The Boys in the Boat is a 2023 biographical sports drama film directed by George Clooney, based on the 2013 non-fiction novel of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The film premiered in December 2023 and has a runtime of approximately 2 hours. It tells the true story of the University of Washington rowing team and their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Runtime | 2 hours |
Genre | Drama, Sport, Biography |
Release date | 25th December 2023 |
What You'll Learn
The Boys in the Boat is a 2023 film
The film is a biographical sports drama that follows the University of Washington rowing team in their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. It centres on Joe Rantz, a poor engineering student at the university who, along with his teammate Roger Morris, joins the rowing team for a chance at free room and board. The team is coached by Al Ulbrickson, who is under pressure to beat their rival, Cal, and make it to the Olympics.
The film depicts the team's struggles and sacrifices as they train for the Olympics, including the pressure on Coach Al to field a winning team, and the challenges faced by Rantz, who performs poorly after seeing his long-lost father in Seattle. Despite these obstacles, the team qualifies for the Olympics and raises the necessary funds for their travel to Berlin.
In Nazi Germany, the team faces off against the German team, as well as competitors from Italy, ultimately winning the gold medal in a close finish. The film highlights the importance of teamwork and perseverance in the face of adversity, with the rowers coming together as one to achieve their dream.
The Boys in the Boat received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its inspirational story and others finding it unexceptional and predictable. However, it grossed $55 million at the box office, indicating its popularity with audiences.
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It is based on a book by Daniel James Brown
The 2023 film *The Boys in the Boat* is based on the 2013 book of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The film is a biographical sports drama directed by George Clooney, starring Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner. It follows the University of Washington rowing team and their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
The book, *The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics*, is a non-fiction novel based on the true story of the University of Washington rowing team's journey to compete at the 1936 Summer Olympics. The main character is Joe Rantz, a rower who had a difficult upbringing and was abandoned by his family as a child.
The book explores two backstories. The first details the struggles of the nine team members, who came from lower-middle-class families and faced financial challenges during the Great Depression. It chronicles their victories and defeats in the lead-up to the Olympics, highlighting the importance of synchronisation and teamwork in rowing. The second backstory focuses on Hitler's Germany and how the Nazis attempted to cover up their inhumane treatment of Jews and minorities to win positive international attention for the Games.
The book became a #1 bestseller in the New York Times Paperback Nonfiction category and received positive reviews from publications like *The Guardian* and *The News Journal*. It has also won multiple awards, including the 2014 Washington State Book Award.
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The film is directed by George Clooney
The 2023 biographical sports drama film "The Boys in the Boat" is directed by George Clooney. The film is based on the 2013 book of the same name by Daniel James Brown. Clooney, who also produced the film, took over directing duties from Kenneth Branagh, who was initially set to direct.
Clooney's version of "The Boys in the Boat" tells the true story of the 1936 University of Washington rowing team and their quest to compete in the Summer Olympics in Berlin. The film follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression, as they are thrust into the spotlight and take on elite rivals from around the world.
The film stars Joel Edgerton as coach Al Ulbrickson and Callum Turner as rower Joe Rantz. It had its world premiere in Los Angeles on December 11, 2023, and was released theatrically in the United States on December 25, 2023, by Amazon MGM Studios.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its heart and craftsmanship, while others found it unexceptionally filmed and predictable. However, it was a commercial success, grossing $55 million and becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film at the box office during its opening weekend.
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It stars Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner
The Boys in the Boat is an American biographical sports drama film directed by George Clooney, based on the 2013 book by Daniel James Brown. The film follows the University of Washington rowing team and their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics. It stars Joel Edgerton as coach Al Ulbrickson and Callum Turner as rower Joe Rantz.
Edgerton, an Australian actor, joined the cast of The Boys in the Boat after recently wrapping up the Disney+ show "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and the 2021 film "The Green Knight." He has also appeared in several other notable films, including "The Midnight Sky" (2020) and "The Tender Bar" (2021).
Callum Turner, on the other hand, is an up-and-coming actor with credits in the thriller "Green Room" and the "Fantastic Beasts" movies set in the Potterverse. He also starred in Apple's WWII series "Masters of the Air." In The Boys in the Boat, Turner's character, Joe Rantz, is a poor engineering student at the University of Washington who lives in an abandoned car and struggles to pay his tuition fees. He joins the rowing team to secure a dorm room and steady food.
The film highlights the teamwork and dedication of the rowing team, with Turner's character learning the importance of losing his individual identity to become one with the team. In an interview, Turner mentioned the rigorous training he and the other actors underwent to portray world-class athletes and the exhilaration of achieving the coordinated precision of a rowing team.
The Boys in the Boat showcases the beauty and elegance of rowing and tells an inspiring story of underdogs rising to the challenge and taking on elite rivals. It is a classic David vs. Goliath tale that has captivated audiences and critics alike.
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The film is about the University of Washington rowing team
The film "The Boys in the Boat" is an American biographical sports drama film directed by George Clooney. It is based on the 2013 non-fiction novel of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The film follows the story of the University of Washington's rowing team in the 1930s, specifically focusing on the 1936 team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin.
The film centres around Joe Rantz, a poor engineering student at the University of Washington who, along with his fellow struggling student Roger Morris, joins the university's rowing team. The team is coached by Al Ulbrickson, who is under pressure to beat their rival, Cal, and make it to the 1936 Olympics. Despite their lack of experience, Joe and Roger are eager for the opportunity that the rowing team presents, including a dorm room, steady food, and the chance to represent their university on the world stage.
As the team trains for the Olympics, they face challenges and setbacks, including Joe's personal struggles and the pressure of competing against more experienced and well-funded rivals. However, they are determined to succeed and represent their country proudly. At the Pacific Coast Regatta on Lake Washington, the team pulls off a record-winning performance, astonishing their coach and becoming campus stars.
Ahead of the Poughkeepsie Regatta in New York, a qualifier for the Olympics, Coach Al takes a risk by promoting the junior varsity team over the more experienced varsity boat. Despite personal challenges and last-minute changes, the team pulls together and secures their place at the Olympics. They face additional obstacles, such as fundraising for their travel expenses and dealing with illness within the team.
At the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, the University of Washington rowing team represents the United States and narrowly beats Italy and Germany to win the gold medal. Their victory is even more significant as it occurs during the depths of the Great Depression, providing a much-needed source of inspiration and national pride. The film highlights the hard work, dedication, and synchronisation of the rowing team, as well as the personal journeys of its members, particularly Joe Rantz.
"The Boys in the Boat" received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its inspirational story and others finding it unexceptional. However, it grossed $55 million at the box office and became a story of determination and triumph that resonated with audiences.
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Frequently asked questions
The movie is 120 minutes long.
Some viewers feel that the movie's duration is not enough to cover the story and character development. It has been suggested that a mini-series format would have been more suitable.
Yes, according to some viewers, the rowing scenes could have been more accurately portrayed with a longer duration. However, others argue that the artistic license was necessary to maintain the entertainment value for a wider audience.
Yes, there is a 2016 PBS American Experience documentary titled 'The Boys of '36' that covers the same story.