← Back to results
The Legend of Bagger Vance
2000 126 min Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America PG-13 12+
★6.4
Drama, Romance, Fantasy
Director: Robert Redford
🎭 Based on
«The Legend of Bagger Vance»
bySteven Pressfield
Trailers
Description
World War I has left golfer Rannulph Junuh a poker-playing alcoholic, his perfect swing gone. Now, however, he needs to get it back to play in a tournament to save the financially ravaged golf course of a long-ago sweetheart. Help arrives in the form of mysterious caddy Bagger Vance.
Budget:
$80M
US Gross:
$30.92M
Worldwide:
$39.46M
Starring
Will Smith
Actor
Matt Damon
Actor
Charlize Theron
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2001
— Best Supporting Actor
Key opinion
The Legend of Bagger Vance is widely regarded as a meditative, philosophical drama that uses golf as a metaphor for personal growth and spiritual reconciliation rather than a traditional sports film. While many viewers praise its visual beauty and soulfulness, others find its deliberate, calm pacing to be sluggish or tedious.
| Direction | Robert Redford's direction successfully crafts a wholesome, tranquil atmosphere that prioritizes internal character journeys over sports competition. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography features striking, evocative imagery that captures the beauty of the golf course and the film's metaphorical tone. | |
| Acting | Matt Damon delivers a convincing performance as a disillusioned, post-war veteran struggling to find his inner path. | |
| Pacing | The film’s slow, meditative tempo rewards viewers looking for a philosophical experience but leads to boredom for those expecting a standard, high-stakes sports narrative. | |
| Acting | Will Smith's portrayal of the mystical mentor divides opinion; some viewers find his performance natural and wise, while others perceive it as superficial or lacking sufficient substance. | |
| Screenplay | The script is appreciated for its depth and spiritual themes by some, while critics argue it feels overly simplistic or routine as a narrative. |