The Long Game (2023) is an inspirational film. It’s a love story and a tale of perseverance. But more than that it is a snapshot of 50’s America and all that entailed. A time of opulence, big cars and racism.
The Story
A war veteran, JB Pena starts a golf team at the school he works at. The Superintendent encourages a group of lads to be on the team. The young men literally built their own golf course.
It had two flags, in order to change the par, and one hole. One of the characters says “We play it 18 times.”
That, friends and neighbours, is love. Something that anyone who has played the game understands clearly. It is a bit like Marmite. You either love the game of golf or hate it.
There is no inbetween.
Truth behind the film
The film is based on the true story told by author Humberto G. Garcia in his book. Published in 2012, it tells the tale of five “Mexican-American” boys who win their first state championship.
The Mustangs were caddies for the local Del Rio Golf Club. This inspired their love for the game.
Golf was, and still is to a degree, a wealthy person’s game. Course’s can be luxurious and beautiful. They can also be quite bad, like the groundskeeper took lessons from Bill Murray on weed.
The equipment and clothing? Extortionate.
People who love the game will play on either one of these. The classy course is preferred obviously but it is the game itself that is the draw here.
There is the blatant racism that Texas, in the 1950’s, specialized in. This, more than anything else, keeps the lads from achieving their dream.
The Main cast
Jay Hernandez is JB Peña. The vet who loves the game, his wife and the friend from the battlefield;
Dennis Quaid who is Frank Mitchell. The commander of Peña from the war. He is the local golf pro.
Jaina Lee Ortiz is Lucy. A headstrong woman who supports the man she loves; JB.
Cheech Marin is Pollo. He is the groundskeeper of Del Rio. He could well be the saviour that the new golf team needs.
The Lads
Julian Works is Joe. The best player and the most passionate. He has a quick temper and is impetuous.
Gregory Diaz IV is Gene.
Miguel Angel Garcia is Felipe.
José Julián is Lupe.
The Rest
Paulina Chávez is the love interest Daniela. Like Lucy, the young lady is headstrong and knows what she wants.
Brett Cullen is Judge Cox. A typical white man in charge of the law.
Gillian Vigman is Gayle. Mitchell’s lady.
Richard Robichaux is the judge’s sycophant.
Jimmy Gonzales is Joe’s dad. A proud man who does not want his son to be humiliated.
Julio Quintana directs and shares a co-writer credit. He deftly places everything where it needs to be. (Two other writers worked on this one: Paco Farias and Jennifer C Stetson. There is the obligatory credit to the author of the book the film is based on.)
I have said this of many productions recently, but, everyone here brought their A game to this story. An underdog tale of golf that beats its own drum.
Softly.
It feels right
Everything, except for the footwear of the golfers, feels right. The colours, the clothes and the cultural attitudes just scream 1950’s America. This is not a film about American idealism. It is also not about sport, per se.
The Long Game is about love: Love of golf, friends, wives and girlfriends and love of country. Pretty much exactly in that order.
The Verdict
Without straying into violence or profanity, nudity or sex, The Long Game hits a solid shot straight down the fairway: 5 out of 5 stars. If you can watch this film and do not get a lump in your throat, there is something missing in your life.
You can watch this one exclusively on Netflix or rent/purchase it on Prime Video. Check this one out. Sure, it presents a pretty racist time in America’s history, but really? It is all about the love.
And perseverance.
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