small quarrel with Junuh’s athletic performance. He comes out of a decade of “retirement” and obscurity to compete against the game’s top athletes without any training or practice. It’s sheer willpower and the subtle encouragement of Bagger Vance that reverts him—instantly—into the superstar that he was years earlier. I’m no expert, but I think Tiger Woods would take issue with the probability of such a thing. Top-level competitive sports (golf included) demand dedication, time, sweat and tears. Even “rags-to-riches” sports flicks like The Bad News Bears, The Mighty Ducks, Cool Runnings and The Replacements show their lackluster teams exert themselves at least a little bit before emerging at the top of the heap. One doesn’t just “visualize” the way to victory and glory.

Neither can one ignore the fact that this film isn’t as squeaky clean as it would have been had it been made during the time in which its story is set. Profanity and a couple of uncomfortable sexual interludes lay like sunken sand traps next to the green. And Bagger’s advice waxes mystical at times. “Everything that is becomes one,” he breathes. “There’s a perfect shot out there trying to find each and every one of us. All we’ve got to do is get ourselves out of the way and let it choose us.” So consider the hazards before hauling the family out for an evening of fun at the Bagger Vance country club.

Steven Isaac

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Movie Review

The legend of bagger vance.

US Release Date: 11-03-2000

Directed by: Robert Redford

Starring ▸ ▾

• Matt Damon ,  as
• Rannulph Junuh
• Will Smith ,  as
• Bagger Vance
• Charlize Theron ,  as
• Adele Invergordon
• Jack Lemmon ,  as
• Old Hardy Greaves
• Bruce McGill ,  as
• Walter Hagen
• Joel Gretsch ,  as
• Bobby Jones
• J. Michael Moncrief as
• Young Hardy Greaves

Will Smith and Matt Damon in The Legend of Bagger Vance .

I have always been a huge fan of classic movies, especially those made before 1960. Movies then were far subtler than most are today. Of course it takes a longer attention span to watch a movie that does not have an edit or shot change every three seconds; but actually allows, or rather forces, the actors in the scene to maintain a character. Old movies, in general, have more dialogue and less scene changes than new ones. Once one gets past the lack of in-your-face eye candy which is really what most of today's movies are based on, one begins to realize that it can be far more powerful when a movie implies something than when it rams something down our throats until we are gagging on the graphic details. The Legend of Bagger Vance , from director and superstar Robert Redford, is one example of a new movie with the style of an old one.

Meticulous in its attention to the time period, which ranges from right before World War I to the early thirties. Matt Damon plays Rannulph Junuh; former golf golden boy who suffers a mental and spiritual breakdown when the Germans wipe out most of his entire company. Flash forward a dozen years or so as he returns home to Savannah, Georgia in time to reluctantly take part in an historic golf match to take place on the course that his former fiancé (Charlize Theron) owns. Enter mystical caddy Bagger Vance, played by Will Smith who proves he is an actor capable of much more restraint than one might expect given his track record of playing wise-ass action heroes. Can he help Junuh to find his swing in time to beat legendary golfers Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones? The story is actually told through a flashback by narrator Hardy Greaves (Jack Lemmon), who was a boy of ten when the events occurred.

The assumption made about period movies or ''hat'' movies as they are called, is that they move at a snails pace and never really pay off emotionally. Neither complaint is true of Bagger Vance . At just over two hours, this movie spends the first hour introducing the characters and showing how they came to their moments of crisis, the second half shows redemption through golf as a metaphor for life. This is one Redford production that moves along nicely, unlike The Horse Whisperer or The Natural . And yes the ending is hopelessly romantic, as it damn well should be.

The talented young trio of actors at this movies core, Smith, Damon and Theron are very much at ease with the world their characters inhabit and each has the needed physical beauty and screen presence to play them as larger than life. From the opening shot to the final credits this is one gorgeous film. Bagger Vance also evinces a gentle humor similar to A River Runs Through It . Rate this one a winner!

Will Smith in The Legend of Bagger Vance .

Patrick got a few things right. The film is beautifully shot, and the period is accurately detailed. What he gets wrong is the pace and Will Smith's performance.

Robert Redford is a true artist. His direction is a panorama of color, mood and movement. The dark, smoking scene when Hardy first meets Junuh sitting in shadows. The setting obviously representing where Junuh's life is presently at. The beautifully shot golf scenes on manicured lawns almost made me want to pick up the game. The shot where the camera flew through the air with the golf ball was breathtaking.

Where Redford seems to fail as a director is in directing his players. I find that interesting considering he is such a fine actor himself. The scene where Charlize Theron pulls Matt Damon aside in the middle of a round to pour her heart out seemed way out of place. I nearly gagged when she very emotionally said ''should I melt in your arms like butter on a muffin?'' Only Scarlet O'Hara working her charm could have gotten away with that line.

Will Smith pretty much made some easy money here. I am guessing this is all the direction he got. ''Will, look serious and say your line.'' Unless acting subdued is a lot of work for him, he could have probably shot his part in a day.

What is it with Redford and blond actors? He directed Brad Pitt and now Matt Damon. Something Freudian going on? Damon has never been my favorite actor. As long as he's talking he does alright. However, he looks constipated when he doesn't have any lines.

As is the norm in a Redford film the pace is in first gear. Granted it isn't the chore that watching Ordinary (boring) People is. Still a peppier pace wouldn't hurt.

Charlize Theron in The Legend of Bagger Vance .

Watching a movie on video is such a different thing than watching it on the big screen.  Had I seen this movie in the theater, I don't know that I would have liked it so much.  But watching it late at night, curled up on my bed, I loved it.  Perhaps it is easier to watch a slower paced movie on video, after all, I saw Ordinary People and The Natural on video and I liked both of them, especially The Natural , which like The Legend of Bagger Vance , uses Sport as a metaphor for life.  Which is odd, because apart from Tennis, I'm not a sports fan at all.

Eric mentioned Redford's habit of hiring younger versions of himself, particularly Bard Pitt, who could easily be his son, and now here, Matt Damon.  It's funny because I thought the exact same thing while watching this movie.  It's a habit I'm grateful for though, because unlike Woody Allen, who thinks he can play any age, Redford knows not to try to play every role himself, and instead hires a surrogate actor to play the younger parts.  He also seems to enjoy the time period of this movie.  The Natural , and The Legend of Bagger Vance both take place in the early part of the 20th century.  Maybe it stems back to Redford's portrayal of Gatsby in The Great Gatsby , as both The Natural and Bagger Vance both have elements of an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story.

I disagree with Eric's assessment of the acting.  In most of Will Smith's movies, at least the action ones, he seems to be playing himself.  Is there much difference between his characters in Independence Day, Men in Black, and Wild, Wild West?  In this movie, he shows remarkable restraint and manages to say his inspiring, but vague speeches to Matt Damon's character without making them sound corny or over done.  The scene where Charlize Theron pulls Matt Damon aside near the end of the Golf Match, that Eric mentions as being out of place, I found entirely justified.  Her character of Adelle sees that Junah is becoming a success and is afraid of losing him again.  The last thing she wants is for him to leave again.  She is a Southern Belle used to getting her way and being the center of attention.  This scene is her reclaiming of his attentions.  As for Matt Damon himself, I agree with Eric in that he is not and never has been one of my favorite actors.  This movie nearly changed that opinion...nearly.  As Eric mentioned, the first shot of Damon, shows him in smoky shadows.  He is in fact, drunk and playing poker.  For this scene and a few to follow, he actually comes off as dark and disturbed.  Unfortunately, as the movie progresses and he regains his confidence, he becomes more Damon-like, but not unbearably so. 

I think the only way I could have enjoyed this movie more, would have been if Redford had gone with Brad Pitt in the role.  Brad plays dark better than Damon and he's closer to the correct age for the character.

Like Eric, I too felt the urge to pick up a club after watching this movie, but that's not what it's about at all.  Golf is a metaphor for life and you don't need to have played or even like the game to enjoy this movie.

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Review by Karl Williams

Based on the debut novel by author Steven Pressfield, this period sports drama makes a Herculean effort to reach the soaring heights of fantasy achieved by such similar films as Field of Dreams (1989) and The Natural (1984), but falls short on most accounts. Uneven in execution, The Legend of Bagger Vance deviates frequently between conflicting tones, unfolding as a nostalgic paean to a bygone era in some scenes, an ironic fantasy in others, and at times even a broad comedy. This dissonance does a talented cast -- including Will Smith and Matt Damon -- little good and leaves Smith in particular struggling to create a full-bodied human being out of his cipher of a character, one that's essentially a dramatic device. Arguably adding to the disappointing final product is the attempt by Pressfield and director Robert Redford to lend such a pastoral sport as golf the emotional power and intensity that most audiences equate (at least cinematically) with the national pastime, baseball.

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The Legend of Bagger Vance

W atching this Robert Redford-directed movie, it's impossible not to think of Wilde's remark about all portraits being self-portraits. The camera lingers lovingly on the all-American young blond face of Matt Damon, and Mr Redford invites us to believe that these winsome chops can be quite unchanged through 15 years of story time, 1916 to 1931, during which period Damon is supposed to have gone through front-line service in the first world war, near-alcoholism and a virtual nervous breakdown - and his puppyishly pert good looks are not a whit diminished. Did Redford perhaps for a fleeting moment entertain the thought of playing the role himself, with a gallon of Vaseline for the lens?

Whatever its obscure origins in wish- fulfilment, this movie is an example of Redford's sweet tooth for heritage-shoppe Americana, taken here from the Jazz Age, with much picturesque Depression-era hardship, floppy caps and plus-fours familiar from The Sting, The Great Waldo Pepper, The Great Gatsby etc. Damon plays Rannulph Junuh, a superb golfer from Savannah, Georgia, who falls in love with the wealthy and beautiful Adele (Charlize Theron). He goes to war, and his experiences - on which Redford does not dwell - are enough to make him give up golf and Adele, develop designer stubble and take to the bottle in what is supposed to be squalor, but what looks mysteriously like a squat in a large and elegant mansion. Meanwhile, Adele needs him for a huge exhibition match she is organising on her late daddy's swanky golfing resort - so the old (or rather exquisitely young) clubslinger has to get his mashies and niblicks out for that last big comeback.

At which point, Matt Damon gets that accoutrement that no white star can afford to be without. The gift for the Wasp protagonist who has everything. The black guardian angel! Nic Cage had one in The Family Man, and now Matt does too. Will Smith plays the wise Bagger Vance, his caddy, the man who schools Matt in how to regain his all-important "swing". Golf is of course hardly famed for its friendliness to minorities; Bagger can't go any higher than caddy, and certainly not in good ol' Savannah. But Redford seems blithely uninterested in the politics of race, and his movie is narrated by an innocent 10-year-old boy, thus making these adult concerns conveniently inadmissible. Actually, the enigmatic Bagger doesn't have much of a "legend" or history of any sort: the legend is all Sunuh's, local hero and comeback kid - and what a boring legend it is. Golf fans might derive some interest, but it's very weak and a waste of that very watchable comic performer Will Smith.

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The Legend of Bagger Vance

• A down-and-out golfer attempts to recover his game and his life with help from a mystical caddie.
• A disillusioned war veteran, Captain Rannulph Junuh, reluctantly agrees to play a game of golf. He finds the game futile until his caddie, Bagger Vance, teaches him the secret of the authentic golf stroke which turns out also to be the secret to mastering any challenge and finding meaning in life. — M. Fowler
• Rannulph Junuh is the best golfer in Savannah. He's living well and has a girl, Adele Invergordon, who's the daughter of a wealthy landowner. The First World War starts, though, and Junuh goes to Europe to fight. The only survivor of a dangerous mission, Junuh doesn't return to Savannah for 15 years. In 1930, he returns, and Adele's father has already committed suicide during the Depression. Pressured by tax collectors to sell the golf course her father built to pay off debts, Adele, now older, vows to bring to Savannah the greatest match ever played on the greatest golf course, her late father's. She's able to round up the 2 greatest golfers of their time, Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen to play for $10,000. The townspeople insist on having "one of their own" compete also, and Rannulph Junuh is rounded up. Junuh now hangs out with bums and is an alcoholic, as he has lost his authentic swing from 15 years ago. At first he turns down the offer. He gets his old clubs and balls and starts practicing. He has lost his ability. Suddenly, Bagger Vance shows up. He offers to be Junuh's caddie and help him regain his "authentic swing". He does, and Junuh agrees to play in the big match. — Patrick Lynn, 13 <[email protected]>

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44 Facts About The Movie The Legend Of Bagger Vance

Written by Vilhelmina Zheng

Modified & Updated: 09 May 2024

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

The Legend of Bagger Vance is a captivating film that became a classic in the world of sports cinema. Released in 2000, this Robert Redford-directed movie combines elements of golf, spirituality, and self-discovery to create a truly remarkable story. Set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, the film tells the tale of Rannulph Junuh, a former golf prodigy who lost his swing while serving as a soldier in World War I. When Junuh is challenged to participate in a high-stakes golf tournament, he enlists the help of Bagger Vance, a mysterious caddy who becomes his mentor and guide. This article delves into 44 fascinating facts about this remarkable film, shedding light on its production, cast, and the impact it has had on viewers around the world. So grab your golf clubs and get ready to explore the intriguing world of The Legend of Bagger Vance!

Key Takeaways:

• Rediscover Your True Potential “The Legend of Bagger Vance” reminds us to embrace our inner greatness, overcome challenges, and pursue our passions with determination, resonating with viewers of all ages.
• Unity, Resilience, and Self-Discovery This timeless film highlights the power of unity, resilience, and self-discovery, inspiring audiences to find their true purpose and pursue their dreams with unwavering belief.

The Legend of Bagger Vance is a sports drama film released in 2000.

The movie, directed by Robert Redford, is based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Steven Pressfield.

The film stars Will Smith, Matt Damon, and Charlize Theron in lead roles.

Will Smith portrays the character of Bagger Vance, a mysterious caddy who helps a golfer regain his swing and find his true self.

The story is set against the backdrop of a golf tournament in Savannah, Georgia during the Great Depression.

The tournament brings together the main characters and becomes a metaphor for their personal journeys.

The movie explores themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the power of belief.

It presents golf as a metaphor for life and uses the sport to convey deeper messages about the human spirit.

The Legend of Bagger Vance received mixed reviews from critics upon its release.

Some praised the film’s performances and cinematography, while others found it somewhat slow-paced and lacking in depth.

The film’s soundtrack, composed by Rachel Portman, received critical acclaim.

It perfectly captures the mood and atmosphere of the story, enhancing the viewing experience.

Will Smith’s portrayal of Bagger Vance is considered one of his standout performances.

He brings a quiet wisdom and charm to the character, earning praise for his compelling and nuanced acting.

The Legend of Bagger Vance was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction.

The film’s stunning visuals and attention to detail in recreating the 1930s era were recognized by the Academy.

The movie showcases the beauty of golf courses and the strategic nature of the sport.

It highlights the importance of focus, mental strength, and resilience in achieving success on and off the golf course.

The Legend of Bagger Vance features powerful and memorable quotes that inspire and uplift viewers.

Lines like “Inside each and every one of us is our one true, authentic swing” resonate with audiences and leave a lasting impact.

The film’s screenplay was written by Jeremy Leven, who adapted the story for the big screen.

Leven successfully captures the essence of the novel in his script and brings the characters to life.

The Legend of Bagger Vance was a box office disappointment upon its release.

While it didn’t achieve significant commercial success, the movie has gained a dedicated fan base over the years.

The film explores racial and societal issues of the time period it is set in.

It touches on themes of race, class, and the challenges faced by African Americans during the Great Depression .

The Legend of Bagger Vance is often regarded as an underrated gem in Robert Redford’s directorial career.

Despite its initial reception, the movie has gained recognition for its artistic merits and thought-provoking narrative.

The chemistry between the lead actors, Will Smith and Matt Damon, is a highlight of the film.

Their on-screen dynamic and camaraderie adds depth to the story and elevates the overall viewing experience.

The Legend of Bagger Vance showcases the mystical and spiritual aspects of golf.

Bagger Vance’s character embodies the idea of a spiritual guide, helping the protagonist find his true purpose and potential.

The movie’s title refers to the legendary caddy, Bagger Vance, who becomes a source of inspiration for the protagonist.

Bagger Vance’s teachings and wisdom resonate throughout the film as he guides the golfer towards self-discovery.

The Legend of Bagger Vance is based on the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Hindu scripture.

The film draws parallels between the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the lessons learned on the golf course.

The movie’s cinematography captures the lush landscapes of Savannah, immersing viewers in the beauty of the setting.

The visuals add depth to the storytelling and create a visually captivating experience.

The Legend of Bagger Vance emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the belief in oneself.

It encourages viewers to overcome challenges and obstacles, both within and outside the realm of sports.

The film’s depiction of the Great Depression era is meticulously researched and brings authenticity to the story.

From the costumes to the set designs, every detail contributes to the immersive experience of the time period.

The Legend of Bagger Vance explores the power of mentorship and the impact a wise guide can have on one’s life.

Bagger Vance serves as a mentor figure, guiding the golfer not only in the game of golf but also in finding his purpose.

The movie’s golf scenes are expertly choreographed and showcase the skill and precision required in the sport.

The cinematography captures the grace and intensity of the game, adding excitement to the narrative.

The Legend of Bagger Vance is a heartwarming and inspiring film that resonates with viewers of all ages.

Its messages of self-discovery, redemption, and the pursuit of one’s true calling make it a timeless story.

The movie’s screenplay provides a refreshing take on the sports genre, focusing on the mental and emotional aspects of the game.

It delves into the inner struggles and triumphs of the characters, offering a different perspective on sports storytelling.

The Legend of Bagger Vance features a talented ensemble cast that brings depth and authenticity to their respective roles.

The performances of Charlize Theron, Bruce McGill , and Joel Gretsch add layers to the overall storytelling.

The film’s score, composed by Rachel Portman, perfectly captures the emotional beats of the story.

From uplifting and inspiring melodies to melancholic tunes, the music enhances the storytelling and evokes a range of emotions.

The Legend of Bagger Vance reminds viewers of the importance of finding balance in life.

It encourages individuals to pursue their passions while maintaining a sense of inner peace and purpose.

The movie’s themes of resilience and determination resonate with viewers from all walks of life.

It serves as a reminder to never give up, even in the face of adversity.

The Legend of Bagger Vance incorporates elements of magical realism, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural.

This adds a touch of enchantment to the story, making it a unique and memorable viewing experience.

The film’s narrative structure weaves together different storylines, creating a tapestry of interconnected lives.

It explores the intertwining fates of the characters and the impact they have on one another.

The Legend of Bagger Vance encourages viewers to reflect on their own lives and discover their true passions.

It inspires introspection and prompts individuals to question their own desires and purpose in life.

The movie’s costume design captures the fashion trends of the 1930s, adding a touch of authenticity to the characters.

From elegant dresses to classic golf attire, the costumes enhance the visual storytelling and transport viewers to the time period.

The Legend of Bagger Vance showcases the transformative power of sports and its ability to bring out the best in individuals.

Through the game of golf, the characters in the film undergo personal growth and discover their own inner strengths.

The film’s pacing allows for moments of introspection and reflection, allowing viewers to fully absorb the messages conveyed.

It strikes a balance between the quieter, contemplative scenes and the more engaging moments on the golf course.

The Legend of Bagger Vance explores the concept of letting go and embracing one’s true potential.

It urges individuals to release their fears and doubts, allowing their inner greatness to shine through.

The movie’s message of unity and overcoming divisions resonates in today’s society.

It highlights the power of coming together, irrespective of differences, to achieve common goals.

The Legend of Bagger Vance showcases the psychology of sports and the mental aspects that come into play.

It emphasizes the importance of a strong mindset and the impact it can have on one’s performance.

The film’s production design seamlessly recreates the ambiance of the 1930s, immersing viewers in the time period.

From the architecture to the props, every detail contributes to the overall authenticity of the film.

The Legend of Bagger Vance serves as a reminder that everyone has an inner champion waiting to be unleashed.

It encourages viewers to tap into their own potential and pursue their dreams with passion and determination.

The movie’s narrative is peppered with subtle humor that adds lightness to the story.

These comedic moments provide comic relief and balance out the more introspective and dramatic aspects of the film.

The Legend of Bagger Vance pays tribute to the game of golf and its timeless appeal.

Through its storytelling, it captures the essence of the sport and highlights its enduring popularity.

The film’s message of finding one’s purpose transcends the sport of golf and resonates with audiences from all walks of life.

It encourages individuals to follow their passion and pursue a fulfilling life path.

The Legend of Bagger Vance continues to inspire and captivate audiences, reinforcing its status as a beloved sports drama.

Its timeless themes, memorable performances, and enchanting storytelling make it a film worth watching and revisiting.

The Legend of Bagger Vance is a captivating film that combines elements of sports, drama, and spirituality to create a mesmerizing tale. Featuring stellar performances by Will Smith, Matt Damon, and Charlize Theron, this movie takes viewers on a journey of self-discovery, redemption, and the power of belief. With its beautiful cinematography, heartfelt storytelling, and powerful message, The Legend of Bagger Vance continues to be a beloved film among audiences.Whether you’re a fan of golf, interested in meaningful stories, or simply appreciate well-crafted films, The Legend of Bagger Vance is worth adding to your watchlist. So sit back, relax, and let this remarkable movie inspire you to follow your dreams, overcome obstacles, and find your inner strength.

Q: Who directed The Legend of Bagger Vance?

A: The Legend of Bagger Vance was directed by Robert Redford.

Q: Is The Legend of Bagger Vance based on a true story?

A: No, The Legend of Bagger Vance is a fictional story adapted from the 1995 novel of the same name by Steven Pressfield.

Q: What is the movie’s main theme?

A: The movie explores themes of self-discovery, redemption, and the power of belief.

Q: Who are the main actors in The Legend of Bagger Vance?

A: The film stars Will Smith as Bagger Vance, Matt Damon as Rannulph Junuh, and Charlize Theron as Adele Invergordon.

Q: When was The Legend of Bagger Vance released?

A: The movie was released in 2000.

Q: What is the running time of The Legend of Bagger Vance?

A: The film has a running time of approximately 126 minutes.

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The Legend of Bagger Vance

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• Will Smith as Bagger Vance; Matt Damon as Rannulph Junuh; Charlize Theron as Adele Invergordon; Bruce McGill as Walter Hagen; Joel Gretsch as Bobby Jones; J. Michael Moncrief as Hardy Greaves

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• Robert Redford

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Movie review.

The Legend of Bagger Vance finds the meaning of life in a little white ball. Its conclusions are balanced, but the setup is a bit shaky, sometimes feeling haphazard and lopsided. In 1916, a young Rannulph Junuh wields a mean driver, using his magnificent golf skills to captivate America’s budding sports world and win the undying adoration of his hometown, Savannah, Ga. Then WWI sends him overseas. He survives, but what he sees and experiences sends him into an emotional tailspin. He’s unable even to face the hero’s welcome sure to await him in Savannah, so he just disappears. His beautiful girlfriend, Adele, meanwhile, suffers through his absence and the suicide death of her father. Even though the great depression is now in full swing, she vows to never sell her father’s greatest achievement, a luxurious golf course and country club. To save it, she initiates an exhibition tournament between two of the country’s greatest golfers, Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones. That’s where Junuh comes back into the story. She needs him to fill out the scorecard as the local celebrity. He doesn’t want to at first, but gives in rather quickly. Bagger Vance appears (magically) out of nowhere to be his caddie and coach, and teach him all the life lessons that golf can possibly teach.

positive elements: Those lessons include honesty, fairness, serenity, peace and determination. The tournament has come down to the wire, and playing by the rules may well cost him the game, but Junuh refuses to compromise. He won’t cheat even when an easy opportunity presents itself. Bagger gradually shows him how to overcome adversity and emerge from the shadows of his own private torture. He uses the disciplines of golf to get his message across. Hard work, even if it is “beneath one’s dignity” is lauded (the depression-era setting lends itself well to communicating this virtue).

spiritual content: None.

sexual content: Early on, it is implied that Junuh and Adele’s on-screen kissing leads to sex. Later, Adele strips down to her camisole and offers to sleep with Junuh, hoping to lure him into accepting her invitation to compete in the tournament. Even worse, Hardy (a young boy of about 10) watches the whole exchange. After Adele leaves, Junuh tells Hardy that his “education” is over and he can go home. Hardy immediately brags to his friends that he watched Adele “strip down to her skivvies.” Hagen is known for his womanizing. One scene shows him tapping a golf ball around his living room (a woman lying on the floor provides the “cup” with her cleavage).

violent content: Vignettes of WWI combat. When Adele’s father kills himself, a gunshot rings out and the camera lingers on his limp hand from which the weapon falls.

crude or profane language: Not much by today’s standards, but if one takes into account the film’s 1930s backdrop, Junuh cusses like a sailor. Two s-words and a handful of mild profanities cross his lips in the course of two hours. He also misuses the name of Jesus three or four times.

drug and alcohol content: Junuh drinks to excess in order to try and forget the experiences that haunt him from the war. Half-serious, half-joking, he tells Hardy that the last brain cells to get destroyed when you drink are the “memory cells.” He and his friends drink, smoke and play poker. Hagen smokes while he plays in the tournament.

conclusion: In this age of quick cuts, roiling action, fast zooms and hand-held cameras, it’s a relief to sit and watch a movie that takes its time. Director Robert Redford makes sure the scenes linger as the screen fills with expansive green fields and the unbroken luster of languid southern afternoons. And you don’t have to be a golf fan to enjoy the mood.

It’s also nice every once in a while to see life boiled down to such a simple essence. You know it doesn’t last and won’t translate well to the real world (not to mention the golf course), but at least you are touched with a moment of inspiration. You’re given a visual handle on how to better travel from the shadows into the sunlight. That’s all a bit esoteric, but The Legend of Bagger Vance only works if you take the time to step back a bit, relax and forget about how busy the rest of your life is. And isn’t that why movies were created in the first place?

At the risk of sounding stodgy, I do have one small quarrel with Junuh’s athletic performance. He comes out of a decade of “retirement” and obscurity to compete against the game’s top athletes without any training or practice. It’s sheer willpower and the subtle encouragement of Bagger Vance that reverts him—instantly—into the superstar that he was years earlier. I’m no expert, but I think Tiger Woods would take issue with the probability of such a thing. Top-level competitive sports (golf included) demand dedication, time, sweat and tears. Even “rags-to-riches” sports flicks like The Bad News Bears, The Mighty Ducks, Cool Runnings and The Replacements show their lackluster teams exert themselves at least a little bit before emerging at the top of the heap. One doesn’t just “visualize” the way to victory and glory.

Neither can one ignore the fact that this film isn’t as squeaky clean as it would have been had it been made during the time in which its story is set. Profanity and a couple of uncomfortable sexual interludes lay like sunken sand traps next to the green. And Bagger’s advice waxes mystical at times. “Everything that is becomes one,” he breathes. “There’s a perfect shot out there trying to find each and every one of us. All we’ve got to do is get ourselves out of the way and let it choose us.” So consider the hazards before hauling the family out for an evening of fun at the Bagger Vance country club.

Steven Isaac

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