There have been a lot of conversations about faith-based films at Hollywood Jesus as of late. Since our goal is to provide pop culture from a spiritual point of view, it’s about time we bring you into the discussion.
For this week’s edition of Sound Off!, we would like you to put on your critic’s cap and help us create (in theory, at least) the perfect faith-based film.
As part of this, here are three recent movie trailers to give you some ideas:
1) Blue Like Jazz (limited release on 4.13.12):
2) Courageous (national release on 9.30.11; DVD release 1.3.12):
3) Jerusalem Countdown
There will also be some big-budget faith flicks you’ll be hearing about in upcoming months, including a Mel Gibson movie about Judah Maccabee and a Steven Spielberg movie about Moses. Whether they pan out remains to be seen.
- What elements does a memorable faith-based movie need to have?
– A formal opportunity for moviegoers to become Christians?
– A big-name cast?
– A huge monetary budget?
– A neatly resolved ending?
– Special effects worthy of Michael Bay’s approval?
Sound off!
April 20th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Hmmm… sounds like readers are as stumped as the studios and indies!
I think there are two ways of answering the question.
The first is demographics-driven: see what the target market is buying, and try to mimic those successful products. This is the standard industry business model, and it (ostensibly) puts power in the hands of consumers: they determine market trends, and their tastes, as reflected in what they buy, get catered to.
From this perspective, I would say that the elements needed are a come-to-Jesus moment, some action and comedy sans gore, potty humor, foul language, and actual sex scenes, and recognizable household-name stars. And all packaged in a middle- or at least small-town-America setting. That’s a tolerably easy formula to replicate, if you know what you’re doing.
The second way of answering the question is from the standpoint of art: competent, experienced, influential filmmakers communicating something vital to a broad audience via independent production.
From this perspective, the most conspicuous example is Gibson’s Passion. And the key element needed is a filmmaker-star who has paid dues, has learned the trade as an industry insider as part of hugely successful properties/franchises, is in a position to call in some huge debts, can attract the attention and investment of industry power brokers, knows how to tell a story, and is above all things (second only to being a person of faith) an artist.
For the most part, only films produced by from this second perspective will have any lasting artistic impact. Market-driven films may be “successful” financially, but they’re not pictures people are going to be talking about 25 years from now — and they’re not films that are going to inspire future generations of filmmakers; mostly, in fact, they’ll suck because they’re copy-cat ripoffs.
The best faith-based films I’ve seen have taken Gibson’s approach, even if on a smaller scale. Blind Side, Soul Surfer, and even Dolphin Tale could be seen as exponents of that school of thought: independent films made by industry-insider professionals who are passionate about what they’re doing. And a lot smaller films like Dog Days of Summer and The Presence also reflect an artistry bred by studying film and apprenticing in the right schools and industries.
Sherwood’s films might be an exception to that rule; their long-term legacy remains to be seen. But if they are, I’d chalk it up a third and even more powerful approach: seeking God’s will in everything you do, and bathing it in prayer. From that standpoint, I totally buy into Sherwood’s approach.