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The Greatest Game Ever Played Our rating: Your rating:   MPAA rating: PG (for some brief mild language) Genre: Sports Theater release: September 30, 2005 by Walt Disney Pictures Directed by: Bill Paxton Runtime: 2 hours Cast: Shia LaBeouf (Francis Ouimet), Stephen Dillane (Harry Vardon), Peter Firth (Lord Northcliffe), Elias Koteas (Arthur Ouimet), Marnie McPhail (Mary Ouimet), Stephen Marcus (Ted Ray), Josh Flitter (Eddie Lowery), Justin Ashforth (Ted Hastings), Peyton List (Sarah Wallis), Michael Weaver (John McDermott) Related: Talk About It/Family Corner

The Greatest Game Ever Played does for golf what other recent family-friendly sports films from Disney did for football (Remember the Titans), baseball (The Rookie), and hockey (Miracle). The title doesn't infer that golf is the superior sport, but to Francis Ouimet's spectacular final round of the 1913 U.S. Open, which ranks among the greatest of history's sports-underdog tales. And that's saying something with the aforementioned films, a horse named Seabiscuit, and a boxer known as the Cinderella Man in contention.

Shia LaBeouf as the working-class kid Francis Ouimet

Francis who? It wouldn't be surprising if you've never heard of Ouimet ("we-met"), considering he made headlines as a 20-year-old nearly a century ago and never went on to become a professional golfer. Only the most passionate of golf historians are familiar with the match, which helps add some drama and uncertainty to the story for everyone else. Why is Ouimet historically significant? Did he win or lose the famed match? Was it personal injury or personal choice that caused him to leave the game?

A word of warning—the outcome is easily found in just about any article, interview, or review on the subject. And it's nearly impossible to talk about the film without giving away some of the surprising aspects to the tale. But the thrill of watching The Greatest Game Ever Played comes as much from the opportunity and context of the game itself as it does the outcome.

A century ago, golf was still a gentleman's sport played primarily by the wealthy. It was unheard of for a lower-class Brit like Harry Vardon to rise above social class and become one of his country's greatest golfers—he's renowned for developing an innovative club grip and for winning six consecutive British Opens, a record he still holds to this day. We see Vardon at the film's start as a young boy, shunned by the upper class. To the film's detriment, we never learn exactly how he was able to escape a life of poverty to become a sporting legend—politics seemed to play a part. But then again, this isn't technically his story either.

Jumping ahead to the turn of the 20th century, we meet Ouimet as a young boy, the eldest son of a working- class family. Though his father Arthur (Elias Koteas) instills a hard work ethic, the family lives across the street from the now historical golf course in Brookline, Massachusetts. Not surprisingly, Ouimet takes to the sport, tirelessly practicing every day with aspirations of playing as well as his idol Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane), aka "The Stylist."

Stephen Dillane plays the classy Harry Vardon

Years later, the family's social status keeps the post-adolescent Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) from gaining club membership, but he does manage to secretly fit in some rounds while working as a caddie. In time, others at the club become aware of his talent, and a member eventually sponsors Ouimet to enter the National Amateur Championship. The $50 entry fee is no small matter in the early 1900s, but Arthur Ouimet reluctantly loans his son the money, on the condition that he gives up his sporting aspirations if he loses. The hopeful teen accepts and plays an impressive round, but then …

Better to not spoil any more details. This being a classic sports-underdog tale, many developments do unfold predictably, but there are a few unexpected turns getting from point A to Z. Nevertheless, it ranks among the best golf dramas ever made, far more compelling than 2004's Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius. Think of it as a better The Legend of Bagger Vance combined with October Sky—an underdog golf match meets father-son drama.

What's particularly affecting is that there isn't really a villain in the film. The elder Ouimet doesn't support his son's golf aspirations, believing it to be a foolish pursuit compared to "real work." Koteas does his best with a complicated role, trying to play Arthur as both stern and pragmatic. Unfortunately, the screenplay reduces him to harsh paternal stereotypes without sufficiently fleshing out his relationship with his son and family. We see a stronger bond between Francis and his supportive mother (Marnie McPhail), which may be intentional. But however misguided Arthur's parenting may be, it's clear that he is trying to consider his son's best interests.

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Shia LaBeouf, who plays golf whiz kid Francis Ouimet in The Greatest Game Ever Played, says he learned that golf is the most "honorable" game in sports.