The Greatest Game Ever Played

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Elias Koteas

Rated PG

            Although the poster for “The Greatest Game Ever Played” proudly announces that the film is from the studio that gave you “The Rookie” and “Miracle,” the final product has none of the heart, soul or smarts that made those previous two movies so great. The film also proudly wears the label of “Based on a True Story,” as if that gives it the right to bore the audience, which is done about every five minutes.

            Directed by Bill Paxton, the movie tells the story of Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf), a peasant boy living in Boston at the turn of the century. He has had a life-long fascination with golf, and regularly caddies for a society course. When he surprisingly gets a chance to compete in the US Open as an amateur, he begins a winning streak, and gets caught up in the midst of an American-British rivalry over the final trophy. Francis’ strict father (Elias Koteas), however, disapproves of Francis’ victory, assuring him that golf is for wealthy people only.

            Is there a story to be told here? Perhaps – although we’ve seen it done at least 100 times before. The particularly annoying thing about “The Greatest Game Ever Played” is the way in which the film shamelessly uses every cliché in the book. And director Paxton doesn’t exactly help matters with awkward, strange camera movement that is not only distracting but just doesn’t fit in with the subject matter.

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