Subtle and warm

Rating: 8/10 (31 March 2004)

*** out of **** stars:
Like the sport of golf, this movie is one of the less-adreniline felled and more slowed-down movies you'll ever see. Matt Damon plays a has-been in the world of golfing who was broken by his experiences fighting in World War I. Damon ultimately decides to get back into the sport of golfing with the inspiration of a little kid (played in his older days by Jack Lemmon, always a plus!), a unique caddy named Bagger Vance (Will Smith), and a tournament being thrown by his wealthy ex-lover (Charlize Theron) to help save her golfing club in depression-torn Savannah. Rather than adrelaine and lust for glory, Bagger Vance, somewhat of a centerpiece to which the film is built around, preaches love for the game and the inherent beauty of it. It's possible that the director intended to enfuse the film with some religious subtext, as Bagger Vance seems in some ways to be divine, we don't know where he came from or where he leaves for at the end of the film, and he seems to know exactly what to say at any given moment. Will Smith shows a little more range and depth that we're used to seeing from him, and the rest of the cast seems to have brought their A-game to the film. The drama, set against beautifully photographed backgrounds, is subtle and attentive, pleasantly mild.