The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)

A down-and-out golfer attempts to recover his game and his life with help from a mystical caddy.

Director:

Robert Redford

Writers:

Steven Pressfield (novel), Jeremy Leven (screenplay)

Stars:

Will Smith, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron

2 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Will Smith	...	Bagger Vance
Matt Damon	...	Rannulph Junuh
Charlize Theron	...	Adele Invergordon
Bruce McGill	...	Walter Hagen
Joel Gretsch	...	Bobby Jones
J. Michael Moncrief	...	Hardy Greaves
Peter Gerety	...	Neskaloosa
Lane Smith	...	Grantland Rice
Michael O'Neill	...	O.B. Keeler
Thomas Jay Ryan	...	Spec Hammond
Trip Hamilton	...	Frank Greaves
Dermot Crowley	...	Dougal McDermott
Harve Presnell	...	John Invergordon
Danny Nelson	...	McManus
Bob Penny	...	Laidlaw

Storyline

A disillusioned war veteran, Captain Rannulph Junuh, reluctantly agrees to play a game of golf. He finds the game futile until his caddy, Bagger Vance, teaches him the secret of the authentic golf stroke which turns out also to be the secret to mastering any challenge and finding meaning in life.

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Plot Keywords:

golf | magical negro stereotype | female removes her clothes | no music during opening credits | plus fours | 

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Taglines:

Some Things Can't Be Learned. They Must Be Remembered.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Matt Damon suffered from a separated rib due to the excessive golf practicing he did for his role.

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Goofs

When Hardy is out in the rain hiding behind the tree watching Bagger, his clothes are soaking wet, but when Bagger calls him over, and we see Hardy from behind his clothes are now dry.

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Quotes

Rannulph Junuh: Is there something you want to tell me?
Adel Invergordon: Well, I'm trying to think of how to say it, Junuh. There is a purpose to this visit... and that's to apologize. But I'm not a naturally apologetic woman, so it takes me a little longer to get my thoughts in order.

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Crazy Credits

The DreamWorks logo, the 20th Century Fox logo, and the opening credits are all silent when the film opens, except for the sound of the wind and crickets of the golf course.

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Connections

Referenced in Men at Work: Heterotextual Male (2012)

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Soundtracks

Freight Train
Written & Performed by Elizabeth Cotten
Courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

User Reviews

The perfect stroke

The Legend of Bagger Vance is one of those movies that are all about feeling good and inspiring messages all of which we have seen a trillion times before.: Chocolat, You've got Mail, etc. Yet, it kind of works and Redford succeeds in persuading you to stay till the ending credits though the core of the story is not a romantic plot but rather the personal development of the Matt Damon's character Junuh. Will Smith's character Bagger Vance comes to his rescue as a mysterious, yet charismatic caddie who helps him regain not only his self-confidence but also his status. The film is interwoven with magical realism of Vance, although there's not much more to him than delivering motivational speeches and puzzling everyone regarding where he came from and why he's on Junuh's side in the first place. A large part of the charm of the film is the beautiful setting of Savannah, and a very luscious Charlize Theron playing a glamorous local socialite who incites the exhibition golf match around which the whole story is revolving. With all this, it's a light , inspiring afternoon entertainment in a stylish package. You probably won't regret seeing it, but it's not exactly on par with equally feel-good vehicles like Forrest Gump. To paraphrase Vance, it's not exactly the perfect strike, but it goes in the right direction (pun intended).

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 November 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Legend of Bagger Vance

Filming Locations:

Beaufort, South Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,516,712, 5 November 2000

Gross USA:

$30,919,168

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$39,459,427

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Dreamworks Pictures, Epsilon Motion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX SDDS DTS-ES

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1