The Boys in the Boat

By: Jamie Steinberg

George Clooney is talented, there is no doubt. With The Boys in the Boat, he again steps into the director role as he tackles the Daniel James Brown book that is the true story of the University of Washington’s rowing team who takes gold at the Berlin Summer Olympics of 1936. With the release on Christmas day, this underdog story brings all the feels you need as a seasonal release.

Joe Rantz (Callum Turner) is a kid who has been left on his own after his mother passes away and his father abandons him. He is homeless and about to be kicked out of school for non-payment of tuition. With very sparse jobs available, Rantz’s only option is to snag a spot on the crew team as the University of Washington is willing to financial support for anyone willing to tackle (as the coach calls it) “the most difficult sport in the world.” Cue the training montage that shows how challenging the preparation is and how the team works to prepare. Here Clooney excels with beautiful overhead shots of practices and races that poetically show the precision of the oars and the timing needed to bring a balanced rhythm to the team.

My only qualm with the film is that there is not much shared about any of the other teammates. We solely dive into Joe’s tale with a brief glimpse into Donny (Jack Mulhern) who is shy and short on conversation. Of course, there are also moments of romance sprinkled in as Joe has heart eyes for vivacious classmate Joyce (Hadley Robinson). Otherwise, there are mostly shorts of performance related injuries, Joe conking out in class and a coxswain that doesn’t work out. The movie is mostly focused on the men that make up the team and the stresses Joe faces.

However, I did enjoy the uplifting moments of Coach Al Ulbrickson encouraging his boys and reminding them they are doing this for all of the people who didn’t believe in them. Joe also received support from George Pocock (Peter Guinness) who is the artisan that handcrafts the racing boats used by the team – also known as “shells.” Both Ulbrickson and Pocock help solidify the human being behind the downtrodden Rantz.

Clooney and screenwriter Mark L. Smith explore a true tale that seems quite conventional but do so in a compelling and sincere way that makes this story investable rather than mundane. The team faces a number of challenges and know there is a very small chance of their success as they compete against Ivy League athletes who come from wealthy families that have given them the most expensive resources to teach them rowing since they were little. Regardless, the University of Washington rowing team excels and makes it to the Berlin Olympics where they show Hitler and all other doubters what those at the heart of America can do. The Boys in the Boat is absolutely worth watching.