In the 1930s, the Depression still affected many, including one struggling college student (Callum Turner). In an attempt to get a bed and make money, he goes out for the University of Washington’s rowing team. Their humble beginnings result in winning gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. They only suffer mild setbacks along the way, so this film depends on the filmmaker’s craft to give it anything new. Director George Clooney has elicited earnest performances from his cast, but the continuous rowing scenes become tedious. Even the big finale is only mildly exciting. His adherence to a traditional approach renders the final project feeling old-fashioned, lacking depth and rather bland. One bitchy historical note: They show fotos of the real team in the credits and they’re all very lean (as you’d expect from the period and sport), but the actors in this film all have pumped gym bodies…guessing Clooney wasn’t that much a stickler for accuracy. 
(2 / 5)