Posted by Ben
Sat, 05 Nov 2005 23:50:00 GMT
I’m not a trained reviewer, so my comments below seem inadequate about how really good this film is.
For a better review, visit:
http://motleyvision.blogspot.com/2005/11/review-eric-samuelsen-on-gods-army-ii.html
It’s a profoundly Mormon film in its structure and approach, which is a very different thing from something like “The Work and the Glory” films, which sprinkle Mormon elements into structures that feel very old-school Hollywood. Richard Dutcher started the Mormon movie movement. Now, with “States of Grace”, he has made the first genuinely, completely Mormon movie. Please, see it this weekend.
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Posted by Ben
Sat, 05 Nov 2005 13:13:00 GMT
I’ve enjoyed Richard Dutcher’s first two films that really kicked off the whole Mormon movie genre, so I guess it was inevitable that I’d see his first new movie in a few years on the opening weekend.
Before talking about God’s Army 2: States of Grace, I suppose I should add a disclaimer that I am a master of suspending disbelief. Consequently, I don’t always see all the flaws of a story that may be readily apparent to others. I also tend to get really sucked into a story, to the extent that the real world fades into the background and I become completely engrossed in whatever story I’m reading/watching/listening to. Not that I enjoy every story, there are quite a few I really don’t like, just that I can tend to overlook flaws in stories that I do like.
So, I really enjoyed this movie. I’ve really enjoyed Dutcher’s story-telling style in God’s Army and Brigham City: straight drama, down-to-earth characters and a matter-of-fact style. States of Grace continues in that same vein, but adds a number of unexpected twists and turns on the way. This is Dutchers best film yet, with wonderful photography and a complex story line that keep you interested for its slightly-long running time.
The overriding theme I took from the film was the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Each character comes to his defining moment from a different direction, with all needing the help Christ has to offer. The film isn’t preachy and I don’t know if everybody will take that same feeling away, but that’s how it hit me.
There are some things that I wish didn’t have to happen in the film, but at the same time the story and message of the story would have been greatly lessened without them. I hesitate to say more at this time, so as not to spoil the film for any who will see it in the coming weeks. I’ll write a followup with more spoilers once the film has been out a while.
Most of the reviews I read before seeing the film gave it 3 to 3 1/2 stars. I would wholeheartedly agree with those reviews. This is a movie that is worth seeing. Sometimes a film doesn’t just entertain, but instructs and makes us think. States of Grace is such a movie.
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Posted by Ben
Fri, 04 Nov 2005 08:51:00 GMT
For the past few weeks, and really since I started this blog, I’ve felt like I’ve had things to say, but my interests are so diverse that someone who would be interested in one thing I say, probably wouldn’t care for 9 other posts I’ve made. Frankly, this has sort of paralyzed me from making any posts because I’ve never been able to see a clear purpose for my blog.
To remedy this, I’ve decided to split some of my topics off to another blog. This afternoon I registered Constitarian.com which will become the spot for my political and news musings. Whether I have anything original or interesting to say remains to be seen, but I’m determined to enter into the conversation.
Criertower.com will still be here, and will be the outlet for my personal and religious posts. I feel I might have something to add in the Mormon blogging community, and that discussion deserves its own seperate outlet.
So, if anyone is interested in my meandering thoughts on politics, head on over to Constitarian.com.
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