Film Review: ‘Heart of Champions’: A Perfectly Fine Rowing Movie for Young Athletes

Film Critic

11/8/2021|Updated: 11/9/2021

October 29, 2021 | PG-13 | 1h 59min

The collegiate rowing movie “Heart of Champions,” currently in movie theaters, got destroyed immediately on Rotten Tomatoes by critics. It’s a ridiculous skew—Critics: 18 percent, the People: 90 percent. Critics tend to be allergic to formulaic sports dramas with clichéd character types, such as heroes carrying secret burdens that need healing, or obstacles that need overcoming, in order to win the big game and show character growth.

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Mark Jackson

Film Critic

Mark Jackson is the senior film critic for The Epoch Times and a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. Mark earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams College, followed by classical theater conservatory training, and has 20 years' experience as a New York professional actor. He narrated The Epoch Times audiobook "How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World," available on iTunes, Audible, and YouTube. Mark is featured in the book "How to Be a Film Critic in Five Easy Lessons" by Christopher K. Brooks. In addition to films, he enjoys Harley-Davidsons, rock-climbing, qigong, martial arts, and human rights activism.