The Phantom of the Open

This too could be hilarious, if we weren’t being invited to accept the character at face value as the salt of the earth. As things stand, he’s fascinating but not entirely human -- at least, not as human as Paddington Bear.

Suit-and-tie Mike worries about the gutter. Jean and the twins look to the stars. The man at the centre of it all, the husband, father and hoodwinker, is somewhere in between.

Can I recommend “The Phantom of the Open” regardless of whether you approach the ball as a convert or run fast in the other direction? Sure.

Rather than mine failure for cringe humor, Roberts and company find a bountiful font of empathy within the gutter.

Never has there been a better time to delve into the story of Maurice Flitcroft, a British crane operator who became known as “Britain’s worst golfer.” And never has there been a better time to honour him onscreen.

The Phantom of the Open is a biopic of a refreshingly under-told story of an amateur player that let nothing stop him from etching his name into golf history.

The Phantom of the Open works best as a showcase for its talented cast, proving the versatility of Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins in particular. This is a constantly fun watch with a real sense of heart and meaning.

This wholesome hope is contagious: Roberts makes it impossible to resist thinking of the world as a land of Gumps and Flitcrofts, of indomitable dreamers. What a lovely thought that is.

A delightful and thoroughly enjoyable golf Cinderella story. The ever-so-versatile Mark Rylance's portrayal of Maurice is instantly likable, it was effortless to be fully invested in his journey.

It’s a vein from British social lore of a blue-collar man sticking it to the hierarchy with a brazen charm of happy-go-lucky attitudes towards life.