The Rapture

The Rapture is one of the most courageous films I have seen in a long time, one of the most daring. It's themes of religion are scary to anyone seeing it, on whichever side you are on.

Mimi Rogers in the lead role is fantastic. She goes from a sinner to a believer to a sinner back again. Since I had never heard of this film before I saw it, I did not know what to expect. It started off very bleak, with amazing dialogue, and as the film goes by it's tone changes. The film also forces us to hear it out, to witness the distressing things that this woman does, yet she is not a villain in any way. The scary thing is that there are actually people like this out there in the world. Here we go back to the focus of the film, God. Obviously a film like this will never get unanimous approval because of the religious subject matter, and because people always have different opinions. Some will agree with the lead character, some might see where she is coming from, others will completely despise her, and in terms despise the film. However, one thing is certain, the film is coming from a group of very talented people. Technically, the film is brilliant, the cinematography very focused and 'normal' at the right time and in the end it shows us another side of the film.

I do not really understand the ending, but this is a film that goes where rarely any films go, and should be seen by anyone. I am surprised I had never heard of it, and while many will disagree because of the actual focus of the film, I think it is really something great.

Since I have always been a Christian from childhood and agreeably conspire to my faith today, I am always curious about what causes others to "be saved" later in life. "The Rapture" tells this story with fascinating insights into the modern Christian perspective and what scares the public about its predictions. Mimi Rogers (in a heart-wrenching performance) plays Sharon, a telephone operator who leads a tedious and extremely boring life by day, but resorts to group sex and orgies to add excitement to her nightlife. She discovers Christianity through people pamphleting at her door and other employees in her office she never cared to talk to before. They use the imagery of a pearl to describe their experience of being saved, and Sharon longs to discover what it is about this religion that can bring fulfillment to her own life. David Duchovney, before his stint on "The X-Files," co-stars as Sharon's boyfriend and later husband she meets through her reckless "dates," and whom she induces to join her spiritual quest to find God. After their marriage and birth of their daughter, her faith is tested to intense extemes in ways I would not dare describe, but can honestly say are truly harrowing. I was surprised that, even though I am a devout Christian, I was not offended by this film, what can be seen as a blatantly sacreligious movie. I think every religious individual should see it to get a better understanding of what they conspire to, as well as how others may conceive of their faith. "The Rapture" is not a tame flick, and does not shy away from controversial discourse, but all in all, this is a rewarding picture that gets its viewers to think about their lives and what they believe in. No doubt you will be entranced. Rating: Three stars and a half.

Uncommon mix of sex and religion is hard hitting and thought provoking. Mimi Rogers, giving easily the finest performance of 1991 (and many other years), was completely overlooked by the industry, and that's unfortunate for us. She is so superb in this film, that it is inconceivable that she doesn't work more than she does. She is supported by a fine cast, most notably, Kimberly Cullum, as Mary. It's too bad that Mimi Rogers isn't given more roles in Hollywood; but we do have this performance, in this film, and I highly recommend it!

A haunting movie -- one that lingers in the mind (and the heart) for a long time afterwards. Mimi Rogers turns in a stunning performance as a woman trapped in a cycle of dull work and duller play, whose life is transformed twice -- first by a religious conversion, and then by coming face to face with the literal meaning of that conversion. She is incandescent in her belief, and in the movie's final scenes, takes on the epic proportions of a Job or King Lear. You may be puzzled, conflicted, or even offended by what the movie "means," but you won't be able to walk away from it untouched.

Woah! Rarely does a movie leave me speechless, but The Rapture did just that. It has a lot to say about religion, cults, and the search for meaning in our lives. I definitely don't envy the marketing team who had to try and find a way to advertise this movie to the masses. It defies description or genre altogether. Mimi Rogers is fantastic in the lead role of a woman who's desperately searching for meaning in her life and turns to religion to find it, leading her down a very dark and scary road.