Priceless

Excellent job by the Smallbone brothers! This is not Hollywood blockbuster production by any means, but it sends a message, and it does it well. It's a very inspiring, moving, and powerful low budget indie film that delivered more than I expected. If you have not seen this, you need to! It's a well deserved 8/10 from me!

In a time when all we think 'Is the price of the ticket worth the entertainment factor', sometimes the price of a ticket can invoke the thoughts, 'There's more to life than being entertained with a bucket of popcorn'. This is one of those movies that compelled us to make active choices to address the movie theme with our resources. For this, the movie's value far exceeds the price to watch the movie and I strongly feel that it needs to be watched.

It's seems wrong to call a movie that deals about human trafficking awesome but it was. The story was good (I like how it shows that human trafficking is happening not just in other countries and not just to Mexicans but to Americans as well) and it had some humor in it too (you have to have some otherwise your body wouldn't be able to handle the suspense). Joel Smallbone was excellent and I didn't hear any breaks (where the person's accent breaks through the accent they're doing) in his American accent, Bianca A. Santos was excellent as Antonia, Amber Midthunder was so cute as Maria and Sierra Rose Smith was adorable as Emmy Stevens. I can't of any time in the movie where there was bad acting.

I had no idea what I was getting into with this movie. Throughout the whole film I kept getting the feeling that it was really trying hard to make the good guy look cool. To make doing the right thing seem like the right thing to do. I really like that. The bad guys weren't overly glorified or vilified either. I don't think they went too far, and it doesn't smack of the in your face over the top cheese-fest that other movies dealing with the subject usually have. I know the story well from made-for-TV movies though never was it so professionally shot or well acted.

There are only a few gripes i have about the movie, and they are personal irks that I can understand probably were taken into consideration and decided against by the creators.

1,) I really wish they had used the word RAPE at any point in the film. Everything else was so honest and boldfaced that it seems a shame to try and sugar coat it with euphemisms and allusions. 2,) The end seems really rushed and cut short. There are a lot of questions left unanswered, but I believe it is because they needed to get their message out after the climax instead of a concise denouement. 3,) They could have done a better job with working in the daughter and her relationship and importance to James. As it is it seems a bit contrived and little fake.

None of those are great detriments, and the message is important too. The movie was legitimately entertaining and kept my attention from very early on. I'm planning on watching it again with certain friends and recommending it as well. I'm glad I saw it.

This movie is a gripping, moving, and powerful revelation into the dark world of human trafficking. Many negative reviews were watching this for entertainment but this movie was filmed as almost a story telling documentary. Too many people live in a fantasy world and don't want to face the harsh reality that lay just beneath our everyday life. This story is a wake-up call and should be absorbed as such.

Joel portrays James, a man at the end of his rope who finds purpose in helping those trapped in this terrible world. His evolution and triumph in the face of adversity should be a lesson to all. Thank you Small bone family for such an amazing film. God Bless