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1st April 2024
11:24am BST
As we kick off April, there's plenty of new movies and shows to enjoy on streaming, particularly all the great additions to Netflix this month.
But it's not just Netflix bringing in some fresh content, Prime Video is also making some excellent additions, including one of 2023's best sports films - The Boys in the Boat.
Directed by none other than George Clooney, the plot follows the real life story of the University of Washington rowing team, and their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
The Boys in the Boat stars Joel Edgerton (The Stranger) as coach Al Ulbrickson Sr. and Callum Turner (Masters of the Air) as rower Joe Rantz and is based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Daniel James Brown.
If you're looking for an oldschool underdog sports film that doesn't stray far from the well-worn path, a rare type of movies these days, then this is your best bet.
While some critics of The Boys in the Boat criticised the movie for its over-earnestness and its old-school approach, overall it received a positive reception from viewers, with Turner's performance getting particular praise.
With a very strong 97% Audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it's clear Clooney's flick is an crowd-pleasing underdog tale from start to finish.
You can check out some of the review below.
Vulture - "The film is an unshowy but slick underdog sports picture, fluidly told and elegantly mounted."
Roger Ebert - "When people say 'they don’t make movies like that anymore,' this is the kind of movie they’re talking about."
Hollywood Reporter - "At times The Boys in the Boat could have used more of an edge. But like the Huskies, it gets the job done, stumbling sometimes but mostly assured."
Variety - "The Boys in the Boat is a gentleman’s sports movie, with Clooney working hard to make one 'like they used to.' He brings it off, even if there’s a lingering quaintness to it all.
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