Shooting For Par: ‘The Long Game’ Film Review
One of Netflix’s latest acquisitions is 2023’s The Long Game which has become a moderate sleeper success for the platform sneaking into the Netflix Top 10 and claiming the 10th spot as per the week of July 17th and has now moved up to the 8th spot as per the week of July 23rd. The film is based on the true story of five Mexican-American teens as they push to create a high school golf team and chase the 1957 Texas State Championships. The film is a heartfelt look at an inspirational story with excellent cinematography and wit in the dialogue that makes the characters feel genuine. Overall, the film is effective in its mission to make the audience care about the characters and makes an effective statement about institutional racism as a golf metaphor. Where the film is at its weakest however is in its lack of originality in the structure.
By all measures, this is your typical sports film. If you have ever seen any sports film you have seen this film. The wise middle-aged coach brings a rag-tag group of misfits and loners to the state championships while the shining star of the team threatens to drag the team down due to his off-the-field behavior. Before the star quarterback/point guard/golfer in this case crashes out the coach manages to change the course of the team, as well as history, to win the state championships. The structure is exactly what one would think a sports film should be. Because of that, the narrative feels too familiar and it lacks a freshness that other recent sports films like Challengers have. Many films have attempted to raise questions about institutional racism and many films have done so using more interesting structures. The structure is not poorly executed, mind you, the film is competently put together. The film is just something that goes through the motions at the point. And because of that, it falls flat.
However, the strengths of this film lie in its characters and their moments. The film follows five Hispanic teenagers who, after their shift as caddies at an elitist golf club, accidentally break a passing car window with a shanked ball. The teens run away and at first, they believe that they got away scot-free. The victim of the golf ball: JB Peña, played by Jay Hernandez, shows up the next day at the teen high school as their new superintendent. He recognizes the boys and instead of getting them in trouble he recognizes their skills as golfers and offers to take them under his wing. The coach offers his guidance to the players and ultimately Joe, played by Julian Works, emerges as the star player and hot head of the team. Ultimately, in the moments with the coach and Joe, the film shines in its sentimentality that has become a signature of the director’s filmography.
The filmmaker, Julio Quintana is previously known for his films The Vessel and Blue Miracle and this film marks a departure in genre for him. A 1950’s 1950s-period piece about golf is different from the fishing drama of Blue Miracle but relies on that film’s sentimentality. Overall, the setting is a departure but the film is distinctly in the same vein as Blue Miracle which was the first film that established Netflix’s connection with Julio Quintana. The film is full of rich sentimental moments between the characters and the dialogue is extremely witty. The way the teens interact with one another feels fresh and genuine. The filmmaker has a unique style that warrants anticipation for his next project.
The film has Dennis Quaid in the supporting cast as the sage but surely older mentor and former golf pro who acts as the assistant coach. Quaid is known for his unique character acting and in this film he takes a back seat, unlike in his prior collaboration with the filmmaker, and in that role, he shines. In small doses, his stylistic contributions to the comedic and emotional beats of the story act as a nice accent. Overall, the performances for the film are relatively strong. The cast of teens has a youthful vibrance and a tone to their wit that makes them feel more authentic than your average sports film. The mise en scene shows a clear love for 1950’s Americana and culture, evidenced in the constant references to James Dean and the golden age of Rock And Roll.
Where the film shines in its technical aspects is in its camerawork. The film is shot almost exclusively handheld and utilizes a free-flowing nature from the camera operator that makes a clear and definitive statement about the film’s direction. From an academic angle it comes off as a loving tribute and natural conclusion to the intensified continuity movement as defined by David Bordwell but also as a way to stand out amongst a sea of similar indie films bought by Netflix by the dozens. In particular, the golf sequence towards the middle of the film is the pinnacle of the film’s cinematography. The way it handles the different groups coming in from different angles and flowing through their interactions shows a clear example of the directorial chops courtesy of Julio Quintana. The cinematography makes this film what it is and ultimately helps to keep the viewer engaged.
Ultimately, the film has a lot of heart. Although the structure lacks authorial confidence, the film has a unique tone and sentimentality that few others of the like can match. The cinematography is the core strength of the film with the raw handheld footage being a breath of fresh air in the direction. The film has an inspirational story with a sense of humor to match its melodramatic center. If you're a fan of golf then go ahead and watch this. If you're looking for a sports movie that will have you entertained then this unique and heartfelt look at groundbreaking teens is nothing but a chip shot.
