Mountain Top

I loved this movie. I love the fact that you can feel a connection to this movie in so many ways. Whether it be the fact that you had a grandfather who always had a smile on his face, or you had someone that spoke into your life when you needed it the most. Maybe you are going through transition right now and looking for answers. You will relate to this movie. I love the small hometown feel that includes sweet tea ,and small diners down the main street. I love the church with long pews with a sign up on the wall saying what hymn numbers you would sing that week. I found it interesting that one of the main characters would often go to a place where he could be alone and find clarity or another that would just stop anywhere and find peace wherever he was at. The scenery itself was was a work of art. This is a mixture of a who done it, inspirational, and funny movie.It had a great cast,great story, and great scenery. I would highly recommend taking your family ,friends, and maybe buying an extra ticket or two and giving them away. If you lead any type of group or even teach a senior citizens class, invite the whole group to see this movie. You will not be disappointed.

I just started a subscription to UP Faith and Family, and this movie appeared at the top as a recommendation. The cover was done well, so I proceeded to read the description. It peaked my interested, so I gave it a try. It captured my attention from the start, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I kept thinking "why haven't I heard of this before!" Great plot, beautiful scenery, and such good acting. Coby Ryan McLaughlin was so convincing - no over-acting, and I felt the kindness of the man he played. And the performances of Barry Corbin and Lin Shaye were truly awesome. Loved it! Wish I could find more like it.

A pastor living near the mountains in western North Carolina (Coby Ryan McLaughlin) is approached by the wife of a man in jail for serious embezzlement. The couple (Barry Corbin & Lin Shaye) insists that God wants him, a former lawyer, to be the defense attorney. But why take time away from his pastoral ministry to defend a criminal? Unless, the man's not a thug at all.

"Mountain Top" (2017) is a crime drama written & directed by a coproducer of "War Room" (2015). While not as powerful as that film, it's at least on the level of "God's Not Dead" (2014) and "Do You Believe?" (2015), just not as evangelistic and with a scenic mountain town milieu.

It's refreshing to watch a crime drama with overt verbiage concerning God and faith, yet it's thankfully done in such a natural fashion it comes across low-key and not overdone.

Valerie Azlynn is on hand as the pastor's wife. She looks like a tall version of Valerie Bertinelli when she was young.

The film runs 1 hour, 42 minutes, and was shot in Huntersville & Charlotte, North Carolina.

GRADE: B.

Mountaintop succeeds where other Christian films fail, by delivering a smart storyline that engages Christians and non-Christians alike. This film sheds many of the hallmarks of Christian movies; the cheesy acting, sappy love scenes, and deathly dull inspirational music are nowhere to be found. Instead, the viewer is treated to the quirky, and at times brilliant acting of Barry Corbin and Danny Vinson, as well as a score that remains upbeat and appropriate to a film set in the heart of North Carolina. Though southerners will better understand the culture, and humor of this film, the acting and storyline makes Mountaintop relevant to any theatre goer looking for a good time. In the word's of Braxton Hodges, "It sure is good though."

Back in October 2013, a number of us "uncredited" - and some credited - extras appeared in this movie with great hopes.

For me, it was my first movie so I was really excited, especially given Barry Corbin's presence, and the fact that I'd also seen Robert Whitlow's "The List" some years ago.

While I see the release date was April 2014, no one I know who worked on the movie has ever seen it or been able to locate it on or off line, on Amazon, Netflix, or any of the other usual places to find movies.

SO movie fans - where can we see OUR movie?

Thanks!