A League of Ordinary Gentlemen

2004

Documentary / Sport

1
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 76% · 34 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 76% · 250 ratings
IMDb Rating 7.0/10 10 457 457

sports

Plot summary

Filmmaker Christopher Browne documents the mission of a group of middle-aged bowlers as they attempt to revitalize the sport and get the television-watching public interested in it again.

Director

Christopher Browne Photo
Christopher Browne

Top cast

Timothy Busfield Photo
Timothy Busfield as Self - Actor / Producer
Charles Barkley Photo
Charles Barkley as Self
Chris Barnes Photo
Chris Barnes as Self - Professional Bowler
Bernard Goldberg Photo
Bernard Goldberg as Self
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
864.77 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 33 min
Seeds 1
1.57 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 33 min
Seeds 2

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by SONNYK_USA 7 / 10

BOWLING'S BACK BABY!!! This review has NOT been brought to you by Odor-Eaters

Almost every major sport has been 'modernized' in order to compete with the growing demand for LIVE sports on television, and now the long-forgotten endeavor known as Professional American bowling re-enters the media spotlight with a BANG! For decades bowling has been a favorite of the blue collar set for it's mixture of 'beerdrinking & camaraderie', or basically a glorified 'boys-night-out' while the wives did their thing at home. Amidst this laid-back milieu the Professional Bowlers Association began to cultivate a more refined interest in the game for those bowlers capable of consistent 'perfect' games (that's a 300 score). ABC's 'Wide World of Sports' came on board and the sport seemed legitimized for many years until ABC left and the league itself faced bankruptcy.Enter the 'new blood'. It only cost a few guys from Microsoft $5 million to BUY the PBA and launch their own strategy to bring bowling back to the world stage. This film entertainingly chronicles both the pluses and minuses of modernizing a long beloved sport as well as what it takes to get everyone on the 'same page'. A perfect example of this is when new CEO Steve Miller opens the normally low-key pre-season league meeting with a slew of visceral invectives that compared favorably in my mind with Alec Baldwin's f-word laden opening speech in "Glengarry, Glen Ross." As you can see, this is not your ordinary behind-the-scenes sports documentary with no punches pulled and nothing having to be censored for FCC approval. Best of all, the filmmakers have chosen several bowlers to profile that encompass almost everything the sport represents while managing to incorporate the requisite 'drama' that separates exciting docu-tainment like this from your ordinary, average sports documentary.Most notable exception to the idea of 'blue collar' bowling is Walter Ray Williams Jr., a former physics professor who's parlayed his knowledge of centrifugal force (along with a keen eye) into a string of championships in both bowling and horseshoes. His laid-back style makes him the obvious 'good guy' in this competitive tale, but he's also the man that everyone else is out to beat.His main nemesis is outlaw bowler Pete Weber, the son of PBA legend Dick Weber and the exact opposite of Walter in every way except his desire to knock down pins. Pete is the John McEnroe of bowling with his loud mouth, dark sunglasses, and inappropriate psyche-out methods that include taunting opponents as well as his signature gesture - the 'crotch-chop'.Film follows the entire season from start to finish culminating with the first-ever 2003 PBA World Championships in Detroit, MI. This is one showdown that's worth the price of admission alone and seeing bowling on the big screen adds a lot more to excitement and suspense. Perfect movie for a double date followed by a night at the lanes. Get the tix, and set up the pins - BOWLING'S BACK BABY!!!
Reviewed by Woodyanders 8 / 10

There's more to bowling than meets the eye

This surprisingly engrossing and at times extremely affecting documentary manages the near impossible feat of taking a sport that's considered by many to be some kind of joke and making it the stuff of potent and moving high drama instead thanks to director Christopher Browne's commendable respect and commitment to the subject matter. It also helps that the four main professional bowlers that this doc focuses on are a pretty interesting bunch: Loud and cocky showboat Peter Weber, the self-proclaimed bad boy of bowling and son of legendary champion Dick Weber; Walter Ray Williams, a laidback and well-off guy who has a deceptively casual approach to the sport; Chris Barnes, an eager young upstart who's trying to juggle his family life with a burgeoning career as a pro bowler; and Wayne Webb, a desperate washed-up has-been who's making one last valiant attempt at reclaiming his former glory as a bowling great. Then there's Steve Miller, a bullish CEO who's take no prisoners attitude towards the game helps some folks while hurting others. The final match between Weber and Williams proves to be quite thrilling and suspenseful. A nicely done little beaut.
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