The Convert

The Convert (2023), based on a story by New Zealand writer Hamish Clayton, is a film that's been a long time coming. Directed by Lee Tamahori, a seasoned veteran of both drama and action genres, it's a film that's been quietly simmering on the back burner since its sales rights were acquired at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

I'd done some reading about it a couple of years ago, and it seems the film spent those two years languishing in some production company drawer. The reason, I suspect, is the current state of movie-going audiences. Let's face it, most people (with a few exceptions) aren't flocking to theaters for two-hour (or longer) historical dramas. The box office numbers back this up. And I guess the production company didn't want to relegate this film to a straight-to-streaming/home video release either. They have a point.

Guy Pearce, one of the most talented actors working today, but one who's been plagued by a less-than-stellar career trajectory, takes the lead role. And boy, does he deliver. He's absolutely mesmerizing, bringing a Shakespearean intensity to every scene as if he were performing on the National Theatre stage. It's clear he's deeply invested in the story, perhaps due to its historical relevance to his own background.

Gin Loane, whose work I haven't seen before, delivers stunning cinematography that captures the rugged beauty of the New Zealand landscape. Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne gives it her all, and it wouldn't surprise me if she snags an award for her performance in this film. (I haven't checked, but it wouldn't be undeserved.)

The Convert is a film that deserves recognition for its acting, well-choreographed fight scenes, seamless integration of the Maori language, and authentic portrayal of 1830s New Zealand society. It's a film that transports you to another time and place, immersing you in a world of conflict, faith, and redemption.

I found this movie to be surprisingly great. The cinematography is breath-taking. The acting is exquisite. The story was very slow in one respect but not detailed enough in others. The pace was a tad slow for me, but failed to delve into character detail and the individual stories on the other hand. I believe this could have been a respectable mini-series if, for instance, the details of the young English girl and the Maori man were expanded or the relationship of Monroe (Pearce) and the woman (McKenzie) he met on the island, was drawn out in more detail. Some scenes are not for the faint-of-heart but they are tastefully done. But again I feel the need to mention the visual aspect of these beautiful islands. And speaking of details, I have to ask - knowing that Mr. Pearce is not only a great actor - but a skilled artist as well, did he do the drawings that were in the sketch book he carried? Being no stranger to performing portrait art myself, the sketches were amazing. As far as the subject matter, I had no idea of the history of New Zealand or the tribal inhabitants so I feel I learned a lot from watching The Convert, even though I read that it may not be a historically accurate as it could be. Over all, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie and already have viewed it twice to take everything in. I highly recommend it.

I honestly don't know what people expect these days. Yes, it's not great, could have been better, missed opportunities blah blah blah. But it's quite good, very good even (caughtme in justtheright mood). It has a story to tell and it tells it - in a simple and uncomplicated way. Acting is up there with the best, scenery is NZ, so no more to be said there, and with Guy Pearce and Jacqueline McKenzie giving it their all, I was happy to overlook a few things that got up my nose, which us regular, garden variety folks invariably do from time to time. If you're after a feel good movie, a bit of blood and guts notwithstanding, and not a movie buff keen to slash and burn, then have a look. I was engaged from start to finish. Somewhere around 7 is fair.

In 1830-based period-drama "The Convert" English lay-preacher Guy Pearce (strong as ever) is assigned to a remote New Zealand outpost where the Brit settlement (led by Mark Mitchinson) rents land from local Maori chief Antonio Te Maioha whose tribe is threatened by warlike rivals led by Lawrence Makoare. Aided by Scottish outcast Jacqueline McKenzie and Te Maioha's daughter Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Pearce attempts to break the savage cycle of violence... but can he? The screenplay from Michael Bennett, director Lee Tamahori & Shane Danielsen is interesting & engaging (if not outstanding for the genre). It's good, solid, worthy, & well-performed fare.

It's 1830 New Zealand. Guns have changed the local Maori culture and soon Christianity. Thomas Munro (Guy Pearce) is the newly arrived Reverand from England to preach over the tiny community of Epworth. On the way there, he encounters a tribal conflict and rescues Rangimai (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne) from execution. She turns out to be the daughter of a rival clan leader. Charlotte (Jacqueline McKenzie) is an Epworth villager with connection to the Maori.

This is essentially the story of Dances with Wolves in another place with more religion. There is a lot to like. It also feels very familiar. It is nice to see this culture and this particular time/place being represented. It's not the most covered. This may not be the most inventive, but it's nice just to see it.