Review by Candice Lee Catullo
Stark coastline. Somber sky. The Scottish scenery echoes the
simple, serious storytelling in TOMMY’S
HONOUR. The true story of celebrated golfer Tommy Morris and the beginnings
of the modern game of golf we know today, TOMMY’S
HONOUR stars Peter Mullan (BRAVE
HEART, WAR HORSE) as Old Tommy
and Jack Lowden (DUNKIRK, '71) as Young Tommy.
The Victorian-era story follows “Young” Tommy Morris, son of
noted Scottish golf caddy and greens-keeper “Old” Tommy Morris. With a natural
knack for the game, Young Tommy sets his sights on a golf career beyond his
father’s life of caddying – to be a golf pro. Both decorated players in their
time, the Morris family men made a significant impact on the way that golf is
played today. The film already won the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Feature
Film.
I won’t make many golf references in this review because I
don’t know much about golf. My perspective on this story is not from golf
fandom, just one of a story-lover and someone prone to crying during dramatic
sports movies. But the high drama in TOMMY’S
HONOUR (yes, I did cry) wasn’t on
the golf course. Instead, the movie’s most climactic events are from Tommy’s
personal struggles.
Old Tommy pressures his son to follow in his footsteps,
expecting him to take his place as club greens-keeper. His son’s aspirations to
climb the ranks are an embarrassment. The father and son duo make a great golf
team, but their differing views on Young Tommy’s future cause conflict. Tommy’s
mother is strict and serious, her rigid religious beliefs are at odds with
Young Tommy’s passionate way of life especially when it comes to his love life.
Young Tommy’s love interest, played by Ophelia Lovibond (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, MR. POPPER’S
PENGUINS), is kind and genuine. In spite of their age difference and her
complicated past their relationship is strong, to the chagrin of Tommy’s
mother.
The struggle I found most intriguing was the culture clash
between the traditional upper-class Scottish golfers and the alleged lower-class
workers like Young and Old Tommy. While Old Tommy accepted his position of
servitude, Young Tommy could not accept the status quo and even burst into the
clubhouse reserved for members only (gasp!). The tension between the young
golfer and the establishment only makes you want to pull harder for Young
Tommy.
There’s plenty of golf course action too. Lots of “double or
nothing” bets and botched putts on the green. Some amusing detours show the
small but significant ways that the Morris family affected the game of golf – a
wild idea to carry your set of clubs in a bag, for example.
The cast is solid. Lowden is charming and personable as
Young Tommy. Mullan is equally strong and believable as Old Tommy. Director Jason
Connery (SHANGHAI NOON) – son of
Sean Connery – keeps a slow but consistent pace.
It’s a slow, measured story. The straightforward narrative is
easy to watch and easy to follow, but also easy to forget. Through it all, Young
Tommy maintains a heroic virtue and a steadfast determination. He is a
character you are happy to root for even if he – and the film – fall short
of inspiring or captivating. 2 out of 4 stars
Learned much history of golf, golf balls, and clubs. But most of all, gained knowledge of the men and families that made a great sport that it is today.
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