Titan Concert Preview Concert Calendar New Movie Reviews

from Buzz – Oct. 6, 2005

Restaurant Review

‘Greatest Game Ever Played’ right on par

By JENNY STAR LOR

Daily Titan Staff

From the studio that brought movie-watchers “Remember The Titans” and “Miracle” comes an inspirational story of a poor, working-class nobody who defi es high-class society to become the fi rst American golf hero in “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”

The movie, based on Mark Frost’s best-seller, the movie is set in rural New England, the movie begins in 1879 on the Isle of Jersey. In early morning, a little boy is awoken by noises of four gentlemen taking measurements to begin the development of a golf course on the site of their poor, illfated cottage. When asked what golf was, a gentleman dressed in all black hastily says, “Golf is a game played by gentlemen, not by the likes of you.”

The year is now 1900 and this little boy, Harry Vardon, is now a man (Stephen Dillane from “King Arthur”) and is the three-time British Open golf champion, the best golfer the world has ever known.

In Brooklyn, Mass., Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf, of Disney show “Even Stevens”) is a poor, young caddy with a passion for the game of golf. As Ouimet grows up, so does his talent.

Impressed by Ouimet’s talent, the man Ouimet caddy’s for presses the 20-year-old to participate in the National Amateur Championship.

Faced with diffi culties entering the tournament by the committee chiding Ouimet’s status and telling him that golf is “not for his kind,” Ouimet’s biggest challenge is convincing his disapproving father, Arthur (Canadian Elias Koteas) of his talent.

Finding his way to the 1913 U.S. Open Championship, Ouimet enlists the help of 10-yearold Eddie Lowery (newcomer to the big screen, Josh Flitter) as his caddy. Lowery’s feisty tongue and quirky golf rhymes gives Ouimet the courage and strength to compete face-to-face against his idol, Vardon.

In an era where it was thought only gentlemen and high society were capable of playing golf, the movie shows how anyone with enough desire, drive and audacity is able to follow their dream and be great in what they do.

LaBeouf truly shines and gives audience members a convincing adaptation of a man who refuses to give up on a dream.

LaBeouf is the most recognizable face in the movie. The cast, while giving a superb perfor

DISNEY ENTERPRISES Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) and caddie Eddie Lowery (Josh Flitter) play a round of intense golf in a torrential downpour.

The callous customer who sends everything back, the people who arrive fi ve minutes until closing and the 5 percent tip a server smiled all night for, sound familiar to anyone who has worked in a restaurant. Director Rob McKittrick, who spent years as a server, set out to show the world why servers deserve respect in his new movie.“Waiting” follows Dean (Justin Long), who feels like he’s wasting his life waiting tables at the local ShenaniganZrestaurant.

“There’s some really gross stuff in there,” comedian Dane Cook said at a press junket last week.

“Waiting” is fi lled with genital humor and the cast grew to love it.

“I fought it for a while, but then I realized that penis jokes, as puerile and base, are funny,” Long said.

Anyone who has waited tables knows that every restaurant has stereotypical servers, like Monty, (Ryan Reynolds) the egotistical, funny, jerk whose goal is to sleep with every attractive girl at the restaurant – employee or customer. And, of course, there is Monty’s exgirlfriend and enemy, Serena (Anna Faris), the bitch who can put Monty in his place. Dan ( David Koechner) is the college dropout withering away as a manager desperately seeking acceptance from his young employees. Lastly, every restaurant has a Naomi (Alanna Ubach), the bitter, alcoholic career-waitress who hates her job and her life, but can plaster on a smile for a tip.

New movie full of ShenaniganZ

Many of the scenes were inspired by McKittrick’s real-life experiences. After watching a rude woman and her children harass his friend and send their plates back, McKittrick decided to get even and do ungodly things to the foods.

The fi lm received an R-rating because of Andy Milonakis’ rap and crotch shots and McKittrick fought the NPAA to give them an R. “Waiting” is not plot-driven, but rather is a hilarious account of the truisms and universal situations that all servers hate, McKittrick said. McKittrick’s inspiration came from “Clerks.” It too focuses on character dialogue and is mostly shot in one location. He created ShenaniganZ to resemble T.G.I. Fridays, where he spent many shifts. Audience members, especially frustrated servers, will fi nd “Waiting” grotesquely amusing, but will be a lesson to the stingy tippers watching. “Waiting” opens in theaters Fri., Oct. 7.

mance, seems to fall in the shadows of LaBeouf’s amazing portrayal of Ouimet.

With fantastic sound effects, beautiful cinematography, and a praiseworthy theme, “The Greatest Game Ever Played” truly seems to be the greatest game ever played.