Category: Movies/Reviews

I confess it has been a while since I watched a movie. We have enjoyed various TV series this past year, but now that have we have bid Netflix Streaming adieu, we are finally able to focus on our large movie queue.

True Grit is a lot of fun. The story focuses on a 14 year old girl named Mattie Ross. She is bold and unrelenting in pursuing her goal of finding the man who killed her father and to ensure that he dies as a result. In an attempt to find an able man to track Tom Chaney (her father’s killer), she is introduced to Rooster Cogburn, played by the inimitable Jeff Bridges. Cogburn is an old drunk who through the tenacity of Mattie Ross and the promise of $100 reward decides to take on the task. Mattie wants to go with Cogburn, but Cogburn says that this is no task for a little girl. And this is when Mattie’s commitment to her mission becomes more evident as she pursues both Cogburn and Texas Ranger Laboeuf (Matt Damon) with Little Blackie (her horse). Laboeuf begins with utter non-sympathy towards Mattie, but as the movie unfolds they grow deeply connected.

The movie is truly a masterpiece with great acting (most notably Jeff Bridges and the young star, Hailee Steinfield;  I suspect we will see her again in the next few years). The lines are memorable. Here area a few great ones:

Mattie Ross: You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free except the grace of God.

Rooster Cogburn: We’ll sleep here and follow in the morning.
Mattie Ross: But we promised to bury the poor soul inside!
Rooster Cogburn: Ground’s too hard. Them men wanted a decent burial, they should have got themselves killed in summer.

Cross-examining Lawyer: So, you say that when Amos Wharton raised his axe, you backed away from him.
Rooster Cogburn: That’s right.
Cross-examining Lawyer: In what direction were you going?
Rooster Cogburn: Backwards. I always go backwards when I back up.

Col. Stonehill: I do not entertain hypotheticals. The world itself is vexing enough.

Christian Conclusion:

True Grit is replete with Old Gospel music background. The soundtrack reminded me of a country revival. It is really a delightful story. The movie poses some interesting questions concerning states’ rights. States had a lot more say in those days concerning justice. Yet, one theme that prevails is that if you murder a man your life will be taken, echoing Genesis 9:6. In this Wild West age injustice cannot escape the determination of a 14 year old.

Cogburn’s self-sacrifice in the end redeems this poor “old and fat man,”as he describes himself. LaBoeuf understands loyalty too. In fact, True Grit is loyalty and friendship and great humor. I strongly recommend it.

It took us a while, but my wife and I finally watched Fireproof. I am a firm supporter of evangelicals pursuing every field of life, including movies, and bringing a distinctly Christian perspective to it. For instance, Brian Godawa has done a fine job entering this virtually virgin field and bringing some sanity to Hollywood’s perpetual madness. Other attempts have been frankly embarrassing. The movie version of Pilgrim’s Progress was a sincere attempt, but a horrendous one. Facing the Giants was another honest attempt, but failed at many levels. So what about Fireproof?

In typical Framian fashion let me offer several positive elements:

First, Kirk Cameron was a perfect fit for his role as a pig-loose-canon-husband. His past acting experience came in beautifully in this role. In many ways his role added a certain authenticity to Christian movies that is often lacking.

Second, fellow pastor Douglas Wilson observed: “And they (men) would rather watch a movie about a woman being abused so long as the movie was made right than to have the woman treated right in a movie that offended their refined sensibilities.” Christian men are satisfied with explicit brutality and abuse in movies so long as it doesn’t upset their sophisticated ideals of what a movie should look like. Fireproof offered an alternative ending to what most typically reflects modern marriage movies (MMM). To this end, it should be commended.

Third, the movie depicts marriage as hard. It drives away any naive ideas of married life. It is difficult, and it requires a whole lot of work. Marriage is a perpetual maturation process.

Fourth, in one of the scenes, Cameron’s co-workers encouraged him to lead his heart, not to be followed by it. A good start, I say. Following the heart (sinful heart) is the culprit to many of America’s divorces.

Fifth, for all the theological flaws, the movie illustrates what the Bible makes clear: apart from Me you can do nothing. A marriage can be fixed only to be broken again, but a marriage transformed by Christ can be fixed and restored again and again.

Before I delve into the negative aspects of the movie, I should say that  I applaud the continual attempts of Christians engaging the movie industry. This is dominion-minded (though most may not realize it) and is a part of the old Kuyperian strategy. Most of us need to be reminded that the Christian industry is an infant industry. There is a lot of growing up and learning to do. We should not bring $150 million budget films (Hollywod) and compare it side by side with a $50,000 film. We have a long way to go.

Several negative elements:

First, there  is an explicit version of Christianity exposed. It was not the Reformed, Anglican, or Lutheran version. It was the pop-evangelical, revivalistic version. The salvation message was overtly individualistic.  Here is a camp, here is a cross, here is a Bible, here is a prayer=Eureka. While many come to Christ through such formulas, my central concern is who they become after such conversion experiences. Do they become lovers of orthodoxy, creeds, unity, catholicity, theology, bread and wine, church, Trinity, or do they simply treat this new found faith as recovery from a miserable past life, like an addiction?

Second, formulaic Christianity is really bothersome. 3 steps to this or 40 steps to that fits neatly on a page, but really messy in real life.

Third, poor acting. If movies want to take a decidedly Christian direction, one actor ( Kirk Cameron) can’t carry the weight of the entire movie. Again, we’re only babies at this stage in the game.

Fourth, Jesus does not always save marriages; sometimes He actually destroys them and sometimes He asks that you endure the marriage for the sake of the other. In the Christian world we can’t always expect a happy ending.

The movie is certainly an improvement; a slow, but noticeable one.

As the New Year begins, I reflect ever-so-briefly on some of the most memorable movies of 2009. There were many others  I could add to this list, but these were the ones, which for various reasons made my list.

Dan in Real Life Dan in Real Life is the story of a widower with three daughters managing the difficult task of parenting, working, and seeking love. There was a tenderness to this story, which drew me along. Positive: The necessity for fathers to love their girls. If girls will not find love in fathers, they will seek it elsewhere. Also, there is the significance of the family. There is laughter and joy. Negative: False views of love displayed; “the love at first sight” syndrome. Comments: Not the ideal dad, no biblical guidance, but some redeeming values.

Breach “Based on the true story, FBI upstart Eric O’Neill enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, an agent who was ultimately convicted of selling secrets to the Soviet Union.” Positive: Loyalty and commitment to family and defense of country’s secrets and integrity. Negative: The same loyalty is used to manipulate others. Comments: Guilt can kill.

Seven Pounds Suffering from guilt, Will Smith’s character will give everything to those in need. Positive: Self-sacrifice and overwhelming love. Negative: As always and so common in Hollywood, sex outside of wedlock is still wrong. Lying and breaking the law to help others. Comments: Is it ever legitimate to lie? Rahab in Judges proves there are exceptions, whether this is one needs to be proven.

Rescue Dawn A US fighter-pilot (Christian Bale) is shut down on a mission and tries to survive in the jungles of Vietnam. Based on a true story. Positive: Friendship, Loyalty, Encouragement to those in need. Negative: Little to say. Comments: The question arises, What must be done in war to stay alive?

Defiance “Jewish brothers in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe escape into the Belarussian forests, where they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village in order to protect themselves and about 1,000 Jewish non-combatants.” Positive: Familial Loyalty, helping the needy, friendship. Good introduction to Jewish culture and rituals. Negative: Taking the lives of those who took the lives of family members. God says: Vengeance is mine! Comments: Lots of ethical questions. Must we kill to eat and survive? Seems like an Exodus theme. Jews leaving tyranny and establishing order.