Product Description

BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF GOLF ICON BOBBY JONES. JONES OVERCOMES HIS OWN INTENSE PASSION, PERFECTIONIS TENDENCIES &FIERCE TEMPER TO MASTER THE GAME. WHEN JONES REALIZES THAT HISUNPARALLELED SUCCESS IS DESTROYING HIS LOVED ONES, HES PRESENTEDWITH AN ASTOUNDING PROPOSITION, ONE THAT SHOCKS THE WORLD.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6293 in DVD
• Brand: SONY PICTURES HOME ENT
• Released on: 2004-11-30
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Chinese, English, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 128 minutes

Amazon.com
Anyone who's ever been passionate about golf will find something to admire in Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, a staidly reverent biopic about one of the game's greatest champions. In the title role, Jim Caviezel suffers almost as much as he did in The Passion of the Christ, portraying Jones--who made history by winning golf's elusive Grand Slam (four top tournaments in less than four months) in 1930--as a passionately committed golfer who silently endured chronic pain (a spinal disorder prompted his early retirement at age 28), stomach ailments, emotional torment, and borderline alcoholism while maintaining amateur status in the sport he so magnificently dominated. Jeremy Northam brings much-needed levity and rakish style as Jones' friend and rival golfer Walter Hagen, and Malcolm McDowell adds colorful character as Jones' friend and biographer O.B. Keeler while Claire Forlani suffers the typical biopic plight of the hero's wife, who offers compassionate empathy while wishing Jones had more time for family. With repetitive golf scenes and a somber tone of martyrdom, Bobby Jones was partially financed by Jones' estate, which may explain its respectable dullness and instant fate as a box-office dud. Still, director Rowdy (Road House) Herrington is clearly enamored of his subject, and some of that enthusiasm shines through the gloom. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Bobby Jones -
I had the pleasure of seeing this movie at its premiere in NYC and learning more about the making of the film. The film itself is well done and gives you a real sense of the character of Bob Jones. He is a man that overcame his own problems through discipline, strength of character, and determination. No excuses, just do it. Lessons most of us need to practice!

But the story behind the story is just as inspiring. The independent film made by the Bobby Jones Film Foundation was made on a shoestring budget yet has continued to give and raise money for charities. The foundation believes in the philanthropic legacy of the Jones family - there's more to life that money and winning championships. Bobby Jones was diagnosed and suffered from syringomyelia - a painful and degenerative spinal disorder that some 240,000 Americans suffer from.

The American Syringomyelia Alliance Project (ASAP) is a non-profit charity supporting research and education for people affected by syringomyelia. The Jones family and the Bobby Jones Film Foundation are generously supporting ASAP as well as other charities. Bobby Jones chose to make the best of his life despite syringomyelia - through his continuing legacy, ASAP is improving the lives of those with syringomyelia today. Go see this film and be prepared to be inspired.
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Lovely filming, what was the story again?
The tale of Bobby Jones is one known to almost any golfer. At the very least, his greatest feat, claiming the Grand Slam, is firmly in their minds. A film on Bobby Jones and his eventual triumph was long in the coming.

The photography is probably the greatest asset of this work. Views of the Old Course at St. Andrews, Oakmont, and many other famous courses and clubs make up for whatever may be lacking in terms of story and development.

As for the story itself, the depiction of Jones, while living up more or less to what many of us imagine, lacks some of the complexity it could have had. For example, no mention is made of the series of instructional films made in the 30s after his retirement from competative golf, seen by most as having given him back in full whatever money he missed out on by maintaining his amateur status. His motivation to make these films, and essentially abandon his amateur status, is not covered. We also don't get to see Alastair Mackenzie, the architect of Augusta National, whose interaction with Jones would have spoke a great deal as to both of thier views on the game.

Hopefully in the coming years more films reexamining the legends will be made so the newer members of the golfing community will at least know why they call it the Grand Slam, who Ouimet was, and why Harry Vardon was idolized so much.

King of Swings
As powerful as the movie and Jim Caviezel's portrayal of Christ in The Passion of the Christ is, the movie IS NOT ENTERTAINING. Big Surprise! This movie is entertaining to watch because of Caviezel's subtle portrayal of Bobby Jones, the good supporting cast, the wonderful scenery, and the positive message of the movie. I'm definitely going to purchase the DVD, and I don't even like golf!