The Boys In The Boat: A Sad Tale?

The Boys in the Boat is a 2023 biographical sports drama directed by George Clooney. The film is based on the 2013 non-fiction novel of the same name by Daniel James Brown and follows the University of Washington rowing team and their journey to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics. The film has received mixed reviews, with critics calling it unexceptionally filmed and occasionally clunky and an animatronic museum display. However, others have praised the film for its heart and craftsmanship, calling it an inspiring feel-good film that the whole family can enjoy. The film has also been described as slow in spots but ultimately an inspiring true story. While the film may not leave a lasting impact, it is a gentle and heart-warming underdog story that is well-crafted and told with polish.

The film has received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it awful

The film "The Boys in the Boat" has received mixed reviews from critics, with some calling it "awful". While the rowing scenes were generally well-received, the film was criticised for its lack of depth in depicting the struggles and uncertainties faced by the characters.

Many viewers felt that the film rushed through important plot points, such as the characters' backstories, their training, and the build-up to the Olympic victory. The romantic subplot was also seen as unnecessary and a distraction from the main story. Some critics also pointed out the lack of character development, especially for the supporting characters, making it difficult for the audience to connect with them.

The pacing and structure of the film were also questioned. The film's attempt to cover multiple years within a short runtime resulted in a compressed and rushed narrative. Some viewers suggested that a miniseries format would have been more suitable for doing justice to the source material and allowing for better character exploration.

Despite the criticisms, some reviewers found the film to be enjoyable and praised its cinematography, acting, and depiction of the rowing scenes. They acknowledged the challenges of adapting a book to the screen and felt that the film captured the essence of the story, even if it fell short in certain areas.

Overall, while "The Boys in the Boat" received mixed reviews, it sparked discussions about the adaptation process, the challenges of portraying sports accurately, and the impact of pacing and character development on the overall enjoyment of a film.

The film's director, George Clooney, has had several misses in recent years

George Clooney is an American actor and filmmaker. He has had a long and successful career, starring in and directing numerous films. Clooney took a break from acting for four years after 2016, during which he focused on directing and producing. While Clooney has directed several films, his recent directorial ventures have received mixed reviews.

Clooney's recent directorial works include "The Midnight Sky" (2020), "Suburbicon" (2017), and "The Boys in the Boat" (2023). "The Midnight Sky" and "The Boys in the Boat" received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. "The Boys in the Boat" is Clooney's most recent film as of 2023, and it has been the subject of some criticism. Based on a true story, the film depicts the University of Washington's rowing team and their journey to winning gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. While the cinematography and rowing scenes were praised, the film was criticized for its pacing, character development, and portrayal of the historical context.

Some viewers felt that the film failed to capture the struggles and grit of the team's journey adequately. They pointed out the lack of tension and character depth, making it challenging to connect with the characters. The film's portrayal of Joe Rantz, one of the rowers, was also criticized for deviating from the book and not exploring his backstory and personal struggles enough. Additionally, the film was accused of embellishing certain aspects, such as compressing a three-year journey into a one-year timeline, which made the story less believable.

Despite the criticisms, some viewers still found the film enjoyable and praised the rowing scenes and cinematography. However, overall, the film received mixed reviews, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 58%. While Clooney's recent directorial ventures have been divisive, he remains a respected and successful filmmaker with a long career in Hollywood.

The film's plot was criticised for its lack of struggle and tension

The film adaptation of the book, "The Boys in the Boat", received mixed reviews from critics, with some calling it "awful". One of the main criticisms of the film was its lack of struggle and tension. In the film, the main character, Joe Rantz, faces homelessness and financial difficulties at the beginning. However, after making the University of Washington's rowing team, everything seems to fall into place. They beat their rivals, win races, and ultimately, the Olympics, without much difficulty. This compression of their journey into a smooth and easy path to success was criticised for creating a lack of tension and stakes, making the film less interesting and engaging for the audience.

The film's plot was also criticised for its rushed nature and lack of character development. With a large cast of nine rowers, a coach, a love interest, and other supporting characters, the film struggled to adequately flesh out its characters within its two-hour runtime. As a result, the audience was left feeling disconnected from the characters and their journeys. This was a significant issue as the book that the film was based on emphasised the importance of the crew working together as a team and the individual stories of each character.

In addition to the lack of character development, the film was also criticised for its portrayal of the rowing training and competitions. While the cinematography of the rowing scenes was praised, the accuracy and intensity of the training and races were questioned. The film was criticised for making the journey to the Olympics seem too easy and not depicting the physical and mental toll that such an endeavour would have taken on the characters. This further contributed to the lack of struggle and tension in the film, as the audience was not given a sense of the characters' sacrifices and determination.

Overall, the criticism of the film's plot centred around its lack of depth and impact. By glossing over the struggles and tensions inherent in the story, the film failed to engage and captivate its audience on an emotional level. This was a missed opportunity to create a compelling and inspiring sports drama that explored the characters' journeys and their unity as a team.

The film's character development was criticised for being too shallow

The 2023 film *The Boys in the Boat* received mixed reviews from critics, with a 58% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While the film's craftsmanship, cinematography and score were praised, it was criticised for its unexceptional and redundant techniques, and its predictable, generic and clunky storytelling.

Many viewers were disappointed by the film's character development, which was deemed shallow and one-dimensional. The film's protagonist, Joe Rantz, was established early on but was then sidelined in favour of a focus on the romance between Joe and Joyce, which was criticised as being unnecessary and detracting from the main plot. The other crew members were also underdeveloped, with some viewers unable to differentiate between the characters by the film's end.

The film's pacing was also criticised, with some viewers noting that the film's events were compressed into a single year, when, in reality, the story took place over three years. This pacing issue was said to have removed the sense of struggle and adversity that the characters should have faced, and the film's stakes were deemed too low to create a compelling narrative.

Overall, while the film's production and rowing scenes were well-received, its character development and storytelling were criticised for being too shallow and generic.

The film's ending was criticised for its lack of closure

The ending of the film "The Boys in the Boat" has been criticised for its lack of closure. The film, directed by George Clooney, is based on a true story about the University of Washington's rowing team and their journey to compete in the 1936 Olympics. While the film received mixed reviews, some viewers and critics felt that the ending was rushed and lacked the emotional depth that could have been explored.

One of the main criticisms of the film's ending is the lack of character development and the absence of a satisfying conclusion to the characters' arcs. The film focuses primarily on Joe Rantz, a poor engineering student and rower at the University of Washington. However, the ending fails to provide a sense of closure for Joe's character, and viewers are left without a clear understanding of his journey and transformation. The film also introduces a romantic subplot between Joe and Joyce Simdars, which some viewers felt was unnecessary and took away from the time that could have been spent on developing the main characters and their relationships.

In addition to the lack of character development, the ending of "The Boys in the Boat" has been criticised for its abrupt conclusion. After the rowing team wins the gold medal at the Olympics, the film ends without showing the aftermath or the impact of their victory. This left some viewers feeling unsatisfied and wanting more closure on the characters' lives after their Olympic triumph. The film also received criticism for its portrayal of Joe's confrontation with his father, which was a significant moment in the book but fell flat in the film due to the lack of emotional depth.

Furthermore, the film's ending has been described as formulaic and predictable, following a traditional sports movie narrative without taking any risks or offering a fresh perspective. The stakes of the final race also felt unrealistic to some viewers, as it was clear that the US team would emerge victorious, especially with Adolf Hitler in attendance, rooting for the German team. This lack of suspense and the convenient resolution of conflicts throughout the film contributed to the sense of anticlimax in the ending.

Overall, while "The Boys in the Boat" tells an inspiring true story, the film's ending left some viewers and critics feeling underwhelmed due to the lack of character development, emotional depth, and a satisfying conclusion to the characters' journeys. A more satisfying ending could have provided a stronger sense of closure and made the film more memorable for the audience.

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