Ajouter une intrigue dans votre langueLife as a Mormon missionary isn't what 19-year-old Brandon Allen expected: too many rules and too few successes. Los Angeles is as unrepentant as Sodom and Gomorrah. He's forced to share a s... Tout lireLife as a Mormon missionary isn't what 19-year-old Brandon Allen expected: too many rules and too few successes. Los Angeles is as unrepentant as Sodom and Gomorrah. He's forced to share a small apartment with five prank-loving young missionaries. To top it off, his first compani... Tout lireLife as a Mormon missionary isn't what 19-year-old Brandon Allen expected: too many rules and too few successes. Los Angeles is as unrepentant as Sodom and Gomorrah. He's forced to share a small apartment with five prank-loving young missionaries. To top it off, his first companion, 29-year-old Marcus Dalton, proves to be a harsh mentor. After only one day as a missio... Tout lire
- Réalisation
- Scénario
- Casting principal
- Elder Downey
- (as Peter Jackson)
Avis à la une
This is just as much a movie about Mormons as Witness was a movie about the Amish. You get a glimpse into their lives and a small taste of what they believe and do, but the story is the important part.
Dutcher has stated that his purpose was to make movies for the mormon market, and if other people enjoyed them then that was ok. While it can be a little rough around the edges, it is a fine piece of independent cinema, and a joy to watch.
I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to Dutcher's next effort, The Prophet, the story of the mormon prophet Joseph Smith. He is an interesting character and lived an interesting life, whether you believe he was a prophet or not.
LDS missionaries aren't all about being strict and serious 24/7. They are out to share their beliefs with others who want to know, because they believe it as well. I admire Richard Dutcher for taking a stand and being the first to produce a movie that tells the public what missionaries do, and what they go through. He's opened a whole new world to movie-goers.
I enjoyed watching this film. The way you enjoy listening to a lecture about an ancient civilization. The story is very simply about Mormon missionaries, with subplots that have varying degrees of creditability. This film is not a sanitized, sugar coated view of missionary life (aside from an obvious lack of profanity from those who slam the door in the face of missionaries). In fact, the opening scene of the movie consists of a drive through LA. Along the way you see tattoo parlors, strip clubs, and cops in the process of arresting a criminal. This film even contains a pair of prostitutes (don't get to excited, there is nothing going on).
The films main character is Elder Brandon Allen, a 19-year-old kid from Kansas. Allen is confused about the purpose of his mission and is struggling with the collapse of his family (his mom is leaving the church and his step-dad who brought him into the church is in prison for molesting children). Brandon's companion is Elder Dalton (played very well by director Richard Dutcher), a 29-year-old missionary who is dying of brain cancer. The relationship that develops between Allen and Dalton is predictable, but at the same time has the feel of realism.
There are a few scenes where we see the two missionaries attempting to share their religion with other, usually with the cliché reaction.
One thing that pleased me about this movie was the definite lack of religious ideas. Sure the missionaries pray and talk about God, but we are never given any real insight in to the fundamental ideals of Mormonism. In fact the film seem so devoid of these ideals that you get the impression that Dutcher was intentionally leaving them out. Perhaps because the majority of the audience will already know them and because the "others" don't need to hear them presented by this medium.
At times, God's Army starts to feel like an anti-Mormon movie. There is even a missionary who is reading books that question the validity of the ideas in the Book of Mormon.
The down points of this film include a under developed relationship between Allen and a female missionary. This relationship almost feels obligatory.
I was very drawn into the movie right up until the final 20 minutes. Dutcher ends the film in a way that is clearly intended to satisfy the Mormons.
If you like independent film and have an open mind, I would recommend seeing God's Army. If you like to go to a movie strictly for entertainment and don't like to think about what you're watching, you might want to skip this one.
attempts to rise above purely Mormon culture and give the world a taste of what it is like to serve a higher and unseen entity - relying purely on faith, as an insecure, young, and unlearned youth.
Le saviez-vous
- AnecdotesThe film's poster intentionally doesn't include Elder Banks so the audience doesn't know that he's a missionary when he's first introduced.
- GaffesMany things that Elder Allen needs help learning are things that are taught in the the MTC (Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah). All missionaries, both Elders and Sisters, are required to attend the MTC before being sent to their assigned missions, but it's all too obvious that Elder Allen never attended (or attended, but was totally inattentive).
- Crédits fousGwen Dutcher, the wife of the film's director Richard Dutcher, plays the woman who gets baptized, and she's called "Sexy Mormon Lady" in the credits. She gets another "crazy credit" in another of her husband's films, "Brigham City."
- ConnexionsEdited into Falling (2008)
- Bandes originalesSeven Wonders
Performed by Greg Simpson
Words by Greg Simpson & Julie de Azevedo Hanks (as Julie de Azevedo)
Music by Greg Simpson
Copyright ©1996 Fogdog Music (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Highway Records
A division of Excel Entertainment Group
Meilleurs choix
- How long is God's Army?Alimenté par Alexa
Détails
Box-office
- Budget
- 300 000 $US (estimé)
- Montant brut aux États-Unis et au Canada
- 2 637 726 $US
- Montant brut mondial
- 2 637 726 $US
- Durée
- 1h 48min(108 min)
- Couleur