The performances, on the whole, are good ones, although LaBeouf does seem a tad too earnest and fresh-faced as Ouimet. Josh Flitter, who plays Ouimet's 10-year-old caddie, Eddie, is however the most distressing of the actors. The character, even if it is true to life, is simply too cutesy for the film.
The video and audio quality of the Blu-ray are truly outstanding. The textures on clothing, the blades of grass, and the patterns on golf balls all come across in crisp, brilliant 1080p high definition. The sounds of the gallery thunder around the viewer as every stroke is made. The dialogue and music come across equally well, every word is understandable and there is absolutely no need to sit with the remote in hand constantly adjusting the volume. The clothing, clubs, and mannerisms make one believe that the film takes place a century ago, but no attempt is made to make the audio or visuals feel remotely that old.
As for special features, the release is a little sparse. Two commentary tracks exist for the feature – one from Paxton and the other from Frost. While Paxton spends a lot of time going through his thinking and how the film was put together, Frost focuses himself on the truth behind the events. There is also a traditional making of documentary, as well as one on the 1913 battle between Ouimet and Vardon. Finally there is a piece filmed in the early 1960s, just before another U.S. Open at the same country club in Brookline, MA in which Ouimet is interviewed. Though some of what Ouimet discusses is nominally interesting, the discussion is nowhere near as captivating as the film itself.
Though perhaps geared towards a slightly younger audience, The Greatest Game Ever Played, is a truly wonderful look at the game of golf and its early days in the U.S. It conveys so much of what makes golf a great sport — the skill it requires, the love people who play feel for it, and the sense of pride and accomplishment one has after hitting a truly perfect shot. If one is ever trying to understand why someone would go out one weekend and spend four hours hitting a little white ball into sand, a tree, and then into a creek, and cursing the entire time only to do it again the next weekend, look no further.
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