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The Phantom of the Open

Movie ID: 784

RT slug: the_phantom_of_the_open

RT URL: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_phantom_of_the_open

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Release year: 2022

Runtime: 106 mins

Wide release date:

Limited release date: 2022-06-03

Festival premiere date: 2021-10-12

Streaming release date:

Tomatometer final: 86%

Audience score final:

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Directors: Craig Roberts

Writers: Simon Farnaby

Producers: Kate Glover, Nichola Martin, Tom Miller

MPAA rating: PG-13

Executive Producers:

Created: 2026-06-16 21:11:04

Updated: 2026-06-16 21:11:04

Synopsis

British dreamer Maurice Flitcroft enters the 1976 British Open despite having barely played golf, becoming an unlikely folk hero.

Consensus

Latest Snapshot / Canonical Review Totals

Canonical reviews: 139

Canonical fresh: 120

Canonical rotten: 19

Canonical calculated Tomatometer: 86%

Latest snapshot UTC: 2026-06-16 15:31:50

Snapshot Tomatometer: 86%

Snapshot review count: 139

Snapshot fresh count: 120

Snapshot rotten count: 19

Source note: Imported from manual review paste batch #1366 (full_snapshot)

Companies

Company Role
Sony Pictures Classics distributor
BBC Film production

Cast

Billing Name Character
1 Mark Rylance Maurice Flitcroft
2 Sally Hawkins Jean Flitcroft
3 Rhys Ifans Keith Mackenzie
4 Jake Davies James Flitcroft
5 Christian Lees Gene Flitcroft

Movie Import Batches

Batch ID Status Mode Created Notes
800 processed 2026-06-16 21:11:04 Processed successfully into movie_id=784 using update_mode=merge_non_empty.

Review Import Batches

Batch ID Local Snapshot UTC Snapshot Entered % Entered Count Status Notes
1366 2026-06-16 10:31:00 (America/Panama) 2026-06-16 15:31:50 86% 139 processed Mode=full_snapshot. Processed 139 row(s); 0 row error(s). Parsed unique reviews in this batch=139, fresh=120, rotten=19, tomatometer=86%. Net new reviews added=139, fresh=120, rotten=19. Current canonical totals=139 reviews, 120 fresh, 19 rotten, tomatometer=86% (86.331%). Entered review count matched parsed batch count (139). Entered tomatometer matched parsed batch value (86%).

Latest Canonical Reviews (max 100)

ID Critic Outlet Fresh? Score RT Time Raw Approx Published UTC Quote
177129 Geoffrey Macnab iNews.co.uk Fresh 4/5 2025-01-17T00:07:08Z 2025-01-17 00:07:08 Maurice may be a duffer on the course but he ultimately makes a very winning personality on the screen.
177130 Christopher Connor Flickering Myth Fresh 5/5 2023-07-19T21:13:45Z 2023-07-19 21:13:45 The Phantom of the Open works best as a showcase for its talented cast, proving the versatility of Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins in particular. This is a constantly fun watch with a real sense of heart and meaning.
177131 Rafa Sales Ross WeLoveCinema Fresh 2023-04-25T07:58:49Z 2023-04-25 07:58:49 This wholesome hope is contagious: Roberts makes it impossible to resist thinking of the world as a land of Gumps and Flitcrofts, of indomitable dreamers. What a lovely thought that is.
177132 Ruth Maramis FlixChatter Film Blog Fresh 4/5 2023-02-26T18:31:29Z 2023-02-26 18:31:29 A delightful and thoroughly enjoyable golf Cinderella story. The ever-so-versatile Mark Rylance's portrayal of Maurice is instantly likable, it was effortless to be fully invested in his journey.
177133 Brian Susbielles InSession Film Fresh A- 2023-02-22T01:48:55Z 2023-02-22 01:48:55 It’s a vein from British social lore of a blue-collar man sticking it to the hierarchy with a brazen charm of happy-go-lucky attitudes towards life.
177134 Javier Cortijo Cinemanía (Spain) Fresh 3.5/5 2023-01-06T01:10:58Z 2023-01-06 01:10:58 Agglutinates a certain social nuance with a human touch, extravagant as it is delicate, with stupendous performances. [Full review in Spanish]
177135 Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice Fresh 4/5 2022-09-11T04:57:45Z 2022-09-11 04:57:45 True story of a golfer who crashes the British Open and teaches us all about the way of failure.
177136 Lynn Venhaus PopLifeSTL Fresh B+ 2022-08-22T22:24:05Z 2022-08-22 22:24:05 Director Craig Roberts treats Flitcroft with utmost respect, even if those around him do not. The brilliant Mark Rylance anchors this film that’s populated with eccentric characters, and the ensemble is integral to winning us over.
177137 Leo Brady AMovieGuy.com Fresh 2.5/4 2022-07-27T05:09:18Z 2022-07-27 05:09:18 The Phantom of the Open won’t break the mold of a crowd pleaser but it is delightfully par for the course.
177138 Jane Freebury The Canberra Times (Australia) Fresh 4/5 2022-07-26T01:15:50Z 2022-07-26 01:15:50 A hilarious, sweet comedy with a lot of heart and indulgence for one of life's true eccentrics played with brio by the very versatile Mark Rylance, among engaging support performances and a taste for the brash aesthetics of 70s TV
177139 Filipe Freitas Always Good Movies Rotten 2.5/5 2022-07-23T21:49:54Z 2022-07-23 21:49:54 Despite the lucid storytelling, the chronicle was ordinarily transferred to the screen by Roberts, whose big ladle of easy sweets and tough dreams went too sentimental in places.
177140 Linda Cook OurQuadCities / WHBF-TV (Illinois) Fresh 2022-07-23T21:09:15Z 2022-07-23 21:09:15 4 stars An endearing true story about a lovable oddball.
177141 Keith Garlington Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Fresh 87/100 2022-07-22T19:05:08Z 2022-07-22 19:05:08 How can you not love Mark Rylance, who always manages to find roles tailor-made for his strengths. He's such a treat here and you can't help but to fall under his spell, regardless of how silly or sappy things may get.
177142 Matthew Toomey ABC Radio Brisbane Rotten B- 2022-07-21T23:01:55Z 2022-07-21 23:01:55 Significant alterations to the story create faux-drama which makes you realise it’s a very, very loose adaptation of the Maurice Flitcroft tale. I wish it was more authentic.
177143 Sarah Ward Concrete Playground Fresh 2022-07-17T08:08:06Z 2022-07-17 08:08:06 A narrative like this always going to draw people in, as gumption-fuelled against-the-odds tales tend to, but it wouldn't keep them cheering along without Rylance's both believable and endearing stint in the argyle vest.
177144 Simon Foster Screen-Space (Substack) Rotten 2022-07-15T06:29:19Z 2022-07-15 06:29:19 1.5 It’s all so shallow and flash-in-the-pan as to suggest there wasn’t that much to Flitcroft’s achievements or, in Rylance’s one-note portrayal, the man himself, in the first place.
177145 Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) Rotten 2.5/5 2022-07-14T20:14:14Z 2022-07-14 20:14:14 This too could be hilarious, if we weren’t being invited to accept the character at face value as the salt of the earth. As things stand, he’s fascinating but not entirely human -- at least, not as human as Paddington Bear.
177146 Toby Woollaston New Zealand Herald Fresh 2022-07-14T20:00:59Z 2022-07-14 20:00:59 The Phantom of the Open returns a solid scorecard.
177147 Luke Goodsell ABC News (Australia) Rotten 2022-07-14T19:59:23Z 2022-07-14 19:59:23 Rylance connects to the contradictions in Maurice's childlike mind, to his dreamy optimism and his neglect of responsibility — elements that the film hints at but can't quite reconcile, because it's too enamoured with its warm-blanket world view.
177148 James Croot The Post NZ Fresh 4.5/5 2022-07-13T23:32:24Z 2022-07-13 23:32:24 A feel-good flick for the whole family, one that features a terrific soundtrack of ‘70s and ‘80s hits, some brilliantly executed set-pieces and one-liners and a fabulous supporting cast that also includes Rhys Ifans, Ian Porter and Mark Lewis Jones.
177149 Jim Schembri jimschembri.com Fresh 3.5/5 2022-07-13T16:06:29Z 2022-07-13 16:06:29 A worthy companion piece to Eddie the Eagle...Warm, uplifting and grounded by sensible messaging about being aware of your limitations while pursuing your dreams, The Phantom of the Open is set to be one of the most fulfilling feel-good films of the year.
177150 Stephen Romei The Australian Fresh 3.5/5 2022-07-12T21:32:42Z 2022-07-12 21:32:42 Suit-and-tie Mike worries about the gutter. Jean and the twins look to the stars. The man at the centre of it all, the husband, father and hoodwinker, is somewhere in between.
177151 Robin Holabird KUNR (Reno, NV) Fresh 2022-07-11T21:06:49Z 2022-07-11 21:06:49 Benign, mild, sweet, bland; all those adjectives suit Flitcroft and describe the movie about him as well. The Phantom of the Open celebrates going against the odds and following your dreams.
177152 Hagan Osborne FILMINK (Australia) Fresh 12/20 2022-07-11T00:38:20Z 2022-07-11 00:38:20 For those who can subscribe to Roberts’ fish-out-of-water tale of chasing your dreams and rising above class struggles, The Phantom of the Open offers pleasant viewing.
177153 Ty Burr Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack) Fresh 2.5/4 2022-07-08T19:13:18Z 2022-07-08 19:13:18 Can I recommend “The Phantom of the Open” regardless of whether you approach the ball as a convert or run fast in the other direction? Sure.
177154 Sean P. Means The Movie Cricket Rotten 2/4 2022-07-04T20:46:36Z 2022-07-04 20:46:36 Rylance’s performance is oddly forced, going for sympathy and mockery at different points and never earning either in the appropriate measure.
177155 Matt Conway Battle Royale With Cheese Fresh 2022-07-02T23:26:47Z 2022-07-02 23:26:47 Director Craig Roberts and Screenwriter Simon Farnaby collaborate on an infectiously cheerful crowdpleaser that fits their underdog subject to a tee.
177156 Peter Canavese Celluloid Dreams Fresh 3/4 2022-06-30T03:48:36Z 2022-06-30 03:48:36 Fun and interesting, based on a true story--a class conscious comedy, a love story and a good movie.
177157 Joe Friar Fort Worth Report Fresh 3.5/4 2022-06-27T17:57:05Z 2022-06-27 17:57:05 The golf biopic hits an ace as Mark Rylance invokes the spirit of Peter Sellers for the funny and charming film with the irresistible Sally Hawkins in the supportive wife role. Roberts goes for laughs on the course and sentimental moments in the home.
177158 Bill Newcott The Saturday Evening Post Fresh 4/5 2022-06-27T01:43:02Z 2022-06-27 01:43:02 Tight-jawed and soft-spoken, Rylance’s Flitcroft doesn’t have to work hard to earn our unbridled support...Hawkins never lets Jean become a caricature, painting a fully rounded portrait of a woman in love with a quirky, confusing man.
177159 John Urbancich JMuvies Fresh 4/5 2022-06-25T00:56:53Z 2022-06-25 00:56:53 Leave it to the Brits -- again -- to find an offbeat story and turn it into such a charmingly engaging '70s biopic, only this one involving someone you probably never heard of before.
177160 Martha K. Baker KDHX (St. Louis) Fresh 2022-06-23T21:16:37Z 2022-06-23 21:16:37 The Phantom of the Open in lesser hands would have been a wisp of tissue paper, but with Rylance and Hawkins et al., the film utterly delights as it tells of a sweetly silly moment in sports.
177161 Matthew Monagle Austin Chronicle Fresh 2022-06-23T18:29:49Z 2022-06-23 18:29:49 Rather than mine failure for cringe humor, Roberts and company find a bountiful font of empathy within the gutter.
177162 Bob Bloom Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) Fresh 3.5/4 2022-06-23T15:30:33Z 2022-06-23 15:30:33 'The Phantom of the Open' is a lighthearted, almost fairy tale-like, feature bolstered by strong performances from two excellent actors — Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins.
177163 Josh Bell The Inlander (Spokane, WA) Fresh 2.5/4 2022-06-23T10:18:43Z 2022-06-23 10:18:43 Most of The Phantom of the Open is as subdued and charming as Rylance's performance.
177164 Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net Fresh 8.5/10 2022-06-21T23:27:45Z 2022-06-21 23:27:45 Writer Simon Farnaby has taken his magic and made another heartwarming crowd-pleaser that I thoroughly enjoyed.
177165 Chris Knight National Post Fresh 4.5/5 2022-06-21T17:58:49Z 2022-06-21 17:58:49 The Phantom of the Open is way above par -- and I mean that in both the metaphoric and literal sense.
177166 Andrea Chase Killer Movie Reviews Fresh 4/5 2022-06-20T06:53:22Z 2022-06-20 06:53:22 A role tailor-made for Rylance's quiet, everyman thespian aesthetic that makes this eccentric an icon of individuality who has not so much refused to let the status quo get him down, as failed to notice that the status quo might be interested in doing so.
177167 Robert Denerstein Denerstein Unleashed Fresh 2022-06-17T22:27:49Z 2022-06-17 22:27:49 Don't look for a life-changing experience, but Rylance and the rest of the cast keep director Craig Roberts' Phantom of the Open close to par.
177168 Rachel Ho That Shelf Rotten 2022-06-17T18:02:07Z 2022-06-17 18:02:07 A feel good underdog story combined with a Disney-like family drama that is effective for what it is, but The Phantom of the Open falls a few strokes short of its source’s potential.
177169 James Verniere Boston Herald Fresh B+ 2022-06-17T17:16:28Z 2022-06-17 17:16:28 Fine cast makes real-life tale of eternal optimist a pleasure for the most part.
177170 Anne Brodie What She Said Fresh 2022-06-17T13:56:14Z 2022-06-17 13:56:14 The film lapses pretty hard into sentimentality but it’s also charming and well cast and tells a whale of a tale.
177171 Jonathan W. Hickman The Newnan Times-Herald Fresh 6/10 2022-06-17T12:25:45Z 2022-06-17 12:25:45 Oscar-winner Rylance is typically watchable in the lead and is matched by the always terrific Hawkins, playing his devoted wife.
177172 Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Fresh B- 2022-06-16T18:58:55Z 2022-06-16 18:58:55 A likable enough helping of feel-good Capracorn on the putting green, with Rylance expertly calibrating how far he can take the character’s befuddlement.
177173 Aaron Neuwirth We Live Entertainment Fresh 7/10 2022-06-16T16:18:55Z 2022-06-16 16:18:55 Rylance plays this Maurice Flitcroft character with a level of authenticity that’s expected, but to see him act as a terrible golfer who would wear disguises to keep competing in the British Open is frankly pretty funny.
177174 Anne T. Donahue Globe and Mail Fresh 2022-06-16T14:35:15Z 2022-06-16 14:35:15 Never has there been a better time to delve into the story of Maurice Flitcroft, a British crane operator who became known as “Britain’s worst golfer.” And never has there been a better time to honour him onscreen.
177175 Richard Crouse Richard Crouse Fresh 3.5/5 2022-06-16T11:18:27Z 2022-06-16 11:18:27 The Phantom of the Open is kind of old fashioned, but contains solid laughs and dives deep to reveal the class prejudices the crane operator suffered as he pursued bis dream.
177176 Michael Medved The Michael Medved Show Fresh 3.5/4 2022-06-15T19:45:18Z 2022-06-15 19:45:18 Every bit as touching as it is funny...unlike its main character, PHANTOM OF THE OPEN has no trouble beating par.
177177 Jeffrey Edalatpour East Bay Express Fresh 2022-06-15T17:02:09Z 2022-06-15 17:02:09 With his set of false teeth and his second-hand argyle vests, Maurice Flitcroft’s misadventures suggest that crashing the British Open was, appropriate to the time, a punk rock thing to do.
177178 Brian Orndorf Blu-ray.com Fresh B 2022-06-15T04:39:41Z 2022-06-15 04:39:41 The feel-good tilt to “Open” is phony, but the rest of it connects, mostly due to Rylance's habitually method-y performance and the overall bizarreness of the story.
177179 Nate Adams The Only Critic Fresh B+ 2022-06-14T16:43:57Z 2022-06-14 16:43:57 “The Phantom of the Open” is a breezy, delightful adventure unafraid of sweeping the viewer up in all the commotion and blitz surrounding Maurice’s unlikely journey.
177180 Jim Slotek Original Cin Fresh B 2022-06-14T15:10:05Z 2022-06-14 15:10:05 Winning and warm, the kind of straight-ahead story that can only be as good as the acting. To his credit, Rylance treats Flitcroft with respect, quiet resolve and an apparent ability to ignore the noise of naysayers as he follows his strange dream.
177181 Maxwell Rabb Chicago Reader Fresh 2022-06-14T00:54:30Z 2022-06-14 00:54:30 The Phantom of the Open is a biopic of a refreshingly under-told story of an amateur player that let nothing stop him from etching his name into golf history.
177182 Patrick McDonald HollywoodChicago.com Fresh 4/5 2022-06-12T23:04:16Z 2022-06-12 23:04:16 The film proves here is always a creative way to live, and in that creativity it can bring down barriers. Mark Rylance scores in a naturalistic portrayal as Maurice, creating an understated man who feels a dream and does something about it. Feel Good-ism!
177183 Jackie K. Cooper jackiekcooper.com Fresh 6/10 2022-06-12T20:39:30Z 2022-06-12 20:39:30 Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins sparkle in this whimsical (based on truth) tale of a inexperienced man who decides to be a professional golfer when he is nearing retirement age.
177184 Nell Minow Movie Mom Fresh B 2022-06-12T02:44:54Z 2022-06-12 02:44:54 Director Craig Roberts gives the story a fairy tale quality, seeing Maurice as an innocent wandering through the big bad world and outsmarting those who live by traditional notions of class, power, and achievement, to a bouncy soundtrack of 70’s hits.
177185 Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Fresh 3.5/4.0 2022-06-11T16:20:09Z 2022-06-11 16:20:09 The Phantom of the Open is written by Paddington 2 scribe Simon Farnaby and carries with it that film's sense of whimsy, heart, and an abundance of good cheer.
177186 Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times Fresh 3/4 2022-06-11T01:01:16Z 2022-06-11 01:01:16 Mark Rylance scores some farcical laughs as real-life mediocrity Maurice Flitcroft, but his family life gives the movie heart.
177187 Jeff Mitchell Phoenix Film Festival Fresh 3/4 2022-06-10T19:51:09Z 2022-06-10 19:51:09 You don't have to like golf to enjoy this heartfelt underdog sports movie, and of course, Rylance and Hawkins are terrific!
177188 Leonard Maltin leonardmaltin.com Fresh 2022-06-10T16:53:25Z 2022-06-10 16:53:25 The Phantom of the Open is a love letter to dreamers everywhere, and as such it defies scrutiny. Gifted actors have a way of blurring one’s critical vision.
177189 Jason Fraley WTOP (Washington, D.C.) Fresh 4.5/5 2022-06-10T13:06:55Z 2022-06-10 13:06:55 While viewers may find themselves laughing as Flitcroft naively shoots a record-high score of 121, Rylance plays Flitcroft with an admirable sincerity without making fun of the man.
177190 Christopher Llewellyn Reed Film Festival Today Rotten 2/4 2022-06-10T02:50:42Z 2022-06-10 02:50:42 Director Craig Roberts . . . has by no means created a disaster, yet neither has he found exactly the right approach. This may not be an outrageously high golf score but it’s still far from par.
177191 Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews Rotten C 2022-06-09T20:45:44Z 2022-06-09 20:45:44 Maurice Flitcroft had a fascinating life that he built on his British Open notoriety. A straightforward, and less corny, telling of his story would have served us all better.
177192 Kayleigh Donaldson Pajiba Fresh 2022-06-08T21:54:00Z 2022-06-08 21:54:00 he Phantom of the Opera doesn’t get to stretch out as much as I imagine Craig Roberts would have liked it to but as another example Britain’s preferred cultural exports, it does stand a tad taller than its contemporaries.
177193 Terry Staunton Radio Times Fresh 4/5 2022-06-08T18:27:15Z 2022-06-08 18:27:15 Rylance's unassuming and twinkly eyed performance goes a long way to imbuing the film with a charm that elevates it above most crowd-pleasing fare.
177194 Mike McGranaghan Aisle Seat Fresh 3/4 2022-06-08T12:22:51Z 2022-06-08 12:22:51 The movie pulls you in, thanks to Mark Rylance and a story that is mind-blowingly kooky.
177195 Michael Clark Epoch Times Rotten 2.5/5 2022-06-08T11:47:21Z 2022-06-08 11:47:21 Fitting snuggly into the “sports uplift” sub-category, “The Phantom of the Open” also lands squarely in “quirky British dramedy” territory which was so au currant and en vogue at the turn of this century.
177196 Peter Rainer FilmWeek (LAist) Fresh 2022-06-08T00:14:53Z 2022-06-08 00:14:53 It's an enjoyable movie... There's a free-floating whimsy, but it's a bit too twee and folksy.
177197 G. Allen Johnson San Francisco Chronicle Rotten 2/4 2022-06-07T23:25:38Z 2022-06-07 23:25:38 As if to underscore his lack of trust in the story, Roberts overuses his classic ’70s soundtrack, substituting classic tunes for honestly earned emotion.
177198 Danny Brogan Common Sense Media Fresh 4/5 2022-06-06T19:37:36Z 2022-06-06 19:37:36 With its stranger-than-fiction plot, this British comedy oozes a feel-good factor that will leave audiences feeling warm in its glow.
177199 Alan Ng Film Threat Fresh 7.5/10 2022-06-06T10:12:35Z 2022-06-06 10:12:35 What The Phantom of the Open has going for it is a sweet and unconventionally inspirational story.
177200 Joey Magidson Awards Radar Fresh 3/4 2022-06-06T10:07:58Z 2022-06-06 10:07:58 The Phantom of the Open is another showcase for Mark Rylance and a largely pleasant sports movie.
177201 Martin Tsai New York Sun Rotten 2022-06-06T03:01:00Z 2022-06-06 03:01:00 It's quite novel and noble to attempt the cinematic equivalent of a participation trophy, even if the end product also isn't a winner.
177202 Brent Simon AV Club Fresh B- 2022-06-05T14:08:24Z 2022-06-05 14:08:24 A unique character study that champions the simple, satisfying idea of having fun in life.
177203 Laura Clifford Reeling Reviews Rotten C+ 2022-06-04T19:13:03Z 2022-06-04 19:13:03 resembles the Australian comedy “The Castle” by way of "Happy Gilmore"...after “Don’t Look Up,” Mark Rylance’s approach to comedy appears to be popping in a dental appliance and acting spacey and the filmmakers’ cuddly approach rings false.
177204 Gary M. Kramer Salon.com Fresh 2022-06-04T02:54:05Z 2022-06-04 02:54:05 "The Phantom of the Open" is as appealing as Maurice Flitcroft. It is impossible not to be inspired by his incredible story.
177205 Alex Harrison Screen Rant Fresh 3.5/5 2022-06-04T01:35:20Z 2022-06-04 01:35:20 The Phantom of the Open tells a feel-good story without coasting on it, actually doing the thematic work of finding what Maurice's tale means.
177206 David Ehrlich IndieWire Fresh B 2022-06-03T20:21:49Z 2022-06-03 20:21:49 It all comes together into an affable movie that, like its affable subject, doesn’t have any measurable ambition beyond getting the ball in the hole.
177207 Christy Lemire RogerEbert.com Rotten 2/4 2022-06-03T18:52:24Z 2022-06-03 18:52:24 The Phantom of the Open is just an airy, formulaic lark, with an especially mannered Rylance performance at the center.
177208 Julian Roman MovieWeb Fresh 4/5 2022-06-03T18:24:46Z 2022-06-03 18:24:46 The Phantom of the Open tells the hilarious true story of a kind man brimming with optimism. He's portrayed with a casual brilliance by the consummate thespian, Mark Rylance. It's a spirited account of fortitude, family, love, and of course, golf.
177209 Thelma Adams AARP Movies for Grownups Fresh 4/5 2022-06-03T18:22:29Z 2022-06-03 18:22:29 Phantom of the Open is the entertaining and uplifting portrait of an ordinary extraordinary man, a perfectly imperfect marriage and the power of positive thinking in bucking the system and realizing the impossible.
177210 Kyle Smith Wall Street Journal Fresh 2022-06-03T18:12:36Z 2022-06-03 18:12:36 A fond and funny exploration of how one ordinary chap discovered renewal on life’s back nine.
177211 Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue Fresh 2022-06-03T15:14:17Z 2022-06-03 15:14:17 Indulging some formulaic tendencies while emphasizing quirky charm, this true-life British underdog saga is a crowd-pleaser even for non-golf fans.
177212 Nicole Ackman Next Best Picture Fresh 8/10 2022-06-03T15:09:40Z 2022-06-03 15:09:40 But it's Rylance's performance and the sweet but quirky story of Maurice Flitcroft himself are the draws to "The Phantom of the Open." While his playing may not have been ace, his story certainly is.
177213 Steven Warner In Review Online Fresh 2022-06-03T14:24:44Z 2022-06-03 14:24:44 Will undoubtedly appeal to its intended audience of grayheads looking for some feel-good laughs spiked with a dollop of depth. That those under the age of 60 may not be completely immune to its light charms is a wholly welcome development.
177214 Emily Zemler Observer Fresh 3/4 2022-06-03T12:48:26Z 2022-06-03 12:48:26 Equal parts compelling and endearing.
177215 Sheri Linden The Hollywood Reporter Fresh 2022-06-03T12:25:25Z 2022-06-03 12:25:25 A mostly winning charmer.
177216 Carla Hay Culture Mix Fresh 2022-06-02T21:58:25Z 2022-06-02 21:58:25 The Phantom of the Open tells the real-life story of British golf rogue Maurice Flitcroft with a charming mix of droll comedy and heartwarming drama. It’s not really an 'against all odds' story but more of an 'against elitist institutions' story.
177217 Lisa Kennedy New York Times Fresh 2022-06-02T19:53:38Z 2022-06-02 19:53:38 The sort of good-hearted movie the director Frank Capra would have liked to have taken a swing at.
177218 Jocelyn Noveck Associated Press Fresh 2.5/4 2022-06-02T17:41:16Z 2022-06-02 17:41:16 Drector Craig Roberts and writer Simon Farnaby don’t ever truly show us why Flitcroft did what he did... The film is so entertaining, it pretty much gets away without exploring the question.
177219 Mark Dujsik Mark Reviews Movies Fresh 3/4 2022-06-02T16:08:19Z 2022-06-02 16:08:19 The film strikes a balance between the silly gag of the protagonist's persistence and the sweet sincerity of seeing him as a hero for ordinary people...
177220 Robert Abele Los Angeles Times Fresh 2022-06-02T15:59:25Z 2022-06-02 15:59:25 A lot of the film’s charisma has to do with the Oscar winner at its center in the argyle vest, modest cap, false teeth and singsong northwest English accent.
177221 Elizabeth Weitzman TheWrap Fresh 2022-06-02T15:43:19Z 2022-06-02 15:43:19 But if we learn anything from Maurice, it’s that everyone deserves points for effort. And a few good swings are worth cheering, even if you do, ultimately, settle into the middle of the pack.
177222 Jesse Hassenger Paste Magazine Rotten 6.1/10 2022-06-02T14:54:27Z 2022-06-02 14:54:27 It’s stuck, charmingly and a little wanly, in another era.
177223 Edward Douglas The Weekend Warrior (Substack) Fresh 7.5/10 2022-06-02T12:38:56Z 2022-06-02 12:38:56 A suitably fun and entertaining movie, and you don’t necessarily need to enjoy golf or know anything about the sport to enjoy Maurice’s (sometimes outrageous) exploits.
177224 Zebib K.A. Spectrum Culture Fresh 2022-06-02T06:12:17Z 2022-06-02 06:12:17 A whimsical, charming film based on the true story of the terrible golf player/ British hero Maurice Flitcroft, this light, heart-warming tale skims along, always pleasant and sometimes inspiring, and grounded by great performances.
177225 Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru Fresh 2022-06-02T04:57:44Z 2022-06-02 04:57:44 A funny, uplifting and crowd-pleasing delight.
177226 Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post Fresh 3.5/4 2022-06-01T10:11:51Z 2022-06-01 10:11:51 Despite its light subject matter, “Phantom” is about something more than an obscure British folk hero... It’s a story about following your passion, not because of the heights this path will take you to, but because it makes you happy.
177227 Jeanne Kaplan Kaplan vs. Kaplan Fresh 2022-06-01T04:19:53Z 2022-06-01 04:19:53 It’s not a golf film, instead it’s the story of a devoted husband and father who always views his glass as half full.
177228 David Kaplan Kaplan vs. Kaplan Fresh 2022-06-01T04:17:40Z 2022-06-01 04:17:40 This small film is on a par --- pun intended --- with much bigger budgeted pictures.

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