The Boy In Blue

In the late 19th century, rowing was a popular sport, with fierce competition and high-stakes spectator gambling, and Ned Hanlan was a Canadian rowing champion who honed his skills by running moonshine in his skiff on Lake Ontario. Hanlan (disappointingly portrayed here by Cage, who lacks his usual energy) survived unscrupulous competitors, crooked gamblers, and alcoholism to become an international star in the sport, setting many records that have stood for more than 100 years and later achieving success in Canadian politics. Although his film biography features beautiful production design and more than 1,400 costumes, it is unfortunately perfunctory, flat, and pr...