A movie that genuinely echoes the nostalgic sentiment, "they don't make movies like this anymore," The Boys in the Boat is a cinematic delight based on a bestselling book by Daniel James Brown. This film tells the real-life saga of the University of Washington rowing team who overcame all odds to win gold at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. Crafted in a classic old-fashioned style, the film, directed masterfully by George Clooney, captivates with its beautiful visuals and soul-touching performances.
Rowing, a sport that offers impressive cinematic visuals, portrayed expertly in this film, captures the attention and sympathy of audiences with its tale of young men fighting the hardships of The Great Depression. Living in abject poverty, these young men, their coach, and their commitment to escaping their daily struggles paints a stark, yet relatable picture.
Callum Turner delivers an outstanding performance as Joe Rantz, a young man facing homelessness and the threat of expulsion from school unless he can find tuition funds. With scarce jobs available, the University of Washington's financial support offer to any man who can claim a spot on its crew team is an irresistible beacon of hope. Hundreds of hopefuls gather, willing to challenge themselves against what the coach characterizes as "the most difficult sport in the world."
As is expected in any underdog sports saga, our protagonist Joe makes the team. A montage of training scenes ensues, showing the grueling preparation they go through. The film beautifully captures the mesmerizing synchronization of the oars against the water backdrop. With minimum focus given to the individual stories of the other teammates, more traditional plot elements take center stage, including hardship, determination, and a votive emotional radio broadcast of a race.
In her role as Joyce, Hadley Robinson adds a touch of youthful nostalgia, playing a pretty and lively classmate who once caught young Joe's attention. Parallel to this, Coach Ulbrickson, played by Joel Edgerton, shares a similar relationship with his equally lovely and spirited wife Hazel, portrayed by Courtney Henggeler. Despite their limited roles, both female characters add an emotional depth to the men-centric narrative.
Joe's journey, layered with emotional hurdles, embraces struggling with his past, confronting a neglectful father, and learning new definitions of manhood from Coach Ulbrickson and boat craftsman George Pocock. But it's the compelling story, filled with major obstacles and unlikely triumphs, that hooks the audience.
The climax of the story comes when Ulbrickson stakes his career on the junior varsity team, eventually leading them into the Olympic qualifying race against privileged Ivy League counterparts. Moving on to the Berlin Olympics, the team goes face to face with global talent in a gathering staged by Hitler for showcasing Germany's supremacy.
Woven in between these intense scenes is a short exchange with American hero Jesse Owens that adds a whole new dimension to the film. Owens, portrayed by Jyuddah Jaymes, replies to the team's admiring queries with grace and dignity, fanning the flame of national pride. The Boys in the Boat is a timeless tale of struggle, camaraderie and collective triumph that reaffirms our ability to outshine our doubters.
