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The Greatest Game Ever Played

Play trailer Poster for The Greatest Game Ever Played PG 2005 1h 55m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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62% Tomatometer 111 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Blue-collar Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) fights class prejudice while mastering golf, a game guarded by the upper crust. Employed as a caddy at the exclusive Brookline Country Club, Francis fine-tunes his skills during off hours. His father, Arthur (Elias Koteas), disapproves, but a few admirers help Francis enter the 1913 U.S. Open. The underdog competes against British star Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane) and finds common ground with his boyhood idol. The film is based on a true story.
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The Greatest Game Ever Played

The Greatest Game Ever Played

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Critics Consensus

Despite all the underdog sports movie conventions, the likable cast and lush production values make The Greatest Game Ever Played a solid and uplifting tale.

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Critics Reviews

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Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films 10/10/2005
B+
The most visually and emotionally dynamic film ever made about a game of golf — perhaps the most visually and emotionally dynamic possible film about a game of golf. Go to Full Review
Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 10/08/2005
3/4
...the veteran British character actor is so good as Vardon I can't imagine another inhabiting the role so wonderfully. Dillane adds so many layers, so many idiosyncratic quirks, that the golfer comes to life the very first moment he takes the screen. Go to Full Review
Mark Holcomb Village Voice 10/04/2005
Ouimet versus Vardon probably was the greatest golf game ever played, and Paxton and Frost do it justice, but I wouldn't sit through another simulated hole of it for Tiger Woods's salary. Go to Full Review
Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope 09/07/2014
B
The game is full of suspense, twists and turns. The characters are fascinating. The locations, sets and costume designs are all first-rate. The story is held back by the Disney formula, but is strong enough to overcome it. Go to Full Review
James Plath Movie Metropolis 06/16/2009
7/10
The characters model some wonderful behavior for youngsters%u2014things like tolerance, restraint, persistence, good manners, and good sportsmanship. Things that, sadly, seem to have gone the way of knickers. Go to Full Review
Jules Brenner Cinema Signals 06/12/2009
2/5
I don't want to just take their word for it! Show me what was so special about this guy's game!! Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Justin M. @jmorris1187 Nov 14 Huge sports fan and I shouldn't have put this movie off as long as I did... thoroughly enjoyed! And im glad I didn't google the story before I watched... 5 of 5 as far a sports movies go. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Jul 23 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Kenji C Mar 15 Meu filme favorito da vida com o filme que mudou a minha vida no caso essência e personalidade positivamente e um final que chorei e vi esse filme 4 vezes e as quatro são maravilhosas See more gsm g Jan 19 So I'm watching this movie and of course I'm fast forwarding to the movie when I get bored with a scene, not unlike we were soldiers or any other movie that drags, st Vincent is unwatchable. Movies like Schindlers list and the great escape I never felt the urge to forward the movie. This movie has its moments, but there is a lot of filler scenes. I asked my friend what his fav golf movie was, it was this one, I like tin cup. Trying to think of other golf movies, can't think of any. I just want to say that i rewatched the great escape. I skipped through the motorcycle scene seen it many times. but the movie carriers nicely never dull, a good movie should carry nicely See more Dale R 07/07/2024 Based on a book by Mark Frost about the true story of Francis Ouimet, played by Shia LaBeouf, the amateur champion of the 1913 U.S. Open golf tournament. A few things were changed from the historical record to add drama and tension and they work well in this context. Shia LaBeouf plays a more modern young man than I would have liked, but his character is likable and you do root for him. Josh Flitter plays Ouimet’s young caddie, Eddie Lowery and steals the show. There are some good camera angles and special effect shots during this film. Overall, I think this movie is worth your time. See more Baby Jesus 04/06/2024 The greatest game ever played See more Read all reviews
The Greatest Game Ever Played

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Movie Info

Synopsis Blue-collar Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) fights class prejudice while mastering golf, a game guarded by the upper crust. Employed as a caddy at the exclusive Brookline Country Club, Francis fine-tunes his skills during off hours. His father, Arthur (Elias Koteas), disapproves, but a few admirers help Francis enter the 1913 U.S. Open. The underdog competes against British star Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane) and finds common ground with his boyhood idol. The film is based on a true story.
Director
Bill Paxton
Producer
Larry Brezner, David Steinberg
Screenwriter
Mark Frost, Mark Frost
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Walt Disney Pictures
Rating
PG (Mild Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 30, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$15.3M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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