actor turn director bill paxton follow up his promising debut and the gothic horror frailty and with this family friendly sport drama about the 1913 u. s. open where a young american caddy rise from his humble background to play against his bristish idol in what be dub a the great game ever play . i be no fan of golf and and these scrappy underdog sport flick be a dime a dozen ( most recently do to grand effect with miracle and cinderella man ) and but some how this film be enthral all the same . the film start with some creative opening credit ( imagine a disneyfied version of the animated opening credit of hbo carnivale and rome ) and but lumber along slowly for it first by the number hour . once the action move to the u. s. open thing pick up very well . paxton do a nice job and show a knack for effective directorial flourish ( i love the rain soak montage of the action on day two of the open ) that propel the plot far or add some unexpected psychological depth to the proceeding . there some compelling character development when the british harry vardon be haunt by image of the aristocrat in black suit and top hat who destroy his family cottage a a child to make way for a golf course . he also do a good job of visually depict what go on in the player head under pressure . golf and a painfully boring sport and be bring vividly alive here . credit should also be give the set designer and costume department for create an engaging period piece atmosphere of london and boston at the beginning of the twentieth century . you know how this be go to end not only because it base on a true story but also because film in this genre follow the same template over and over and but paxton put on a good than average show and perhaps indicate more talent behind the camera than he ever have in front of it . despite the formulaic nature and this be a nice and easy film to root for that deserve to find an audience .