The British have a particular knack for uplifting stories based on working-class life – just think of the heartwarming, valedictory likes of The Full Monty or Billy Elliott. We can't help but champion the underdog, and we'll soon have another one to cheer on in the forthcoming golfing drama The Phantom of the Open.
The movie has already landed a hole in one with the casting of Oscar winner Mark Rylance. The star of Bridge of Spies, The B.F.G. and Ready Player One plays Maurice Flitcroft, a Cumbrian dreamer who blags his way into the 1976 British Open Championship, despite possessing no skills on the green whatsoever. In fact, he becomes known as 'the world's worst golfer'. Frankly, that makes him all the more endearing.
What's more amazing is the film is based on a true story – actor-turned-director Craig Roberts (Submarine) collaborates with screenwriter Simon Farnaby (Paddington) to adapt the biography 'The Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft, The World's Worst Golfer', co-written by Farnaby with Scott Murray.
The excellent supporting cast includes Sally Hawkins and Rhys Ifans. Centrally anchored by Rylance with the talented Roberts behind the camera (he previously helmed the critically praised Just Jim and Eternal Beauty, which starred Hawkins), we can expect this to be a rousing crowdpleaser. Check out the trailer ahead of the film's release later this year.
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