The Boys in the Boat: Movie Review
Two movie recommendations in one month?
What is this world coming to?
But it’s true! I actually saw two movies in the theater in December that I highly enjoyed, so I’m letting you know about them.
The second movie we went to see, I actually knew very little about.
I don’t often go to a movie these days without doing at least a little vetting… so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I did know about the movie were as follows:
Set in the 1930s
Based on a true story
Directed by George Clooney
Preview looked pretty epic
Movies these days are so very hit-or-miss (and more often than not “miss” lately) that we haven’t been going to see a lot of them, and if we do, I tend to do a lot of research. But for this one, we kind of went on a whim mostly based on the preview.
And I am super happy to report that I’m so glad we did.
This movie was beautiful. It was wholesome (I would definitely enjoy it more the second time, as the first time I spent a lot of time worrying that they were gonna dump some kind of garbage into it… but to my enduring gratitude and pleasure, they did not!) It was inspiring. It was everything a sports movie ought to be and more.
The story takes place in the middle of the Great Depression and on the cusp of World War 2.
Things I liked
The Characters
I really enjoyed the characters, particularly Coach Al Ulbrickson, who reminded me a good bit of Herb Brooks in “Miracle.”
And yes, I do compare all sports movies to Miracle, because it’s about as perfect of a sports movie as one can get.
You also closely follow one of the rowers named Joe Rantz and his struggle to get on the team in the middle of also trying to put himself through college. Joe is ultimately a very likable character. He is quiet, a little shy, has a sweetness and a bit of a naiveté to him that is quite attractive. His life has been hard, but he hasn’t become bitter about it (though he does struggle more with his circumstances later in the story), he just kind of puts his head down and does what needs to be done.
Don Hume might be my favorite character in the movie. One of the other boys on the team, he is described as a “machine.” Everything he does is “technically perfect.”
The boat builder and the assistant coach were also just fabulous characters and I loved the way that together with the head coach they formed such a perfect mentorship for the boys on the team.
Highlighting a Different Sport
It was fun to learn about a different sport than the ones that tend to get covered in movies all the time. Going into the movie I knew pretty much zero about 8-oar rowing as a sport, so it was fun to learn a little bit about it and gain a new appreciation for the physical test that this sport is.
Watching the Team Come Together
Unlike in Miracle, you don’t have quite the tension and rivalry pre-existing on the team. However, each of these men does bring a certain amount of baggage with them that they have to work through to row as one. So it was a different and not quite as explosive dynamic, but still a compelling one.
Sweet Romance
It’s not a kissing movie, don’t worry. But the relationships depicted are just super sweet. Joe reconnects with Joyce, a girl he grew up with and has had a crush on since the 4th grade, and their story is really cute. The coach’s wife is also fantastic, and I love how she supports her husband and is just such a source of light and help for him.
Overall, this was probably one of my favorite movies I’ve seen all year. I will definitely be buying it when it comes out on blu-ray.
If you’re looking for something to go see in the theaters… I highly recommend this one.
Was it a perfect movie?
No.
But if Miracle is the ultimate standard for sports movies as a 10/10, this would be a 9.5
And that’s about the highest praise I can give.
You can take the whole family to this one. It’s beautiful. It made me laugh, it made me cry a little, it inspired me.
I loved it.
Let’s chat! Have you seen The Boys in the Boat? What did you think of it?
What’s your favorite sport? What’s your favorite sports movie? Have you seen Miracle?