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6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you're a golfer who spends hours obsessing over your backswing in the mirror, yes. If you are literally anyone else, you will probably fall asleep within ninety seconds. It is a very niche, very dry technical lesson from a different century.
The whole thing is basically just Bobby Jones standing there, looking dapper, and explaining why shifting your hips the wrong way is a death sentence for your drive. It lacks the explosive energy you might find in something like Headin' South, but it’s got that weird, hypnotic quality of old instructional footage.
There is this moment where he demonstrates the proper turn, and honestly, the way he holds his posture is just unnerving. It’s stiff, sure, but it’s so perfectly calculated. You can tell he’s spent his whole life hitting balls.
The cinematography is as basic as it gets. It’s just a camera pointed at a guy in a field. No fancy edits, no dramatic music, just a man and his club. It reminded me a bit of the simplicity in Day-Dreams, though obviously much less frantic and way more focused on physics.
Honestly, the hip action stuff is a bit tedious to watch. He talks about the 'lateral sway' like it’s a moral failing rather than just a swing flaw. I felt personally attacked by his tone. 🏌️♂️
It’s not trying to entertain you. It’s just trying to fix your slice. There’s something kind of refreshing about that, even if it’s totally dull by modern standards.
If you’re looking for high drama, stick to something like Three Wise Girls. If you want to know why you keep hitting it into the woods, this is your short film. It’s not a movie, it’s a chore. But hey, it's a chore that might actually shave a stroke off your game.