New York Post | Seven Days in Utopia Review
September 02, 2011
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Watch this great interview from the legendary Robert Duvall…
Here is the first of what we hope is many reviews…
http://scoregolf.com/blog/rick-young/2011/august/seven-days-in-utopia
ROBERT DUVALL AND LUCAS BLACK TEAM UP FOR THIRD TIME IN SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA
Academy Award-winner Duvall and Black joined by Deborah Ann Woll, Brian Geraghty and Melissa Leo
LOS ANGELES, CA (July 29, 2010) – Production began today on SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA, the feature film adaptation of Dr. David L. Cook’s best-selling book, Golf’s Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia. Directed by Matthew Dean Russell, SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA marks the third teaming for stars Lucas Black and Robert Duvall, who have previously worked together in Sling Blade and are currently starring in Sony Pictures Classics’ upcoming release Get Low.
Duvall and Black will be joined on location in Fredericksburg and Utopia, Texas, by Deborah Ann Woll (HBO’s True Blood), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker) and Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo (Frozen River). The feature adaptation was written by Russell, Cook and Rob Levine.
SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA follows the story of Luke Chisolm (Black), a talented young golfer set on making the pro tour. When his first big shot turns out to be a very public disaster, Luke escapes the pressures of the game and finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Utopia, Texas, home to eccentric rancher Johnny Crawford (Duvall). But Johnny’s more than meets the eye, and his profound ways of looking at life force Luke to question not only his past choices, but his direction for the future.
“I was drawn to this story because it’s a great tale about one man’s journey,” said Robert Duvall. “And about how you survive life’s unexpected curve balls.”
“We’re honored to have Mr. Duvall join our amazing cast,” said producer Mark G. Mathis. “To have such a stellar talent come together on our project speaks to the quality of the story. “
SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA is being produced by Mark G. Mathis (Brick, Precious) and Jason M. Berman (The Dry Land). Executive Producers are Ken Herfurth, Phil Myers, Robert Carliner and Lucas Black. The film was cast by Mary Vernieu and Lindsay Graham.
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Korean golfing legend will make big screen debut in the film
LOS ANGELES, CA (August 2, 2010) – Korean pro golfer K.J. Choi has joined the cast of SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA, the feature film adaptation of Dr. David L. Cook’s best-selling book, Golf’s Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia. Directed by Matthew Dean Russell, SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA stars Lucas Black and Academy Award-winner Robert Duvall.
Filming on location in Fredericksburg and Utopia, Texas, SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA follows the story of Luke Chisolm (Black), a talented young golfer set on making the pro tour. When his first big shot turns out to be a very public disaster, Luke escapes the pressures of the game and finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Utopia, Texas, home to eccentric rancher Johnny Crawford (Duvall). But Johnny’s more than meets the eye, and his profound ways of looking at life force Luke to question not only his past choices, but his direction for the future. The cast also includes Deborah Ann Woll (HBO’s True Blood), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker) and Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo (Frozen River). The feature adaptation was written by Russell, Cook and Rob Levine.
Since joining the PGA Tour in 2000, Choi has quickly gained notable success, finishing in the top 30 money winners in each of the last three years with over two million dollars in earnings in 2004. The first Korean born player to have secured a PGA card and won on the PGA tour, Choi is one of only two Asian born players with multiple wins on the PGA Tour and is only the fourth Asian born player with a PGA Tour victory
Choi plays ‘Tae Kwon Oh’, one of the chief and most intimidating competitors that Black’s ‘Chisolm’ character must face during his attempt to succeed on the PGA tour. Of taking on his first role in a feature film, Choi said, “I was inspired by Dr. Cook’s book. Acting in a feature film is a new challenge, and one I am enjoying undertaking.”
“Having a genuine star of the PGA tour onboard to play this role automatically raises the game so-to-speak,” said producer Mark G. Mathis. “K.J. Choi’s presence adds another level of legitimacy and authenticity to a project that has already soared beyond any of our expectations.“
SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA is being produced by Mark G. Mathis (Brick, Precious) and Jason M. Berman (The Dry Land). Executive Producers are Ken Herfurth, Phil Myers, Robert Carliner and Lucas Black. The film was cast by Mary Vernieu and Lindsay Graham.
Article written by San Antonio local news station KENS5 during the second week of filming.
Press release written by Variety during the initial stages of production.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118022279.html?categoryId=3768&cs=1
Article written by Melanie Hauser of PGATour.com during the filming week 1 at Boot Ranch Golf Club.
Lucas Black, who is playing Luke Chisolm in the film can safely say that his dreams do come true, in life and on the movie set. In filming today, he faced a twenty-foot putt at Boot Ranch Golf Club, site of golf scenes in the movie. With the magic of “CGI” or computer generated imagery as it is known in Hollywood…the putt drops every time on camera, or at least it does when the director wants it that way. Lucas who is an accomplished scratch golfer, did not want the special effects team working behind the computer to accomplish what he loves doing himself.
When Lucas failed to make the putt during an otherwise perfect take, he asked the Director Matthew Russell for another chance. After he missed it a second time…he asked for another….then another and another. This is where making movies interrupts the love of golf and the drive for perfection. After four takes Matthew let Lucas know that special effects needed to take over. Lucas wanted none of it but reluctantly gave in. The gallery on hand as well as Matthew had a good chuckle over the incident. In a previous interaction Lucas made it clear how much he hates “CGI” shots. His passion for the game started as a child through many opportunities to tee it up in some prestigious amateur events in his home state of Missouri. Lucas Black has a competitive spirit and above all truly loves the game of golf.
This is why Seven Days in Utopia has turned into a once in a lifetime project and assuredly he is living his dream every day on this movie set.
Many supporters of the book and Dr. Dave Cook have given both their financial and spiritual support for this project. But it has been equally a blessing to have the great Robert Duvall take notice to the project and commit to playing the role of eccentric rancher, Johnny Crawford. He adds a wealth of knowledge and experience to the film that everyone reveres and respects.
Duvall’s career has spanned over 50 years and began when he landed his first major role as “Boo Radley” in To Kill a Mockingbird in 1962. He subsequently found work in smaller roles starring alongside the likes of actors such as Marlon Brando and James Caan. The three were reunited in 1972 in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, in which Duvall played mob lawyer, “Tom Hagen.” It proved to be his breakout performance which earned Duvall his first of six Academy Award nominations. From there he solidified his status in Hollywood with roles in Apocolypse Now in 1979 and Tender Mercies in 1983 in which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
In his own words, one of Duvall favorite roles was in the 1989 mini-series, Lonesome Dove, in which he played “Gus McCrae” a retired Texas Ranger convinced to go on a perilous cattle drive to Montana. This roll as well as his role in the 2003 film Open Range will be characters for Duvall to draw back on as he begins to grow the character and persona of Johnny Crawford in Seven Days in Utopia.
With Oscar talk already buzzing around the release of his 2010 role in the film “Get Low” we know that we have got the right guy for the job. His body of work is deeply respected in all of Hollywood and Utopia Films is thrilled to have Seven Days in Utopia apart of his illustrious portfolio.