Everyone grows up rooting for the underdog. It’s what makes us human. It’s what gives us hope. And it’s what inspired the true story behind ‘The Boys In The Boat’ originally written by Daniel James Brown. The film adaptation was co-produced and directed by George Clooney, with screenplay by Mark L. Smith.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 11: (L-R) Wil Coban, Callum Turner, Sam Strike, Joel Phillimore and Jack Mulhern attend the Amazon MGM Studios Los Angeles Premiere of “The Boys In The Boat” at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on December 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for MGM)
The true story of the 1936 University of Washington rowing team whom competed in the Berlin Summer Olympics. The Los Angeles Premiere featured the cast and crew which created the sports drama. You saw each of the eight rowers, eye’s grow larger whenever they were asked about their time training for their position on the team. Clooney made it clear, he only wanted athletes to play the part. The boys trained for 2-3 months to get into rowing shape. Thomas Elms, who plays “Chuck Day,” also mentioned that Clooney shared athleticism was more important than their acting skills for this film.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 11: Director/Producer George Clooney attends the Amazon MGM Studios Los Angeles Premiere of “The Boys In The Boat” at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on December 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for MGM)
During our chat with Clooney, I asked him which of his previous roles had him training as much as The Boys In The Boat had to train for their role. Clooney joked, “Ocean’s Eleven. I professionally had to learn how to drink and not throw up… You gotta stretch your liver and kidney.” He finished with, “These guys had a much harder time, we killed them.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 11: (L-R) George Clooney, Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner attend the Amazon MGM Studios Los Angeles Premiere After Party of “The Boys In The Boat” at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on December 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for MGM)
The boys are led by Coach Al Ulbrickson who is played by Joel Edgerton. Ulbrickson’s job is at risk if the team doesn’t perform well. So the teammates and coach are all in a make it or break it situation. During our time speaking with Edgerton, he mentioned how everyone has been in an underdog mindset before. Which makes the movie not just easy to watch, but easy to identify with.
You can watch The Boys In The Boat in theaters on December 25, 2023.