by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Are you ready for George Clooney to hop back into the directorial chair? In his return, he tackles a true underdog story of a JV crew team from University of Washington who stepped up and competed for the gold medal at the 1936 Olympics in Nazi-controlled Berlin. This story takes place at the height of the Great Depression, and confronts themes such as abandonment, classism, and the rise of fascism. That sounds like a lot for Clooney to tackle. His past hit-or-miss directorial efforts left some serious question marks around the what could be either the feel-good story of the fall or a lazy rehash of tales we have seen before.
What approach does Clooney take to telling the story of The Boys in the Boat? He certainly has a classic Hollywood lead look, and he brings a classic Hollywood tilt to his direction. This will probably off certain people who are not interested in seeing the traditional approach to filmmaking when so many advancements have been made. But this old-school atmosphere fits the film’s narrative and time period. There are some moments of levity and romance, but overall, the film leans right into that sports movie type. It is bright and serene in many ways, but the world that it creates is authentic.
How about some of the other technical aspects? When you make a sports movie, the sports scenes better deliver. Clooney does a fine job crafting these races, with an interesting mix of wide shots and intense, intimate closeups (big thanks to cinematographer Martin Ruhe). There is good tension throughout the film, especially during the competitions, which are its crown jewels. Each scene is elevated by the expert mastery of composer Alexandre Desplat. The score feels like it’s hitting the predicted beats, but Desplat adds musicians unlike anyone else, which makes the music dynamic.
What does screenwriter Mark L. Smith accomplish with his adaptation of Daniel James Brown’s novel? First off, there is a strange choice to have a Saving Private Ryan-like framing. It comes across as needless and redundant, with its sole mission being to spell out the film’s themes, which are clear enough already. The movie takes a straight-laced approach to telling its story with familiar plotting. There are predictable roadblocks and conflicts that make it feel a bit tired from a narrative standpoint. Clooney and Smith also avoid digging too deep with any of the bigger themes, like classism and the rise of fascism. There is some solid romance and brotherhood sprinkled in, which adds layers to the sports tale already being told. The overall approach to The Boys in the Boat is to keep it simple and effective.
How does the cast contribute to the film? All the characters are general and hit specific beats that you would expect from a film like this. But luckily, some them elevate the material to create an affecting ride. Callum Turner does a really fine job with his quiet yet complicated protagonist. When he is challenged, Turner rises to the occasion. Joel Edgerton plays the gruff yet supportive coach role to perfection. Peter Guinness is a standout in the role as a foreign role model/mentor to our lead. Through a few charismatic performances from the other younger cast members, you have a fine little ensemble.
Does The Boys in the Boat deliver a challenging cinematic experience for audiences this awards season? No, but that is not the goal that Clooney seems to have. He delivers an inspiring and moving warm blanket of a film. This was a story worthy of being told, and one that we could use right now, even if it is a little too old school in its execution.
Rating: Liked It
The Boys in the Boat is currently playing in theaters
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