Robert Redford’s portrayal of Jay Gatsby (in The Great Gatsby, co-starring Mia Farrow) solidified my romanticized notion of the roaring twenties to the extent that the Jazz Age became something of a fixation for my literary/artistic cravings. Redford was perfectly cast as the All-American victim of a failed dream in the "land of milk and honey" and, in my eyes, he has since epitomized classic Americana. His direction in A River Runs Through It further raised my expectations and so I went into the screening of his latest period piece, The Legend of Bagger Vance, almost assured that I’d be swept away. Much to my disappointment, I left the theater feeling slightly cheated, as though I too had become a victim of a promise unfulfilled.

Jack Lemmon’s voice-over narrates the series of flashbacks which take us to the late 1920s in Savannah, Georgia. While the Great Depression has already begun to mark the lives of the city’s regular folks, a golf tournament becomes the focal point of the ridiculously wealthy looking to return Savannah to Southern comfort. Adele Invergordon (Charlize Theron) is the wealthy Southern belle determined to use this tournament to preserve her social status. She easily secures the participation of two celebrity golfers, Bobby Jones (Joel Gretsch) and Walter Hagen (Bruce McGill). But Adele cannot rely on her charm alone to enlist a local hero as the third contender.

Savannah’s own Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon) was hailed as a champion golfer before he joined the war. Shell-shocked and guilt-ridden over the death of his troops, he has returned home a broken man, unable to accept life’s challenges. Trading in his clubs for whisky bottles, he broods over the fact that he has lost his swing. That is, until he meets Hardy (J. Michael Moncrief) -- a young boy who unfailingly worships Junuh -- and Bagger Vance (Will Smith), a black vagabond who offers to be his caddie for a mere five dollar fee. Accompanied by Hardy and Bagger on the course, Junuh’s golf game becomes a metaphor for the game of life. He must face his demons before he can see that there are angels watching over his every move.

The Legend of Bagger Vance is best described as a cross between The Green Mile and Meet Joe Black. As a mythical, moralistic and spiritually hopeful legendary tale, it demands our suspension of disbelief and grabs our attention with skillful storytelling. However, there are very few surprises in the plot and most of the main characters are stereotypes, including Bagger Vance whose calm, omnipresent demeanor is an instant giveaway that he represents a guardian angel of sorts. (Will Smith isn’t as awkward as Brad Pitt in Meet Joe Black, but , like Joe, Bagger’s mysterious presence and all-knowingness are never questioned by anyone he watches over.) In fact, none of the main characters are developed to full potential and their respective resolution of conflicts is a result of glossing over facts and points of interests that may have added intensity to this rather oversimplified storyline. The Legend of Bagger Vance undoubtedly delivers an uplifting message, but somehow lacks a certain depth in its approach to life’s hardships and one’s attempt to overcome them.

Cinematically, The Legend of Bagger Vance offers an artful, picturesque travel through America’s past. Its elaborate set design, along with its warm and subdued look and feel, renders a faithful representation of the mood in the South at the onset of the Depression. Strong performances by Matt Damon, Will Smith, and, in particular, the young J. Michael Moncrief also lend credibility to the times. Charlize Theron, however, isn’t as convincing in her Southern accent and appears unusually on edge in her role. Though some may label this a romanticized sports drama, there is more to this movie than simply golf. It is about finding one’s place in life and understanding that, as Bagger says, life, like golf, "can’t be won, only played." It gets a ***1/2 rating.

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