Item: How to Break 90 #2: Position and Back Swing
Rating: 5.8
Author: Archivist John

Is it worth your time?

If you have ever spent four hours hacking at a patch of grass only to end up with a scorecard that looks like a phone number, yes. Watch this. If you actually enjoy golf, you might find it offensive, but honestly, that’s your problem.

The whole thing starts with Guy Kibbee looking like he’s ready to commit a crime. He’s just had a rough afternoon on the links, and his face tells the whole story.

Most of us hold back the urge to destroy our equipment after a bad shank. Kibbee doesn't have that filter. He walks right up to the fireplace and tosses his clubs in like they’re pieces of firewood. It’s glorious.

There’s this specific rhythm to his frustration that feels very real. It isn't overacted for the cameras; it feels like he’s actually thinking about the triple bogey on the ninth hole.

I found myself wondering if he actually liked those clubs. Probably not. The way the light hits the metal as it melts into the coals is a bit hypnotic, actually. 🏌️‍♂️

How to Break 90 #2: Position and Back Swing scene — Scene from How to Break 90 #2: Position and Back Swing

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of How to Break 90 #2: Position and Back Swing (1933) through its definitive frames.

Glenda Farrell is there too, looking on with that mixture of 'what are you doing' and 'I am not surprised at all' that only long-term partners can master. She doesn't even flinch. She’s seen this level of pettiness before.

This is way more honest than The Perfect Clown, which tries way too hard to find the humor in everything. Here, the humor just sits there in the smoke.

It’s a short film, so it doesn't overstay its welcome. It gets in, shows you a man losing his mind over a game, and gets out.

Sometimes I think about this movie when I’m trying to organize my own garage. Maybe I should just burn the stuff that stresses me out.

Notes from the couch:

The fireplace acting is better than most of the dialogue.
I really need to know if they used real golf clubs or props.
The pacing is so fast you’ll miss the best expressions if you check your phone.
It makes me want to quit golf forever, which is probably a healthy decision.

It isn't a masterpiece. It isn't trying to change your life. It’s just a man being incredibly fed up with a hobby. We’ve all been there, haven't we? 🔥