The Phantom of the Open - Review

Love Your Mistakes. 4 / 5

Directed by Craig Roberts.

Maurice Flitcroft, a dreamer and unrelenting optimist, managed to gain entry to The British Open Golf Championship qualifying in 1976 and subsequently shot the worst round in Open history, becoming a folk hero in the process.

The Phantom of The Open washes a feeling of pure euphoria over you during its inspiring and uplifting runtime. Maurice Flitcroft's real story of being a pure dreamer seeing nothing, even his severe lack of experience, stand in the way of his ambitions makes for an undeniably motivating watch that is only enhanced by the charismatic performances and eccentric creative direction.

Mark Rylance leads the cast brimming with optimistic and infectious enthusiasm and it's no surprise to see Paddington 2 writer Simon Farnaby at the helm as it matches the British charm that makes the famous bear so loved.

It's a hard film to market - the film about the bad golfer with a heart of gold but I'm really glad I gave this a chance and was blown away at the transformative power it had on me and the immediate mindset shift it creates.

A true surprise that plays to its strengths, bringing a lesser-known story to a modern audience. Well worth your time, if nothing but to stare at Mark Rylance's false teeth.

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