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Bobby Jones: Stroke of Geniusreview by Mark Moring |
posted 4/30/2004
4 of 4

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) "This film will help to fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge of who Jones was and what drove him to excel. The film is rife with biblical principles, themes and lessons which can be used to illustrate God's wonderful truths."
Ed Cox (Christian Spotlight) says, "I want to stress just how wonderful this film is. True … it is a sports movie. After all, Bobby Jones became famous for his golf swing, not his days in court. But that said, it does two things extremely well. First it demonstrates how a man can live his life with honor and virtue and still be successful. Second it surrounds that theme with good theater. Oh that more movies would dare to stand for something instead of stand in the way of something."
"Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius is more than just a sports movie," says Mark Moring (Christianity Today Movies). "It's a film about triumph over adversity, about the complexities of relationships, and about the grit, determination and integrity of a family man on multiple missions—clichés all, indeed, but they're handled tastefully and sensitively enough that you really do care about what happens to the good guy in the end."
David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) says, "Though it may sound like a contradiction in terms, the best sports movies are, at their core, rarely about sports. Whether manifested in the balletic brutality of the boxing ring or in the edifying endurance of runners, the visual poetry of athletic competition has long provided filmmakers with the perfect metaphorical canvas upon which to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit. Such is the case with [this] handsomely crafted biopic."
Benn Becker (Hollywood Jesus) reports that the film "felt more like a TV movie than a feature film. I felt Caviezel's acting was a little restrained and did not portray the internal struggles of Jones's character effectively. However, I would still recommend this film about a true gentleman of the game of golf, especially for those who have heard about the legend but aren't completely familiar with his story."
from Film Forum, 05/13/04
Andrew Coffin (World) saw Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, and says the film "isn't on the same level as Chariots of Fire, it is still a respectful, respectable effort. The film doesn't offer much in the way of insight into the complicated Jones, but it does very competently and sometimes movingly chart his rise to the status of a legend in the game."
Want wild and crazy martial arts combat? Look no further than Quentin Tarantino. But be prepared for extreme violence. In fact, you may want to look closer before buying a ticket to this bloody spectacle.
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Alistair Begg—Pastor, Movie Star
When the Bible and pastors go hip.
compiled by Rob Moll
Christianity Today, May 10, 2004