7 stars of 10. Most Film Historians consider this to be an extremely good Movie, and I completely agree. It is Directed by Bill Paxton who brought a clear and focused vision to the Direction that flat out works. Most remember Bill Paxton as an extremely good Actor, and he was; but he also Directed 2 Movies, and I think we all wish he had Directed more as both that he Directed are extremely good: this Film and 'Frailty' from 2001. He was 2 for 2, but we unfortunately lost Bill Paxton almost 5 years ago at a very young age as he was only in his early-60s when he passed.
The Film Stars Shia LaBeouf alongside Stephen Dillane and Josh Flitter. Dillane is such a good and capable Actor, and his Performance in this Film is no exception; he delivers a Performance that flat out works, with the intricacies and subtleties that we have come accustomed to from him, a very good performance. Josh Flitter was only 10 years old when this Film was released, and he does a fine job, delivers at a very young age.
All of the supporting cast also deliver good Performances; Peyton List, Marnie McPhail, Stephen Marcus, Peter Firth, Michael Weaver...they all Perform good in this Film. If I were forced to pick the stand out delivery of the supporting cast it would be Elias Koteas, he simply knocks it out of the park (as he so often does) in a part that less capable Actor's would've over-reached and or over-performed; but Koteas does neither and delivers the part in a needle threading performance, bringing a quiet intensity that is so hard to do without over-reaching. He's such an amazing Performer, a complete understanding of the craft; not surprising as most truly great Performers in Hollywood know this about Koteas.
LaBeouf was still a Teenager when this Film was released in 2005, and he puts on an extremely good Performance also. I love the subtleties and the tensity that is quietly created in the scenes with LaBeouf and Koteas, and Paxton captures it wonderfully. LaBeouf Performs very well throughout the Film. It's amazing to remember that LaBeouf is still only in his Mid-30s right now. Most Film Historians consider this Movie to be extremely good, as I do; but most Film Historians would not consider this Film to be 1 of the 10 best Films that LaBeouf has starred in during his Career to this point, I disagree as it is 1 of the 10 best Films he has Starred in to this point in his career.
LaBeouf has often been a mess off the screen as we all know, but he's a very complex Actor; and many suggest that part of the reason he is able to peel the onion of the craft of Acting so deep on screen is because he's a mess off the screen, and there very well and likely may be some truth to that.
What would Film Historians consider to be the 10 best Films that LaBeouf has starred in to this point of his career? I believe if I asked 100 of the most respected Film Historians around the World, there would naturally be different orders, but this would be their consensus; and they would consider the top 4 to be Masterpieces:
1. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) 2. Honey Boy (2019) 3. Tru Confessions (2002) 4. Fury (2014) 5. Pieces Of A Woman (2020) 6. American Honey (2016) 7. Borg Vs. McEnroe (2017) 8. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (2006) 9. Disturbia (2007) 10. Transformers (2007)
I disagree with that order, strongly; Tru Confessions and Transformers in Film Historians Top 10?!? Really?!? Not me, I don't think so. Who am I to disagree with Film Historians? But...here is my Top 10 Films starring Shia LaBeouf, and I consider the top 6 to be Masterpieces:
1. Honey Boy (2019) 2. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) 3. Fury (2014) 4. Borg Vs. McEnroe (2017) 5. American Honey (2016) 6. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (2006) 7. The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) 8. Pieces Of A Woman (2020) 9. Lawless (2012) 10. Constantine (2005)
The Film takes some Liberties in the Personalities of some of the Characters, but it stays pretty true to the real story compared to most Hollywood true stories, and I think it was important to Paxton to not stray off the truth too much, and I appreciate that, and it's sometimes hard to do in Hollywood. The only real complaint from Historians is the personality of Ted Ray; Paxton makes him into a good guy, which he was, but his personality is 'mean' (for lack of a better word) and most historians say he was an extremely nice person; The great John McDermott might also be portrayed a bit more abrasively in this Film also than he really was; those are the only real complaints from historians, small ones really, and 'personality' issues, not true to story issues. Ray was a truly great player as is portrayed in the Film, and Vardon was the Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus of that era, which is portrayed correctly. Selfishly, I wish they would've shown a young Walter Hagan, Hagan was just starting out at the time and ended up being one of the best players in history, ended up being the Harry Vardon of his era; anyway, the young Hagan finished in 4th place and missed the famous Playoff (shown in the Film) with the 3 of them by 1 stroke, they show it on the Leaderboard in the Film, but never show Hagan. Just a small selfish thing, if you'll allow me to make a small complaint about a Film that I do indeed consider to be extremely good.
The Film Stars Shia LaBeouf alongside Stephen Dillane and Josh Flitter. Dillane is such a good and capable Actor, and his Performance in this Film is no exception; he delivers a Performance that flat out works, with the intricacies and subtleties that we have come accustomed to from him, a very good performance. Josh Flitter was only 10 years old when this Film was released, and he does a fine job, delivers at a very young age.
All of the supporting cast also deliver good Performances; Peyton List, Marnie McPhail, Stephen Marcus, Peter Firth, Michael Weaver...they all Perform good in this Film. If I were forced to pick the stand out delivery of the supporting cast it would be Elias Koteas, he simply knocks it out of the park (as he so often does) in a part that less capable Actor's would've over-reached and or over-performed; but Koteas does neither and delivers the part in a needle threading performance, bringing a quiet intensity that is so hard to do without over-reaching. He's such an amazing Performer, a complete understanding of the craft; not surprising as most truly great Performers in Hollywood know this about Koteas.
LaBeouf was still a Teenager when this Film was released in 2005, and he puts on an extremely good Performance also. I love the subtleties and the tensity that is quietly created in the scenes with LaBeouf and Koteas, and Paxton captures it wonderfully. LaBeouf Performs very well throughout the Film. It's amazing to remember that LaBeouf is still only in his Mid-30s right now. Most Film Historians consider this Movie to be extremely good, as I do; but most Film Historians would not consider this Film to be 1 of the 10 best Films that LaBeouf has starred in during his Career to this point, I disagree as it is 1 of the 10 best Films he has Starred in to this point in his career.
LaBeouf has often been a mess off the screen as we all know, but he's a very complex Actor; and many suggest that part of the reason he is able to peel the onion of the craft of Acting so deep on screen is because he's a mess off the screen, and there very well and likely may be some truth to that.
What would Film Historians consider to be the 10 best Films that LaBeouf has starred in to this point of his career? I believe if I asked 100 of the most respected Film Historians around the World, there would naturally be different orders, but this would be their consensus; and they would consider the top 4 to be Masterpieces:
1. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) 2. Honey Boy (2019) 3. Tru Confessions (2002) 4. Fury (2014) 5. Pieces Of A Woman (2020) 6. American Honey (2016) 7. Borg Vs. McEnroe (2017) 8. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (2006) 9. Disturbia (2007) 10. Transformers (2007)
I disagree with that order, strongly; Tru Confessions and Transformers in Film Historians Top 10?!? Really?!? Not me, I don't think so. Who am I to disagree with Film Historians? But...here is my Top 10 Films starring Shia LaBeouf, and I consider the top 6 to be Masterpieces:
1. Honey Boy (2019) 2. The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) 3. Fury (2014) 4. Borg Vs. McEnroe (2017) 5. American Honey (2016) 6. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (2006) 7. The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) 8. Pieces Of A Woman (2020) 9. Lawless (2012) 10. Constantine (2005)
The Film takes some Liberties in the Personalities of some of the Characters, but it stays pretty true to the real story compared to most Hollywood true stories, and I think it was important to Paxton to not stray off the truth too much, and I appreciate that, and it's sometimes hard to do in Hollywood. The only real complaint from Historians is the personality of Ted Ray; Paxton makes him into a good guy, which he was, but his personality is 'mean' (for lack of a better word) and most historians say he was an extremely nice person; The great John McDermott might also be portrayed a bit more abrasively in this Film also than he really was; those are the only real complaints from historians, small ones really, and 'personality' issues, not true to story issues. Ray was a truly great player as is portrayed in the Film, and Vardon was the Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus of that era, which is portrayed correctly. Selfishly, I wish they would've shown a young Walter Hagan, Hagan was just starting out at the time and ended up being one of the best players in history, ended up being the Harry Vardon of his era; anyway, the young Hagan finished in 4th place and missed the famous Playoff (shown in the Film) with the 3 of them by 1 stroke, they show it on the Leaderboard in the Film, but never show Hagan. Just a small selfish thing, if you'll allow me to make a small complaint about a Film that I do indeed consider to be extremely good.