ReelBob: ‘The Phantom of the Open’ ★★★½

By Bob Bloom

“The Phantom of the Open” is a tribute to everyone who ignored the doubters and naysayers and chased their dreams.

Whether or not they succeeded does not matter; what does, is that they tried.

This heartwarming British movie, based on a true story, introduces Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness. Flitcroft is a dreamer and optimist, always encouraging his family to follow their hearts.

His son, Michael, an executive at the company where Flitcroft works, warns his father that management plans extreme changes, putting his dad’s job in jeopardy. Michael advises him to begin thinking about a new career.

Watching television one night, Flitcroft is mesmerized by a golf tournament. Though he never lifted a club in his life, Flitcroft is enthralled by the game and decides to enter the British Open Golf Championship in 1976.

Flitcroft shoots the worst round in the history of the tournament and is barred from competing in the Open. But that does not deter Flitcroft who, with the help of his supportive wife, Jean, creates a disguise and enters under an assumed name.

“The Phantom of the Open” is a lighthearted, almost fairy tale-like, feature bolstered by strong performances from two excellent actors — Mark Rylance (“Bridge of Spies,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7”) and Sally Hawkins (“The Shape of Water,” “Paddington,” “Paddington 2”).

Their love story is as emotionally satisfying as Flitcroft’s assault on the stuffy golf world.

Rylance’s Flitcroft sees the positive in every situation. His mantra is “practice is the road to perfection.” No matter how bad his golf game — and it is atrocious — he always sees a silver lining, telling anyone who will listen that he is improving with every stroke.

Hawkins’ Jean is more pragmatic, but totally encouraging of her husband’s new endeavor, even typing his letters of protest when he is barred from the British Open.

She is his staunchest defender, even when Michael, her eldest son, who was adopted by Flitcroft, distances himself and criticizes his father for encouraging him and his younger twin brothers to dream instead of being practical by getting steady jobs.

If the movie has to have a villain, it would be Rhys Ifans as Keith Mackenzie, the pompous and snobbish head of the British Open organization, who sees Flitcroft as an interloper and buffoon who has no place in Mackenzie’s golf world.

But as director Craig Roberts and writer Simon Farnaby show, while Flitcroft may be a pariah to the golf establishment, he becomes a folk hero to duffers from Japan to Grand Rapids, Mich., where a golf tournament is named for Flitcroft and the golfer with the highest score is honored.

“The Phantom of the Open” is an underdog story that proves the adage that every dog — or mediocre player — has his (or her) day.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPEN
3½ stars out of 4
(PG-13), smoking, language