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. The film was released in 2023 and grossed $55 million, receiving mixed reviews from critics. While there doesn't seem to be any record of a previous movie with the same name, a 2016 PBS documentary, The Boys of '36, explores a similar theme.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name of Movie | The Boys in the Boat |
Year of Release | 2023 |
Genre | Biography, Drama, Sport |
Director | George Clooney |
Screenplay Writer | Mark L. Smith |
Book Author | Daniel James Brown |
Plot | The story of the University of Washington rowing team's journey to winning a gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics |
What You'll Learn
The Boys in the Boat is based on a book by Daniel James Brown
The 2023 biographical sports drama film "The Boys in the Boat" is based on a book of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The book, published in 2013, recounts the true story of a nine-man crew team from the University of Washington who, against all odds, competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and won a gold medal.
The film adaptation, directed and produced by George Clooney, premiered in December 2023 and was distributed by Amazon MGM Studios. It stars Joel Edgerton as coach Al Ulbrickson and Callum Turner as rower Joe Rantz. The movie follows the rowing team's journey to the Olympics, set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, and their ultimate triumph in a close race against Italy and Germany.
Daniel James Brown was inspired to write the book after meeting Joe Rantz, the main protagonist of the story, through a neighbour. Rantz shared stories of his life, including his experience on the crew team during the Great Depression and their Olympic victory. Brown spent time with Rantz and the families of the other crew members, gathering stories, letters, diaries, and newspaper clippings from the 1930s when rowing was a popular sport.
The book and subsequent film highlight the individual struggles of the rowers, such as Rantz's tense relationship with his father, as well as the challenges of rowing and studying during a difficult economic period. It also showcases the power of teamwork and the strong bonds formed between the young men as they worked together towards a common goal.
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The film was directed by George Clooney
The film "The Boys in the Boat" was directed by George Clooney. It is an American biographical sports drama film 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.
Clooney's involvement with the film was announced in March 2020, and he served as both director and producer. Clooney's interpretation of the film has been described as "an unshowy but slick underdog sports picture, fluidly told and elegantly mounted." Clooney himself has said that he felt a sense of "empathy" with the film's characters, particularly Joe Rantz, due to his own working-class background.
The film faced some criticism for its portrayal of rowing, with some rowers commenting that the rowing scenes were "really, really hard to watch" and "awful". However, despite this, the film has also been praised for its storytelling, with one review stating that it is "an old-fashioned and solid historical biography that ticks a lot of the right boxes".
The film's release was highly anticipated, with the world premiere taking place in Los Angeles on December 11, 2023, and it was later released in the United States on December 25, 2023, by Amazon MGM Studios.
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It premiered in 2023
The 2023 film 'The Boys in the Boat' is an American biographical sports drama directed and produced by George Clooney. It is based on the 2013 book of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The film premiered in Los Angeles on 11 December 2023 and was released in theatres in the United States on 25 December.
The film follows the University of Washington rowing team and their journey to competing in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. It stars Joel Edgerton as coach Al Ulbrickson and Callum Turner as rower Joe Rantz. The story is set in the 1930s and focuses on the team's beginnings during the Great Depression. It depicts the challenges faced by the young men as they strive to balance rowing with their academic pursuits.
The film grossed $55 million and received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised its heartfelt storytelling and elegant production, others found it unexceptional and lacking in impact. The premiere of "The Boys in the Boat" in 2023 marked the first cinematic adaptation of Daniel James Brown's bestselling book, bringing the inspiring story of the University of Washington rowing team to life on the big screen.
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The movie is about the University of Washington rowing team
The 2023 film "The Boys in the Boat" is based on the 2013 book of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The movie is about the University of Washington rowing team and their journey to winning a gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The film is directed by George Clooney and stars Joel Edgerton as coach Al Ulbrickson and Callum Turner as rower Joe Rantz.
The film follows the team's quest to compete in the Olympics, from their Depression-era beginnings to their ultimate victory. It is a story of young men facing challenges as they try to balance rowing and school in the midst of the Great Depression. The rowers come from working-class backgrounds and are often unemployed, using their part-time jobs with the team to stay in school.
In the film, Joe Rantz is a poor engineering student at the University of Washington, struggling to get by. He joins the rowing team and, along with his teammates, trains to compete in the Olympics. The team overcomes various obstacles, including fundraising for their trip and last-minute changes to the lineup. Despite the challenges, they go on to represent the US at the Olympics, where they face off against rival teams from Italy and Germany.
The movie highlights the importance of teamwork and determination, as the rowers come together as a united front to represent their country and their university on the world stage. It showcases the physical and mental toll that rowing takes on the athletes and the sacrifices they make to pursue their dreams. The film also explores the personal lives of the rowers, including Joe's relationship with his girlfriend, Joyce, and the struggles he faces due to his family situation.
"The Boys in the Boat" is an inspirational true story that brings to life the challenges and triumphs of the University of Washington rowing team on their road to Olympic glory.
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The story is set in the 1930s
The 1930s setting is also significant as the historical context of the story. The story is set against the backdrop of Nazi Germany, with the rowing team travelling to Berlin to compete in the 1936 Olympics. Hitler and the Nazi leaders attempted to conceal the reality of life in Germany, presenting a sanitised version of the country to the world. The University of Washington rowing team's win at the Olympics was significant for American prestige, and it also helped put Seattle on the map.
The 1930s was a time of economic depression and political upheaval, and the story of the University of Washington rowing team is one of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The historical context of the setting adds depth and significance to the story, as the rowers overcome personal and financial struggles to compete on a global stage.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the 2023 film is the first movie adaptation of Daniel James Brown's 2013 book of the same name.
The Boys in the Boat is a biographical sports drama film about the University of Washington rowing team's journey to winning a gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The film was directed and produced by George Clooney, with a screenplay by Mark L. Smith.