peacreekpages This movie was great! It really had everything. It was funny, it had romance, it had action and sports, it had suspense, and had a great message. No matter what you do in life it is important, and God is always there.

SimonJack Robert Duvall was 80-years-old when this movie was made. The mutli-award winner shows that he still has what it takes to give a sterling performance. In "Seven Days in Utopia," Duvall plays Johnny Crawford, a somewhat quirky character with a colored past. The semi-retired Johnny has been around. He has seen and done a lot, as he says to Luke Chisholm, played by relative newcomer Lucas Black. Johnny once was on the pro-golf circuit and is a recovering alcoholic. He's acquired a lot of wisdom over the years, and now in his old age he's happy to help Luke discover his game. The movie is supposed to be about Luke, who just blew a one-stroke lead in the Texas open and fell apart with a last hole that took him 14 strokes to finish. The young athlete has issues and struggles with anger at his father, a temper and lack of confidence. If he'll just give Johnny a week in Utopia, the old hand will help him discover his game. The film is based on a novel by David Cook, who also helped write the screenplay. It is set in Utopia, Texas, a small town not too far west of San Antonio. The entire cast give very good performances. Most are relative young actors and newcomers. However, two accomplished award- winning actresses, Melissa Leo and Kathy Baker have very good smaller roles as Lily and Mabel. Most of the movie is about the quirky ways Johnny has of training Luke. Fly fishing, painting, coin pitching, piloting an airplane and other oddities all have some connection to what Luke needs to learn about golf (and life). Without critiquing Johnny's unusual methods, or their likely effectiveness, I'll just say that this all adds up to an enjoyable and often amusing film. The film has clear moral and spiritual overtones, but it doesn't present them in a preachy way. Johnny's unusual methods help to teach Luke by their practical results. It's not just about golf – it's about life and what really counts. Without saying it directly, Johnny's message from his example and life's experience is that faith and trust in God are the common sense guideposts that enable one to focus, relax, choose what is right and have peace and calm. In other words, to focus on what's really important and not be distracted by other things. This is a movie as much for the future as it is for the present. Today there are many more types of addictions than existed in the past or were easily accessible. Electronic games, cell phone texting, Internet pornography, and other social media tools are among the things that may lead to addictions. Psychologists have identified the harmful effects of obsessive use and additions in these areas. All addictions enslave a person and don't enable one to focus on what's really important in life, to one's family, in one's relationships, and for one's personal wellbeing. So, we have ever-increasing social problems today.In a nutshell, this movie might be summed up as having two messages. A person will find peace and happiness in life through love. (Not romance, but love of family, friends and other people). And we get that – and stay there – by listening to the voice of conscience. (We follow it to focus so that we make the right choices). As the movie opens, we see a quotation from scripture, Isaiah 30:21. It reads, "And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or you turn to the left."(RSV) The next verse tells the result of doing so. Paraphrased it means one defies the idols of the world that would enslave one.I think the setting is a nice slice of real life found in many places yet today. It's a nice family film, especially for the older kids and adults.

docc1 If I had read the plot of the movie beforehand, I would have skipped it. And ten-or-so minutes into the film, it seemed like it was going to be a hackneyed, cloying been-there-done-that type of film. For some reason, I was enjoying it just enough not to stop watching. The film - be it considered a parable, a sports story or a bit of cinematic religious dogma - somehow transcends all of these. Yes, the characters are stereotyped, and the movie, as any first-year college student of writing could tell you, needs all of them to interplay with each other. Film-writing 101. The film, though, has sensitive writing (no freshmen college kids in the writing pool, obviously), great acting (Duvall and Black are both wonderful), phenomenal cinematography, and, in all, tends to be a touching film, rather than an annoying treacly bit of fluff. I never would have guessed from either the synopsis of the film nor from the first few minutes that it would make it to my "save for repeat viewing" bin.

SnoopyStyle Young golfer Luke Chisholm (Lucas Black) runs away after struggling in a big tournament. His father is his demanding overbearing coach. He crashes his car in the small town of Utopia. He meets an old pro Johnny Crawford (Robert Duvall) who promises to find his game if he stays for seven days. He falls for beautiful waitress Sarah (Deborah Ann Woll), and comes to terms with his father.This is Christian movie with a lot of touchy Zen like feel. It's the Karate Kid of golf movies with Robert Duvall as the new Mr Miyagi. It all adds to its hokey charm. Robert Duvall is solid, and Lucas Black has good enough presence. This is a simple story and it does exactly what you expect. The only surprise comes from the ending.The movie ends by not showing whether the important putt goes in or not. It's an unusual way to make a statement. I'm fine with it. At least, it's unique.