Seven Days in Utopia
Encyclopedia
Seven Days in Utopia is the inspirational drama
sport film directed by Matt Russell, starring Robert Duvall
, Lucas Black
, and Melissa Leo
.
The film is based on the 2009 book Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia by Dr. David Lamar Cook, a psychologist who received a Ph.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Virginia
.
It was filmed in Utopia, Texas
and Fredericksburg, Texas
and was released on September 2, 2011 in the United States.
Salon
noted that the "bland Christian film squanders Oscar-winning cast" and questioned "why did these talented performers agree to appear in this piece of hokum?" The Guardian
described the film as "headed for the long grass."The New York Times
described it as "a stultifying hybrid of athletic instruction film and Christian sermon", while Golf.com questioned whether it was "the worst golf film ever made?"
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
sport film directed by Matt Russell, starring Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
, Lucas Black
Lucas Black
Lucas York Black is an American film and television actor. He is known for his roles in the CBS television series American Gothic as well as roles in films such as Sling Blade, Jarhead, Friday Night Lights, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Legion, Get Low, and All the Pretty Horses.-Personal...
, and Melissa Leo
Melissa Leo
Melissa Chessington Leo , is an American actress. After appearing on several television shows and films in the late '80s, her breakthrough role came in 1993 as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard on the television series Homicide: Life on the Street for the show's first five seasons from 1993 – 1997...
.
The film is based on the 2009 book Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia by Dr. David Lamar Cook, a psychologist who received a Ph.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
It was filmed in Utopia, Texas
Utopia, Texas
Utopia is a census-designated place in Uvalde County, Texas, United States. The population was 241 at the 2000 census.-History:The citizens of the earlier settlement of Waresville renamed their city Utopia after finding 'Montana, Texas,' had already been taken. To this day the cemetery is named...
and Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
and was released on September 2, 2011 in the United States.
Cast
- Robert DuvallRobert DuvallRobert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
as Johnny Crawford - Lucas BlackLucas BlackLucas York Black is an American film and television actor. He is known for his roles in the CBS television series American Gothic as well as roles in films such as Sling Blade, Jarhead, Friday Night Lights, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Legion, Get Low, and All the Pretty Horses.-Personal...
as Luke Chisholm - Melissa LeoMelissa LeoMelissa Chessington Leo , is an American actress. After appearing on several television shows and films in the late '80s, her breakthrough role came in 1993 as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard on the television series Homicide: Life on the Street for the show's first five seasons from 1993 – 1997...
as Lily - Korean superstar golfer KJ Choi as T. K. Oh
- Kelly TilghmanKelly TilghmanKelly Tilghman is a broadcaster for The Golf Channel, and the PGA Tour's first female lead golf announcer....
as Golf Channel reporter/analyst - Brandel ChambleeBrandel ChambleeBrandel Eugene Chamblee is an American professional golfer.Chamblee was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended the University of Texas where he was an All-American. He has a home in Phoenix, Arizona and has three children: sons Brandel Jr., Brennen, and a daughter, Bergen...
as Golf Channel reporter/analyst - Deborah Ann WollDeborah Ann WollDeborah Ann Woll is an American actress best known for her role as Jessica Hamby on HBO's True Blood.- Early life :...
as Sarah
Reception
The film received poor reviews from film critics.Salon
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
noted that the "bland Christian film squanders Oscar-winning cast" and questioned "why did these talented performers agree to appear in this piece of hokum?" The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
described the film as "headed for the long grass."The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described it as "a stultifying hybrid of athletic instruction film and Christian sermon", while Golf.com questioned whether it was "the worst golf film ever made?"
Books
- Cook, David Lamar, Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia, Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2009. ISBN 9780310318859
Articles
- McCarthy, Todd, "Seven Days in Utopia: Film Review", The Hollywood Reporter, August 28, 2011
- Snider, Mike, "Q&A: Sports psychologist talks about golf, faith, 'Utopia'", USA Today, August 11, 2009