Delightful British Comedy
- The Phantom of the Open review by GI
Based on a real story this British comedy is a classic underdog story. It tells the story of Maurice Flitcroft, who in 1976, having never played a round of golf before, entered the British Open tournament and played the worst round in the competitions history. What makes this film such a pleasant, heartwarming delight is that Maurice is an amiable, optimistic, kind man who exudes an almost childlike innocence, he has that scent of British eccentricity and has to overcome some traditional class snobbery. All of which makes him a character that British audiences especially love. This is also a family drama about Maurice, played so excellently by Mark Rylance, his wife, Jean (Sally Hawkins) and their three boys. Maurice is a humble crane operator in England's north west and he raises his family of a step son and twin boys to always try and follow their dreams. So when redundancy looms Maurice decides to apply to play in the British Open although he's never played golf before. How he does this I won't spoil suffice to say he soon finds he has to face the bureaucracy and stiff lipped snobs of the golfing world, mostly epitomised in the guise of the top golf official played by Rhys Ifans. But Maurice believes in following ones dreams and he won't be put off. Much laugh out loud moments follow as essentially Maurice, his family and some friends take on the establishment and find support in some surprising quarters. The film, at times, has a bit of the Carry On about it but still manages to combine good comedy with effective drama. A delight and well worth seeing.
4 out of 4 members found this review helpful.
Superb
- The Phantom of the Open review by Rm
A great comedy that keeps you laughing through out. It uses that great British quirky self depreciating sense of humour and rounds it all off rather tidily. It's a great real story and this film gives it the credit that it deserves.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Brilliant portrayal of extraordinary character
- The Phantom of the Open review by Francis Scott
Mark Roland’s gives a brilliant portrayal of the extraordinary character who was Maurice Flitcroft.
If it didn’t happen to be true you’d laugh at how far-fetched the whole premise of the film was. The fact that it was all true means I just laughed.
Sally Hawkins also excellent as Flitcrofts long-suffering wife.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Lighthearted, fun and enthralling - everything golf isn't.
- The Phantom of the Open review by Strovey
Recently I have seen a couple of films similar to this and I have to say from a British film viewer's perspective as a country we do seem to make these types of films very well. A plucky but eccentric underdog who goes up against the system and although they are not perfect, they somehow seem to win against all odds at least partially, despite setbacks and sometimes making themselves as much a barrier as those that really oppose them. All done with an underlying sense of fun and silliness – and then you find out it was based on real life.
Artistic licence will always come into play but it seems, usually, that the most ridiculous and unlikely sections of the film turn out to be closed to the fact. The real truth behind the story is perhaps not so poetic, Flitcroft only ever played in the qualifiers not the full Open but the ridiculous names and anger of the golfing establishment were too real. Regardless of this with Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins as a pitch-perfect loving couple in your lead roles and an underdog does good and cocks his nose at the stuffed shirts.
The whole cast is having fun from the get-go with Rylance playing Flitcroft as an easy-going quiet man and his wife, the admirably Sally Hawkins is the loyal support behind the man regardless of his circumstances. To be balanced Flitcroft is not shown as entirely benign and wonderful, for instance, he upsets his upwardly mobile son and ends up living in a mobile home with his wife after losing his house. We have to be honest though the story is there to make you smile, laugh and feel good and this is what it does.
Simon Farnaby, who guests as a French professional golfer, co-wrote the original book and converted it into a screenplay. He is well known for Ghosts, Horrible Histories and is an actor who makes me laugh whenever he appears on the screen. I would go so far to say that his take on the story has injected his sense of fun and joy of absurdity along with a rebellious streak, it was already there in this tale but Farnaby along with the director and actors highlighted these components from beginning to end.
Happily, the story moves along at a quick pace, set pieces are economical and purposeful and we reach a joyful and emotional climax in a timely manner. That makes a nice change if nothing else.
No film is perfect but the writing, directing and acting here are effortlessly top-level meaning that we have another enjoyable and worthwhile daft story about true British eccentrics that deserves to be told and chortled at.
It is not historically accurate, it deliberately tugs at your heartstrings but at the final reckoning is it fun, will you like watching it for what it is, a daft character-driven piece about an obscure tiny period in British golfing history? The answer has to be yes.
How do I describe The Phantom of the Open?
It is the naughty twinkle in the eye of those who are messing with us and we know they are but just do not care.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Let the underdogs run
- The Phantom of the Open review by AB
The storyline you can glean from a multitude of sources, and some production interpretation may come into play here, but the 'stuff you lot out there' attitude of the main character is what I love the best - let anyone who wants to , let them follow their dreams. Who is to say that his sons would not have become world disco champions (as they did) without some influence from their father? I would like to think that his own dreams, his own influence and his attitude drove them on to achieve their goal.
A very British, quirky, poignant film that perhaps should be used in psychology lectures or sports coaching courses about using your own psyche. Made me quite tearful at the credits as it showed that the family made themselves a world-wide name through use of their own actions, support, ability [and lack of] with their family dynamic and interaction, especially given the dead-end lives that everyone was destined for at the time and in the location
Very highly recommended
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Enjoyable
- The Phantom of the Open review by KD
Humorous presentation gives the true story of Flitcroft an enjoyable feel to the film which tells the tale in an effective way.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
A heartwarming, beautifully acted & genuinely moving film with an outstanding Mark Rylance
- The Phantom of the Open review by TB
A genuine feel-good film. Great care is taken not to mock Maurice Flitcroft and all of the laughs are genuine and good-humoured. The basic message throughout is never let anyone stop you going for and trying to achieve your dreams. This is delivered in a wonderful and warm way.
The true life story of Flitcroft, nicknamed the world's worst golfer, is in parts so outrageous, you feel it is being embellished, until it is confirmed in the credits.
Mark Rylance is extraordinary, fully inhabiting the role and elevated it from what could so easily have been a one-sided performance. Sally Hawkins as his devoted wife is also wonderful, being able to make a real impact and not just relegated to the clichéd and schlocky wife role.
The soundtrack, both the instrumental score as well as the classic hits, works perfectly. Similarly, the cinematography is spot on.
I watched this with my best friend and within 5 minutes, we both absolutely loved it. Essential viewing for a great afternoon with genuine laughs
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Good clean fun - and true(ish)
- The Phantom of the Open review by RCO
An English "follow your dream" caper, not rags-to-riches but more live your own life and don't let the bastards grind you down.
A bit sentimental but basically honest (if not exactly true to Flitcroft's family - who knows? or cares? its a film, not a documentary). Some slapstick (capsizing the golf cart in a keystone cops pursuit), plenty of fun poked at snobbery.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
