slightlymad22 The Legend Of Bagger Vance (2000) Plot In A Paragraph: Rannulph Junna (Matt Damon) a down-and-out golfer attempts to recover his game and his life with help from a mystical caddy named Bagger Vance (Will Smith).Easily one of my favourite Will Smith movies and performances (possibly THE favourite) and it's easily one of his most under rated and overlooked pieces of Work. I cannot fathom how a movie of this quality, directed by Robert Redford, starring Will Smith, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron got great reviews, and yet it failed to draw much of a crowd.I've said earlier in the thread, I prefer it when Smith is actually acting, instead of just playing versions of his public persona. This is no different. I remember taking my 8 year old son (who was a huge Will Smith fan back then) to see this at the cinema on opening day, and it was only half full. After I had watched it, I was telling a friend how wonderful it was, and he replied "I don't like Will Smith, I hate Matt Damon and I can't stand golf!! So you have no chance of getting me to watch that!!" His loss. As it is a brilliant movie, filled with excellent performances. Even my son, used to such movies as Independence Day and Men In Black from Will Smith loved it. He used to silently sit watching this movie all the time.Although the basis of the movie is around a golf tournament, it's not really about that. For me, certainly isn't about who wins the tournament. It is more about the characters and the journey they take.This is why I love movies. I'd rather watch a movie like this, than most things released these days. No CGI, no gimmicks, no superhero's, no shared universe and no eyes on a potential franchise. Just one movie, with some great acting, that is well directed, beautifully shot and tells a well crafted and well told story. I'd go so far to say Smith is so good, he should have been nominated for an Oscar. He got a few nominations of smaller awards, but was over looked for the big ones. Matt Damon is very likable, and is easy to root for, Charline Theron was fine, J. Michael Moncrief is great as Hardy. Child actors are so hard to cast right. Bruce McGill and Joel Gretsch are perfectly cast as rival golfers. Lane Smith is a joy like always and I love Jack Lemmon's voice over. Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus creates some beautiful images, accompanied by a beautiful score by Rachel Portman.I recommend everyone watch this wonderful, heartwarming movie. The Legend Of Bagger Vance grossed $30 million at the domestic box office to end the year the 82 highest grossing movie of 2000. To put it in to context of how poorly this movie performed. The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas and a rerelease of The Exorcist grossed more. America should hang its head in shame.

mm-39 A great film. The idea of Will Smith and Matt Damon golfing together sounds more like an awful comedy. Caddy Shack 3 crosses my mind lol! The Legend of Bagger Vance is a great film on several fronts. The characters are well developed. Will Smith plays an honest/mysterious character. Matt Damon's excellent performance of a man with many inner demons, who hides from others. The other supporting characters around the golf community build on the story and create a positive spirit towards the story's climax of the golf tournament. The director blends an entertaining story with social messages. Can Damon win the golf tournament, and inspire people? Sportsmanship, professionalism, doing the right thing, and having ethics is spun as the characters develop. The Legend of Bagger Vance explains the mystery of the Will Smith's character. Inspiring, and entertaining. I give The Legend of Bagger Vance a par 8 out of 10.

hankhill716 This isn't really a 10 star movie. But after reading all the magic negro stuff and complaints about the characters are too wooden, and that Matt Damon and Will Smith can't act, I gave it a 10 to balance out against all the bitter people who like to go on the internet and slag stuff, I bumped up what in reality is probably more fairly scored as a 7 or 8.In my opinion, Will Smith is excellent in this film, possibly one his best performances ever. Is he a bit young to be a guru to anybody? Maybe, but I find him utterly convincing and as the film reveals, it's not really ultimately important how that character looks. If anything, I think it adds more strength to the story by not giving that role to someone like Morgan Freeman and for the 1930's South, a black man caddying for a white golfer is fairly reasonable. And I think Damon does a good job of conveying his inner turmoil without saying too much. Anyone who has ever had a crisis of self can relate to this film, I think.Without spoiling the film or ending, I will just say that if you like movies about people overcoming adversity and putting their burdens behind them, it's a quality film for you.

Peaches Maroon Shameful! ninny ninny I have never in all my 28 years on God's green and pastoral earth been witness to such a travesty as the aforementioned NINNY of a film! I was shocked! And so was my wife! We expected a pleasant enough film about a Bagger named Vance but all we got was poppycock and bullhicky! I've never been so embarrassed in all my life and you should have seen my wife blush! A crimson hue, no less!A disgrace! Is he making fun of us?! What does he take us for?! A cat on the roof could make a better film than this! I'm no chump! Worthless! I would never genuflect in front of this director! Never! Atrocious!