Phantom of the Open
directed by Craig Roberts
starring Sally Hawkins and Mark Rylance
Sony Pictures Classics
You can be anything you want, if you’re willing to compromise around the edges. Maurice Flitcroft (Mark Rylance) operated a shipyard crane, until he didn’t. With time on his hands he takes up golf, aiming to get into the British Open mainly because no one really checked on his handicap. He gradually collects the accoutrements of the sport, like a proper hat, shoes, and a good club. Maurice sets a new Open record score of over 100 strokes, indicating he holed out most of the time. The main struggle here occurs between Maurice and the big cheese of the British Open organization who is horrified by him. But his wife Jean (Hawkins) stands by him through thick and thin. The story is real, it’s funny as a Python sketch, and it has a wonderful wrap up. Our moral: you CAN do anything you want, but maybe not all that well.
