Some of the best films based on real people and events are "stranger than fiction", and this is a great example of that kind of story, and one getting positive reviews that I looked forward to, directed by Craig Roberts, star of Submarine. Based on the true story, set in the 1970s, Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) is a middle-aged shipyard crane operator and optimistic dreamer from Barrow-in-Furness, married to Jean (Sally Hawkins), with her son from her previous marriage, Michael (Jake Davies) who Maurice adopts, and their own sons, identical twins James and Gene (Christian and Jonah Lees). Maurice is happy with his family life, but perhaps bored by his job and wants to achieve something. Meanwhile, the twins are competing in many local and further dance competitions, often for cash prizes, during the disco dancing craze of the time, and find themselves becoming successful. Then one night, whilst trying to work out how to turn the (recently purchased) television off, Maurice happens upon a broadcast of the 1974 Piccadilly World Match Play Championship. Soon after seeing this televised golf tournament, he is determined to enter the competition, and hopes to win the £10,000 prize. He contacts the broadcasters to enquire about how to enter the Open Championship and starts practising playing golf. He initially tries to become a member at a professional golf course and club, but is refused, so he sneaks in after closing hours to practise. He also practises in various other locations at work, on the beach and elsewhere, and borrows books from the library about golfing. When Maurice does receive the application form to compete in the next Open Championship, Jean helps him to fill it in. This includes detailing his handicap, which they interpret as his ailments, e.g. False teeth (it is actually his playing ability), and the claim that he is "professional". At the 1976 Open Championship, Maurice is accompanied by his twin sons as caddies, and has purchased a red hat and checkered vest for the occasion. The professional golfers and Keith Mackenzie (Rhys Ifans), secretary of the R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews), are curious about him. The professionals hit their balls under par with no problems, but Maurice becomes notorious with the crowd, the commentators and press coverage for his numerous attempts to hit the ball. Those watching on the course and at home are amused and fascinated by his lack of skills, his failure to hit the ball further than a few metres, and his jovial attitude and reactions to his progress. Michael is humiliated when his work colleagues see Maurice and his bad playing on the television, and there is concern it will ruin his reputation at work. In a matter of moments, the press is spreading the word about his high scoring, to which Mackenzie tries to force Maurice to leave and stop any further humiliation, but Maurice refuses. In the end, Maurice achieves a score of 121, the worst score recorded at the Open Championship. Although he is referred to as "the world's worst golfer", he accepts many opportunities to be paid by the media for interviews and television appearances. Maurice has ambitions to return to the Open Championship and try again, but he is refused and banned. However, he comes up with a plan to enter again under a different identity and disguises himself with a large fake moustache and sunglasses, posing as French "professional" player Gerald Hoppy. Soon enough though, Mackenzie and the other tournament runners recognise him and try to catch him, but he manages to escape. Maurice tries numerous times again to enter the Open Championship, and other major golf tournaments and competitions, all with the same results. Maurice is eventually given a lifetime ban but was undeterred by failure, supported by his wife and children, and became a folk hero, facing adversity and pursuing his dreams and shooting for the stars. The end credits show archive footage of the real Maurice Flitcroft in interviews and on television shows, which is interesting. Also starring Mark Lewis Jones as Cliff, Johann Myers as Willie, Simon Farnaby (also writing) as Laurent Lambert, Steve Oram as Gerald Hopkins, and Tim Steed as John Pegg. Rylance gives a charmingly earnest performance as the ambitious amateur golfer who always remained positive despite his lack of experience, Hawkins does well as his wife, and Ifans is fine during his time onscreen. It is a feel-good story of an underdog who defied the odds and captured the hearts of the nation, the disco dancing subplot does well also, it is funny at all the right moments, the leading character is one of the most loveable you can think of, and the period detail from costumes to the disco era, a truly British, fun, and enjoyable biographical sports comedy-drama. Very good!
Review of The Phantom of the Open
