Boys in the Boat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just took 4 13 year old boys to see it. I loved the book, but the movie wasn’t amazing. The boys liked it though and are now interested in rowing.

Happy to share more about rowing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with a PP that this would have been a much better six part show. The book was wonderful but the movie skirted over so many interesting possible storylines.

Totally agree. There were so many good parts from the book missing in the movie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just took 4 13 year old boys to see it. I loved the book, but the movie wasn’t amazing. The boys liked it though and are now interested in rowing.

Cheesy rowing movies with better acting than Boys in the Boat:

Oxford Blues
With Honors
The Skulls

Nick Trojan has done a series of shorter films about Harvard, Yale and Cal that your son might find interesting. Here’s the Cal link:

https://www.rowingrelated.com/2020/02/inside-cal-rowing-nick-trojans-new.html?m=1

Books that aren’t cheesy that they should read:

The Shell Game (short, engrossing, accessible- also an all-time rowing classic)

Featuring women rowers, so maybe not as accessible to teenage boys:

The Red Rose Crew
Course Correction (vaguely remember this not being G-rated)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with a PP that this would have been a much better six part show. The book was wonderful but the movie skirted over so many interesting possible storylines.

Totally agree. There were so many good parts from the book missing in the movie.

But that is going to be true of all movies that were books first. You cannot fit any book into a two hour movie. I had not read the book and loved the movie. DH and DS had read the book, though DH years ago and DS read the junior version, and they both really enjoyed the movie, too.

[Anonymous]

Didn't like the book much and really tried to like it. Maybe I'll like the movie more. Felt the book was too drawn out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't like the book much and really tried to like it. Maybe I'll like the movie more. Felt the book was too drawn out.

The book was long when I read it years ago. DD got the junior edition for Christmas and I borrowed it and would recommend that version for an adult wanting a quick, moving sports story that’s still well-written.

[Anonymous]

It is a very old fashioned, basically G rated film, with no real tension and pretty cliched bits about the absent dad, small but overcome-able setbacks, etc etc. The Jesse Owens bit was so cringe. It was almost Seinfeldian. As was fake Hitler. I knew he would storm off when things got tough for Deutchland!

The old man/grandson thing at the start/end was pure cheese too.

All that said, it was good family fun, no overly hackneyed social messages, and I thought the actually racing scenes were cool and well done. No dumb CGI that I could tell. (Looking at you, Haunting in Venice.) Did make me interested in reading the book or watching the PBS documentary to see how it really happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with a PP that this would have been a much better six part show. The book was wonderful but the movie skirted over so many interesting possible storylines.

Totally agree. There were so many good parts from the book missing in the movie.

Totally enjoyed the movie! Sure, the book is far more complex, the movie was great to watch!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like gay porn.

White Squall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So disappointed by the movie, especially because we are UW people. They compressed so many exciting parts of the book, had tons of rowing inaccuracies, and tried to tell us that Henley and Seattle look the same? How did they manage to have zero scenes in the rain? The only part that felt authentic was the very end, when a PNW family was huddled outside a wet cabin in awful weather listening to the radio.

Inaccuracies aside, the true crime was the terrible, flat acting. It was 2 hours of watching talking cardboard cutouts. I can’t believe that George Clooney didn’t have the pull to find a single actor who could act. And it’s not like he sacrificed acting skills for rowing skills, because that sucked too. By the end I was cheering for Cal.

My DD is 8 and read the junior edition of the book, and she said it was the worst thing she had ever watched (and that says a lot). She spent the rest of this night poring over the book and complaining about the movie. We’ve watching more moving episodes of Gabby’s Dollhouse.

Just saw it and I completely agree with your assessment. I think the biggest waste of screen time was on the two female characters, Hazel (coach's wife) and Joyce (Joe's GF) Both of these characters were absolutely worthless to the story and in fact, did nothing but add annoyance since they were nothing but a couple of female cliches.

Oh, look! The coach has a confident, outspoken wife who gives erudite advice about a SPORT and the men all nod appreciatively at her insight and her quips. Who are the filmmakers trying to kid? Does anyone really think a coach's wife would have been so influential in 1936? I think not. Plus, her hairstyle and makeup were a travesty - she was wearing a 21st Century hairdo and makeup. Neither were anything like they wore in the 30's. The actress was clearly acting, and one wonders what Clooney saw in her to put her in the film.

Joe's girlfriend was also annoying, also had a bad non-accurate hairdo, and will win no prizes for her acting. But at least the character was plausible, albeit fairy-tale like.

I just finished the book, and I think Joyce was so much more compelling in real life than in the movie. She worked her way through school as well, was a mother figure to Joe's half siblings, and graduated magna cum laude. Too bad they made her annoying for the movie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So disappointed by the movie, especially because we are UW people. They compressed so many exciting parts of the book, had tons of rowing inaccuracies, and tried to tell us that Henley and Seattle look the same? How did they manage to have zero scenes in the rain? The only part that felt authentic was the very end, when a PNW family was huddled outside a wet cabin in awful weather listening to the radio.

Inaccuracies aside, the true crime was the terrible, flat acting. It was 2 hours of watching talking cardboard cutouts. I can’t believe that George Clooney didn’t have the pull to find a single actor who could act. And it’s not like he sacrificed acting skills for rowing skills, because that sucked too. By the end I was cheering for Cal.

My DD is 8 and read the junior edition of the book, and she said it was the worst thing she had ever watched (and that says a lot). She spent the rest of this night poring over the book and complaining about the movie. We’ve watching more moving episodes of Gabby’s Dollhouse.

Just saw it and I completely agree with your assessment. I think the biggest waste of screen time was on the two female characters, Hazel (coach's wife) and Joyce (Joe's GF) Both of these characters were absolutely worthless to the story and in fact, did nothing but add annoyance since they were nothing but a couple of female cliches.

Oh, look! The coach has a confident, outspoken wife who gives erudite advice about a SPORT and the men all nod appreciatively at her insight and her quips. Who are the filmmakers trying to kid? Does anyone really think a coach's wife would have been so influential in 1936? I think not. Plus, her hairstyle and makeup were a travesty - she was wearing a 21st Century hairdo and makeup. Neither were anything like they wore in the 30's. The actress was clearly acting, and one wonders what Clooney saw in her to put her in the film.

Joe's girlfriend was also annoying, also had a bad non-accurate hairdo, and will win no prizes for her acting. But at least the character was plausible, albeit fairy-tale like.

DP. I take this type of character the same way as non white actors in historic movies with all white characters. its just how the movies are made nowadays, trying to be relatable and to avoid upsetting anyone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just took 4 13 year old boys to see it. I loved the book, but the movie wasn’t amazing. The boys liked it though and are now interested in rowing.

Cheesy rowing movies with better acting than Boys in the Boat:

Oxford Blues
With Honors
The Skulls

Nick Trojan has done a series of shorter films about Harvard, Yale and Cal that your son might find interesting. Here’s the Cal link:

https://www.rowingrelated.com/2020/02/inside-cal-rowing-nick-trojans-new.html?m=1

Books that aren’t cheesy that they should read:

The Shell Game (short, engrossing, accessible- also an all-time rowing classic)

Featuring women rowers, so maybe not as accessible to teenage boys:

The Red Rose Crew
Course Correction (vaguely remember this not being G-rated)

Np First I want to say I loved the book so hearing that the movie isn't great means I won't probably see it. The reason I am commenting is the bolded. Women and girls are told to read lots of stories about men and the idea that " it doesn't appeal to them" wouldn't register. Women/girls are just expected to read it and can't get away in life without reading about how great men are. Isn't it sad that you suggestion to teen boys is hey here are great women rowers but, I don't think it is going to appeal to you because hey they are females!

In the 21st century I had hoped that we have moved on and can appreciate the talents of everyone not just men, ( and white men in particular)

[Anonymous]

Finding a movie appropriate for a range of ages —older kids thru grandparents is rare. Most, but not all, had read the book. Our family enjoyed the movie. 👍🏻

[Anonymous]

We enjoyed the movie and our champion tower DS enjoyed sharing the blood, sweat and tears involved in the intense training.

I agree with others though that the character decline t could have been better.

The Hitler scenes at the Berlin Olympics just before WW2 were a giggle.

I noticed when we went to other movies that everyone coming out of this Movie had big smiles on their faces - young and old. I think Clooney knew what he was doing and knows how to entertain. Much higher audience than critic ratings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't like the book much and really tried to like it. Maybe I'll like the movie more. Felt the book was too drawn out.

The book was long when I read it years ago. DD got the junior edition for Christmas and I borrowed it and would recommend that version for an adult wanting a quick, moving sports story that’s still well-written.

I loved the book, but I also grew up rowing in Seattle on Lake Union and went through the Montlake Cut many many times, and raced there several times too.

I haven’t see the movie, but I want to.