Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (PG, 2004)

BOBBY JONES: STROKE OF GENIUS chronicles the remarkable early years of golf legend Bobby Jones. Jim Caviezel stars as the adult Jones, who became the only golfer to win all four of the sport's top titles in the same year, refused to be paid for playing golf, turned down millions of dollars in endorsements and awards, and retired at the age of 28. The film begins with Jones as a sickly child, growing up next door to a golf course, imitating the swings of the men who play and attracting the attention of the Scottish golf pro. Eventually, he enters his first big tournament as a teenager. Skeptical journalist O.B. Keeler (Malcolm McDowell) becomes an awestruck fan. Meanwhile, Jones struggles to control his temper and faces family problems as his grandfather disapproves of his playing golf, his mother wants him to study literature, and his wife Mary (Claire Forlani) wants him to spend more time with their family. Plagued by an ongoing, mysterious ailment, he won't give up until he's won the grand slam of the four top titles.

A great man and a great golfer like Bobby Jones deserves a better movie than this one, which is as clumsy as its title. Clearly, this movie was made for love of the game and for love of Jones, but it tells us rather than shows us, and then tells us again, and it takes a very long time doing it, too. Like the game it depicts, it moves very, very slowly. There are lots of long, loving shots of the sun-dappled greens, slow-mo swings and swelling strings, glimpses of golden light accompanied by hooting panpipes, and quotes from Kipling, Will Rogers, Tennyson, and then Kipling again.

The film is nice to look at, and actor Jeremy Northam's turn as the dissolute but resolute golf pro Walter Hagen adds some flavor to the story. But the other performances are as flat as the dialogue.