Direction: Craig Roberts
Country: UK
The Phantom of the Open is a biographical sports comedy based on Maurice Flitcroft, a British crane operator turned golf star in the 1970’s, and not because he was good at it! Both a dreamer and a tenacious optimist, Flitcroft was miraculously accepted to participate in the 1976 British Open Golf Championship without being a professional player. He made history in his first participation, becoming the worst player of the tournament with a score of 121. Despite being ridiculed by some, his unshakable confidence and courage made him a popular hero known as the people’s golfer.
Mark Rylance (The Outfit, 2022; Bridge of Spies, 2015; The BFG, 2016) plays this big dreamer with a low-key profile and inspiration, capturing the imperturbable charisma of the man; Craig Roberts (Eternal Beauty, 2019) directed from a script by Simon Farnaby, who had previously co-written a biography book about the subject with Scott Murray. Bearing the tones of the old classics, the film feels somewhat old-fashioned in its approach, biting the dust in its vain attempt to turn an undeniable great story into an unforgettable cinematic experience. Despite the lucid storytelling, the chronicle was ordinarily transferred to the screen by Roberts, whose big ladle of easy sweets and tough dreams went too sentimental in places.
In the absence of a formal audacity, the result, limited yet not unpleasant, comes without surprise: a finger of golf, talented actors (Sally Hawkins plays the golfer’s affectionate wife; Rhys Ifans embodies the then secretary of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club) and 105 minutes of popcorn movies.
