Into Temptation

The premise of the movie was interesting. Will he be able to reach her? Can he stop her? But a ton of the scenes stuck me as filler, with little dramatic import. The subplot of the priest's "temptation" turned out to be, simply, empty. His looking at the magazines had no discernible effect on him. The ex-girlfriend's approaches were easily diverted. He doesn't seem to have been "into temptation" after all. When the girlfriend apologized and talked as if she was not going to bother him any more, I wondered, "So what was all that about then?" Just a little subplot to fill the time. Was he really looking at the prostitute's cleavage or just at her necklace? The ending with the prostitute also seemed a bit of a cheat.

The conversations between the priest and his black parishioner seemed very odd, where the parishioner was playing the role of counsellor to the priest.

Two stars out of five.

Jeremy sisto is father john at saint mary's. The multi-talented kristin chenoweth is linda salerno, who comes to his church to confess. She confesses that she will kill herself on her birthday, then rushes off. So father john doesn't really have a chance to respond, or to try to stop her. So that becomes his mission. But trying to help her may be more trouble than he bargained for. Can he find her, and figure out what's going on without violating any rules of the church? It's good ! Co-stars Brian Baumgartner. Written and directed by patrick coyle. One of the three films he's directed to date.

This indie drama mystery film is a hidden gem with outstanding acting performances. While there are a few cheesy moments involving the taxicab driver and the pimp scene, the overall quality of the movie makes it worth watching. Plus, it's fun to see it set in Minneapolis-I even recognized the gold building from my visits downtown!

It's also refreshing to see Jeremy Sisto take on a role outside his usual characters. Kristen Chenoweth makes a surprising appearance, adding to the film's charm. Brian Baumgartner brings some unexpected comedy and impressive acting to the mix. The film also has a bit of a noir feeling, which adds to its unique appeal. I highly recommend giving it a go!

I am bringing two skill sets to this review; (1) a tough movie critic, and (2) an irreverent but informed ex-seminary student. On both fronts, this film was spectacular.

(1) The writing was excellent in terms of being contemporary-- especially in light of the context of a Catholic priest--irreverent, unpredictable, unassuming in its theological treatment, unconventional, and (thankfully!) at the end, refreshingly unresolved.

(2) The themes were consistently theologically grounded, albeit within the Catholic vernacular. Father Ralph brings a distinctly expedient and assured style into the dialogue, while Father John brings a more deliberate, cognitive but dedicated approach. The two balance each other like a great "work team" arriving at a plausible and thought-provoking explanation for the darkness that is our human condition.

This film was surprisingly excellent. Upon watching a few previews prior to the film, I had significant doubts that I would finish a full 95 minutes of viewing. Yet the film brought me through real life, uncomfortable conversations, earnest seeking, genuine intent, and left me with the best possible theological conclusion: one of Grace.

It's hard for me to categorize this movie; it's unlike most films although it has elements of mystery, drama, comedy, tragedy and angst. The story revolves around a priest who is attempting to locate a confessor in the Minneapolis underworld while simultaneously confronting some of his personal demons but it is not nearly as trite as that sounds, the whole presentation feels remarkably unique and fresh. It does not present itself like a major studio treatment nor like the usual independent effort.

All aspects of the film's production are convincing and very assured. While most of the plot's elements have been explored elsewhere, this particular combination of excellent screenplay and considerable talent is somewhat like being exposed to an entirely new cuisine - and a welcome change that is. It is clever, poignant, buoyant, gritty and witty but it is not your normal fare.

Try it, you might like it.