Most biopics have a format. They show the rise of some famous person, how as a child, they loved whatever it is they’re known for now, their big break, their climb to success, and the inevitable failures that held them back. And I, knowing nothing about Maurice Flitcroft, went into The Phantom of the Open expecting a cliché biopic about a famous golfer. Naturally, I wasn’t very excited going into it. That being said, this film surprised me with its charm, humor, and warmth. Rather than being the movie equivalent of a Wikipedia article, The Phantom of the Open is the story about a man who wants to follow his dreams despite being too old, too poor, and mocked at every turn.

There are several distinct reasons why The Phantom of the Open works and other biopics don’t. One of those is its writing. While Maurice Flitcroft is already an excellent figure to subvert the biopic formula with, without good writing it could easily fall apart. However, our screenwriters Simon Farnaby (from Paddington 2 fame) and Scott Murray ensure that this is not the case. They poke fun at tropes, are unafraid to let us laugh, and give this film an absurd amount of heart. I couldn’t stop smiling during this warm film, even though it takes a sadder turn as it goes on. The characters are all given a surprising amount of depth, with each of them having their own arcs that are paid off quite well by the end. The writing provides this film with much of its charm.

However, the best part of The Phantom of the Open has to be Mark Rylance’s stellar performance. He is truly incredible here and manages to make you feel sympathetic for his character and his dreams while also having excellent comedic timing. He gives my personal favorite performance of the year thus far (and yes, I’ve seen Everything Everywhere All At Once and Elvis) and in my humble opinion, no acting lineup is complete without his masterful work in this film. He brings so much life and vibrance to The Phantom of the Open that it’s difficult to imagine this movie without it. The rest of the cast is quite good as well, especially Jake Davies and the always amazing Sally Hawkins.

The Phantom of the Open is one of the sweetest, most delightful films I’ve seen in quite a while. It is criminally underseen and easily one of the best movies of 2022. Mark Rylance is nothing short of fantastic, and the script is really well-crafted. For fans of the Paddington franchise or anyone looking for an uplifting time, I highly recommend seeing this!

8.5/10