THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE

ON THE SET

Will Smith, Matt Damon, Jack LemmonRobert Redford tees up the next big American sports film

With the forthcoming Depression-era yarn The Legend of Bagger Vance, director Robert Redford aims to do for golf what Field of Dreams and his own (as actor) The Natural did for baseball: ennoble one of mankind's more ruthlessly competitive—and, let's face it, silly—pursuits with a helping of gooey pop mysticism. Will Tiger Woods soon be calling on the Force? "Inside each of us is our one true and authentic swing," explains the movie's title character, a mysterious African-American caddy of sage yet earthy mien. Furthermore, said stroke must be in "harmony with the rhythm of all that is, of all that was, of all that will be." Thus does Will Smith, as Vance, help Matt Damon's Rannulph Junuh (an athlete of genius who has been emotionally wounded by his World War I experi-

ences) regain his swing—and just in time to woo ex-girlfriend Charlize Theron. Subtext, anyone? The crucible is an exhibition match pitting Junuh against the real-life legends Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. Redford was at one point said to be considering playing Junuh himself, but ultimately decided to go with a younger actor; Kevin Costner was presumably unavailable. This tall tale, set in Savannah and adapted by Jeremy Leven (Don Juan DeMarco) and Richard LaGravenese (The Fisher King, The Horse Whisperer) from the 1995 novel by Steven Pressfield, is narrated by Jack Lemmon, playing the present-day codger version of an 11-year-old boy who here fills somewhat the same role as the kid in Shane. Come back, Bagger Vance!

BRUCE HANDY