Virtuous

A well-acted drama - perfect for a Saturday night 'movie night'.

There are a number of story-lines to follow...but in the end you can see how they all mesh together to make one cohesive story...and the underlying theme of what it means to be a 'virtuous woman' was emphasised without being pushed down your throat!

I have only two very minor gripes with an otherwise excellent film...

I would have liked to see more of 'The Potters' House'...how did they work with they young women? - particularly the idea of the 'Esther Room-, I am very familiar with the story of Esther, and this intrigued me!

Also, the resolution of the trial was very much rushed - where did the surprise witness come from? It just seemed a very easy answer to the problem.

Putting these issues to one side, this was an excellent example of how to 'do' a Christian movie...a strong story, well acted - which will appeal to ALL audiences, not only faith communities...and yet with a deep message that will make you think....films such as this deserve a more mainstream viewing!

PROS

+ Excellent actors (with the exception of the cameraman ...).

+ Great plot, except the inclusion of Afghanistan, which was only to dramatize the movie, but didn't fit at all.

+ Mostly sound theology.

+ A movie lifting up the value of women. It does a great job in reflecting on unhealthy, and sometimes even criminal behaviors and practices of men of status and power.

CONS

• The movie is partly idealized and far away from reality. A women who killed someone in order to prevent a rape may indeed be set free under certain circumstances, but she still has to repent of that act before THEOS. The movie rather celebrated her, which is not right. It should have included spiritual repentance, because her acts -although in self-defense- went against the teachings of the Bible to exchange violence for violence.

• In one scene, the female judge gives her husband a trolley as a Christmas present and sends him after 40 years of marriage out of the house. He abused her verbally which was painful to watch, but such a thing does not justify a divorce as suggested in the movie. This lesson is therefore strictly anti-biblical, no matter how good it might feel to the viewer when seeing justice done.

• While the music is good, the timing and selection for the scenes is terrible. It is often totally disconnected from the mood of the respective scene. It seems as if they got a stock of songs and then just spread them evenly over the movie.

In one scene there is joyful music while an old man falls out of his hospital bed. A few minutes later, we hear again joyful music while a dead body is examined.

• The last song she performed in the church was also not synchronized at all to her performance.

Virtuous is the story of Brandy Allison a girl who's been around the block a few times, but is the product of recovery at a kind of Christian halfway house. The spoiled grandson of the town's leading citizen attempts to rape her and gets himself shot for his trouble.

Not that she's guilty in any way, but given her background she's real easy to prosecute. She was in fact a hooker during her drugging days. That selfsame leading citizen wants her tried and convicted most speedily and he's got the political and financial clout to see Allison is put away good and proper.

Fortunately Allison has defense attorney Erik Estrada on her side and being this is a Christian film you know that it will come out all right.

The accent here is on the good work of the halfway house and how we should not judge people too readily without knowing all the facts. On its own terms without the religious angle that's a lesson worth teaching. This could have been a good film without the religion thrown in. Still is.

I loved this movie. Yes, it lacked some sound issues however, great message and good story line. Love Erik Estrada. While tackling the justice system, which most of us have done in our life time, you feel for the underdog. Although the rich attacker's grandfather tries to hide his unruly and terrible behavior of attempting to rape women by paying off the prosecution, in the end the truth comes out and justice is served by the defendant. Rarely does not happen in real life. I enjoyed seeing Erik Estrada on the screen and look forward to more of his work. The military scenes was kind of out of character, hard to understand why it is in the moving but made for good drama in the beginning.

Virtuous is a refreshing movie, telling the stories of several characters trapped in danger, fear, and ambition, who find their way to peace, hope, and restoration.

The film moves at a nice pace, opening with powerful events and slowly unraveling through multiple story lines. Although the central theme of the movie is the Proverbs 31 woman, there are secondary themes that enhance the movie without ever seeming heavy or confusing. The different character arcs blend together seamlessly to tell one unified story of what it means to be a virtuous woman.

Because of the intense events that are central to the film, the lead actors must handle a lot of weight. They do so very well. Of special note is Bonnie Johnson, who plays Judge Donna Ferguson. Her performance is moving and insightful.

One of the strongest elements of the film is the cinematography. James Burgess' eye for composition strongly establishes the mood of the film and even carries the drama at moments.

The movie may not be appropriate for young children as it deals with subjects of rape, drugs, and abuse. However, its depiction of hope and restoration will appeal to adults of all backgrounds.