The Boys in the Boat - Review: A Squeaky Clean Slice of 1930s Americana

The Boys in the Boat (2023)

A Squeaky Clean Slice of 1930s Americana

by Ray Manukay

★★★☆☆

Watched 08 Feb 2024

An earnest, crowd-pleasing men-on-a-mission sports film. The Boys in the Boat has all the classic team athletics story elements: an underdog group, inspiring speeches, swelling music, and unfair obstacles. Director George Clooney unabashedly leans hard into the 1930s slice of Americana setting to a charming effect.

🎬 Production Credits

Director: George Clooney

Writer: Mark L. Smith

Cinematography: Martin Ruhe

Editor: Tanya M. Swerling

Music: Alexandre Desplat

Based on: Daniel James Brown

Reminiscent of that feeling one gets when walking down Main Street at Disneyland enjoying the 1930's period sights and sounds. — Ray Manukay

Nostalgia vs. Realism

If you turn off the cynical side of your critical eye, it's hard not to get caught up in the old-fashioned, simpler time nostalgia. The film does go a bit overboard on the throwback sentimentality and "oh shucks" charm—especially in the third act as the team faces Nazi Germany. However, the worst one can say is that it's "too" wholesome, which is a rare critique in today's landscape.

💡 Fun Facts

• The actors underwent three months of training with a rowing coach to look like a professional crew.
• The film was primarily shot at Winnersh Film Studios in Berkshire, UK, despite its Washington state setting.
• Rowing is historically one of the oldest Olympic sports, having been part of the program since 1900.

The Team

• Callum Turner: Anchors the film as the hardworking Joe Rantz.
• Joel Edgerton: Plays the over-his-head coach delivering the essential inspiring speeches.
• The Production: Costumes and design feel like they were ripped straight from Thornton Wilder's Our Town.

✅ Pros

• Charming period production design.
• Family-friendly and earnest.
• Classic, effective sports underdog arc.

❌ Cons

• Leans heavily into "oh shucks" sentimentality.
• Lacks gritty realism or nuance.

The Full Analysis

The Boys in the Boat is an earnest, crowd-pleasing "men-on-a-mission" sports film that utilizes every classic element of the team athletics genre. The narrative follows an underdog group of boys, featuring inspiring speeches from an over-his-head coach, swelling music, and the typical unfair obstacles placed around every corner of the protagonists' journey. Director George Clooney unabashedly leans hard into the 1930s slice of Americana to a charming effect, with costumes, characters, and production design that feel as though they were ripped straight from Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.

If the viewer chooses to turn off the cynical side of their critical eye, it is difficult not to get caught up in this old-fashioned, simpler-time nostalgia. At its best, the film is reminiscent of that specific feeling one gets when walking down Main Street at Disneyland, enjoying the curated sights and sounds of a bygone era. While the production occasionally goes overboard on the throwback sentimentality and "oh shucks" charm, particularly in the third act as the team faces Nazi Germany in the Olympics, the affable nature of the cast keeps the story anchored in a sincere, albeit polished, reality.

The worst a critic can nitpick about the film is that it is perhaps too family-friendly, squeaky clean, and wholesome, with an over-the-top happy ending that challenges modern believability. This is a justifiable argument, except for the fact that the chronicle is actually based on true events, which gives the dramatic triumphs a necessary layer of legitimacy. Callum Turner delivers a solid lead performance, grounding the high-stakes races with a quiet, riveting intensity that captures the desperate struggle of the Great Depression era. It provides a sharp, satirical edge to the class warfare of the time, pitting "old money" institutions against the raw resilience of working-class youth.

The Boys in the Boat stands as a landmark entry in Clooney’s directorial filmography, proving to be a powerfully invigorating and handsome production. It is a solid achievement that rewards the audience’s desire for an inspiring, straightforward tale without the distraction of modern cynicism. This exciting ride serves as a unique curio in today's landscape of dark and gritty dramas, ensuring that the legacy of this incredible true story remains a special achievement for everyone involved. For those seeking a movie that is both amusingly diverting and emotionally resonant, this is a legitimate triumph of traditional filmmaking.

🏆 Final Verdict

While a critic could nitpick that the film is too squeaky clean to be realistic, it’s worth remembering it’s based on a true story. It's a wholesome, nostalgic trip that succeeds if you're looking for an old-fashioned happy ending.

Read the original review on Letterboxd