The Boys in the Boat (2024), Dir George Clooney, Warner Bros. Pictures. 4****: Matthew Alicoon
The Boys in the Boat (2024), Dir George Clooney, Warner Bros. Pictures.
4****: Matthew Alicoon
Running Time: 126 Minutes
UK Release Date: Friday 12 January, 2023
“Immersive camera work well in this intense drama.”
The Boys in the Boat is the true story of the University of Washington rowing team who represented the US at the 1936 Summer Olympic games in Berlin, telling the story through Joe Rantz as the lead figure.
If like me, you are someone who knows hardly anything about sport or someone who is consistently up to date with sporting history, The Boys in the Boat expressively manages to tailor itself to appeal to a mass audience. Mark L. Smith’s screenplay is always focused on the sentimentality and compassion of the rowing team, along with the wholesome friendships and bonds they had leading up to the Olympic Games. It establishes early on that Joe Rantz (Callum Turner), was abandoned by his family at a young age and left to fend for himself. Coherently the film portrays the message of a 1936 environment without having to emphasize the harshness at later scenes, as The Boys in the Boat’s distinctive focus is on the group of rowers.
Callum Turner portrays Joe Rantz in a incredibly empathetic manner, as the purpose felt instinctively natural during the rowing scenes. There is a beautiful and compassionate story between Joe Rantz and Joyce Simdars played by Hadley Robinson. Both of them have such charming, instantaneous chemistry making for such a joyful delight and it is hard not to like them both.
George Clooney’s immersive camera work came strongly into fruition as the narrative progressed, as the franticness accompanied by well-orchestrated close up shots heightened the measure and intensity of the events. Whilst there could be an argument made, that not all 8 rowers got their equal screen time in the film, by telling the story through Joe’s perspective maintained a diligence through realism to the time period. A very nice welcome into 2024’s cinema releases.
The Boys in the Boat is ultimately about triumph and George Clooney captures the sheer scope of the rowing teams victories whilst always staying true to a concise focus on the individual team throughout.