“The Boys In The Boat” directed and produced by George Clooney has quickly become one of the most popular newly released movies. After its release it quickly gained traction amongst the masses and reached one of the top spots in most watched and searched so far in the year. The movie is a retelling of the book, “The Boys In The Boat” written by Danial James Brown, and was originally released in 2013. The 404 page novel is a true story about the 136 University of Washington rowing team of nine that represented the United States in the 1936 summer Olympics in Berlin.
The movie itself was released on Christmas day 2023 and has just recently come out to streaming service. Within a few months of its release, the movie has already grossed $55.1 million. The movie came out alongside several other classic remade or televised films such as, The Color Purple, Wonka, Dune Part Two and many more, making the movie theaters the place to be throughout early 2024.
The story follows the lives of several college students who are also Olympic athletes and their quest of winning the gold medal for the US in the Olympics, as well as the importance of teamwork and friendship in the face of adversity. The team’s friendship helped to keep them together throughout such difficult times. The story is set around the middle of the Great Depression, and highlights the importance of some good light things in the time of struggle. The team of rowers is made up of; Joe Rantz, the main character played by Callum Turner, Don Hume played by Jack Mulher, Shorty Hunt played by Bruce Herbelin-Earle, Stub McMillin played by Wil Coban, Johnny White played by Tom Varey, Gordy Adam played by Joel Phillimore, Chucky Day played by Thomas Elms, Roger Morris played by Sam Strike, and Bobby Moch played by Luke Slattery. Other important characters in the film are Joyce Sundaes, Joe’s girlfriend and future wife, Al Ulbrickson the coach of the rowing team played by Joel Edgerton, George Pocock played by Peter Guinness and many more.
The climax of the story begins as the whole team is fighting in the final race all for a chance to win the spot in the Olympics. Joe and the boys push themselves to their absolute limits and in the end succeed after their most difficult fight and are ensured their spot In the Berlin Olympics. The fight against the other rowing teams is strenuous and shows a lot of the raw challenge and animosity that is seen throughout athletics.
The story of triumph through hard work is one that many viewers in many situations can agree with. The many themes of the movie allow for almost everybody to find a way to connect with the story and characters. The beautiful cinematography allows for viewers to feel like they are really there watching the fight for gold. The underlying tension caused by the varying class systems during the Great Depression and the stress of competing to afford their schooling create an incredibly tense atmosphere throughout the film. However Joe’s sweet romance with Joyce also helps to warm some of the tensions caused by tensions of athletics and the Great Depression.
Joe’s character is one the viewers very easily relate to. After coming from a poor family and poor background and fighting his way through the Great Depression like many Americans, Joe is still a very determined and dedicated character that inspires his teammates to work their hardest, which truly pays off in the long run. Overall the film is a beautiful story about the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity and how it can be seen throughout time. The Boys In The Boat is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful, cinematic and interesting movies to grace theaters and the movie fans this year and will undoubtedly go down as one of the classics.