Daily South Town 4/15/04
Why not Tiger Woods?
Jim Caviezel expects comparisons between his starring role in the new film
"Bobby Jones - Stroke of Genius" and his recent portrayal of Jesus in
Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."
"I went from being the king of kings to the king of swing," says
Caviezel, 35. "There are similarities. They are both difficult and hard
(roles). You have one who is a man and one who is a man-god."
The film opens nationwide April 30. A successful box office take is no gimme
for a golf film. "Caddyshack" only became a cult classic on home
video, while "Tin Cup" fell short of blockbuster status despite Kevin
Costner's star power.
But Caviezel thinks Jones' journey will resonate beyond golfers.
"He faced difficulties in his life and his personality," Caviezel
says. "Something inside of him was saying, 'I needed to play better than
that.' Maybe it was the guy I played before who was telling him that."
The independent film, which also stars Malcolm McDowell as Atlanta Journal
reporter O.B. Keeler, tracks Jones from a small boy following his father around
the golf course through his winning of the Grand Slam and the founding of
Augusta National. Along the way, he tames his club-throwing temper and displays
a code of sportsmanship that makes him an international icon.
"Here's a guy who can call a penalty on himself, which cost him the
(1925) U.S. Open," Caviezel says. "We tell kids from kindergarten and
first grade not to lie, cheat or steal. But that gets sort of lost along the way
in high school and college that, 'Hey, make a buck and don't get caught.'
(Jones) is like a folk hero, but he really existed."
James Horner returns to familiar ground in his upcoming score for the golf
biopic Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, providing a musical accompaniment inspired
by the fact that the home of golf is Scotland. Comparing the music to the same
composer's popular score for Braveheart, Varèse Sarabande have announced that
they will release Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius on CD 5/11/04
© 2004 Daily South Town
Archived w/o permission 2004 by Alex D. Thrawn for www.MalcolmMcDowell.net