LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE (PG)

Reviewed by Pete Henshaw

WHEN director Robert Redford sat down to decide just what he was going to base his emotionally driven, inspiring tale of battling adversity around, I can't think that golf would have been top of his list.

Films of this genre often tackle subjects such as writing (Finding Forrester), poetry, (Dead Poets' Society) and misunderstood genius, (Good Will Hunting), to great, often Oscar-winning, success.

However, while deserving credit for being different and original, there is a fine line between being such, or just being difficult to watch.

I desperately wanted to get carried away with the emotional struggles of reluctant local golfing hero Rannulph Junuh, (Matt Damon), who represents his home town of Savannah, Georgia in a tournament against the two best golfers in America.

But all through Will Smith's southern drawling, "See the field Junuh, see that place wit your soul," and Matt Damon's lost swing I kept thinking, it's just golf, it's only a game, just hit the ball!

Rannulph Junuh was a golfing miracle in Savannah before he left to fight in World War I, from which he returned an emotional wreck who had become an alcoholic and, yes, lost his swing.

But when Adele Invergordon (Charlize Theron), his love from before the war, launches a golfing tournament between the two best golfers in America Walter Hagen (Bruce McGill) and Bobby Jones (Joel Gretsch), Savannah demands a local hero take part and Junuh is 'selected'.

In my opinion, the film did improve as it reached its climax with Junuh and pals competing in the exhibition 36 hole game.

The match became very tense but ultimately featured on Junuh's 'recovery' which I found too much.

Will Smith is a very funny actor and his films are generally successful so there was no reason to think he could not make the transition to serious acting, but at the end of the day, it just did not come off for Smith who was tenuous, and strained.

Theron was acceptable and put on the best accent of the lot and ever-reliable Matt Damon probably deserves the biggest pat on the back with a good portrayal of his depression hit alcoholic character.

I think this film could well be enjoyed by many people, especially if you like golf because you get 36 holes of the stuff, but I just could not get carried away with it.

Verdict: Teed Off Rating: 5/10

FILM COMPETITION

CONTINUING our weekly cinema competition, we have another family ticket for the film of your choice at the Odeon in Festival Park, Hanley.

The four tickets, worth £20, will be valid from Monday through until Thursday for a film of the winner's choosing as long as you can get to the theatre yourself.

To enter just answer the following question about this week's film review and send the answer along with a daytime telephone number to The Cinema Comp, Crewe Guardian, 42 High Street, Crewe, CW2 7BN or e-mail crewe@guardiangrp.co.uk with your answer.

To win this week just name another Will Smith film and have your answers in by March 15, the winner for the February 22 Hannibal competition was The Flackett Family from Willaston.