Miracle Maker

'Miracle maker' reunites director John Lyde and screenwriter Sally Meyer, plus several cast members, from 2013's 'Christmas for a dollar.' I won't hold a grudge against anyone for what was a holiday movie so unyielding in would-be charm and good will as to be pretentious, and bereft - but the connections are notable. Keeping that in mind, and based on the premise, I admit I definitely had unfavorable presuppositions when I sat to watch this - but, I'll sit for just about anything. So how is it?

The setting and scenario is established quickly: a frontier town of many decades past, facing hardship on account of the elements, and the hardness of the town's foremost capitalist pig. In addition to that goon, we're also introduced to all the characters, and get a pretty clear picture of their persons and circumstances. We have the hopeful children, the town gossips, the separated lovers, the struggling families, and so on. Beyond that we get eyefuls of rounding details; in general I appreciate the attention to aspects like set design and decoration, costume design, hair and makeup, and so on.

With that said - given the time and place, interiors and wardrobe seem a bit too pristine and impeccably free of soil, dust, or clutter. For as much emphasis as is placed on one character's appearance, the supposed blemish is barely noticeable. Similarly, between a somewhat indelicate hand in Meyers's writing, and a somewhat brisk pace owing to Lyde's direction, scenes and character moments that should have impact are inhibited from naturally manifesting, breathing, and resolving. In turn, the cast's performances are also then dampened. I can't speak to everyone here, but I've seen many in no few other pictures, and found their skills at least adequate, if not admirable. In 'Miracle maker,' the range, nuance, and personality they would bring to their portrayals are broadly artificially restrained, and the depictions are kind of flat as a result.

I don't want to cast aspersions, and even if I did, I'm not sure that any one person's contributions should be singled out as especially deficient. I think it's more that various elements of the movie are sufficiently flawed that the confluence of them all subdues the whole. The heavy-handedness is unfortunate, because were the screenplay given due care, I think the tale would be most fruitful indeed. Characters, dialogue, scene writing, the overall narrative - all show great potential. That potential is not fully realized, and the assembled actors are caged within the bounds of the unfinished space.

None of this is to say that I dislike 'Miracle maker' outright. Actually, as low as my expectations were, this exceeds them. I see the value that just wasn't entirely brought to bear, and I like it nonetheless. It's just that I want to like it more than I do; the feature could and should have been more than it was. Strong ideas, strong themes, a strong cast, and an engaging and heartwarming story are sadly weakened.

How is 'Miracle maker?' Well, I think it is worth watching - not to go out of your way to find, but a fair way to spend 90 minutes if you come across it. Just keep your expectations in check, and maybe you'll be pleasantly, mildly surprised, as I was.

I was very pleased with this film. It was not quite what I expected, though it gave so much more. Though the man could have been an Angel, he performed his acts of kindness as if it were second nature to him. He consistantly acted in love of his neighbor as should we all. I would strongly recommend this film for family viewing and even touching up on our own reflective walk of love.

This is a fantasy and Western video made for the Christmas season in 2015. The residents of a small, unnamed prairie town in the old West need to have a miracle worker come to town. The apparent reason is because they all seem to be short on money with which to pay the rent for their homes and businesses. While the film has a nice Christmas season outcome, the plot is quite odd. Does James Booth own the whole town? There have been a number of Western movies made over the years in which a cattle baron or mining company ruled over a town. But never before were the residents and shop owners all renters of those folks.

Beyond that, this film has some holes, problems with continuity, very stagey scenes and some not very professional acting. One scene from outside shows what would be a hamlet - little more than a collection of houses spread around. Then, there's a scene of a town center with shops and buildings all around it. And, it looks so manicured that it can't possible be a disguised stage setting.

It's a stretch to give this even five stars, but I do so in the spirit of the Christmas season just ended, when I watched the DVD of this film.

It all happens when there's advance word by letter and word of a lot of gossipy mouths that a Miracle Maker is coming to some small gaslight era town in the 19th century. Some miracles do happen when Jacob Stoenman comes to this unnamed middle America town of the era. Even the town's Mr. Potter played by Brian Krause gets a change of heart in the end.

Borrowing also a bit from Pollyanna, Miracle Maker is an interesting family film that's light on the overt preaching. In the end some real miracle does take place with those rocks which he uses for currency as he clears some worthless land he's settled on prove valuable. You have to watch the film for that one.

This is an easy to take holiday fantasy film.

Unique plot. Great job with the circa 1870's props and sets. Cooper Johnson did an excellent job portraying Oliver. The cast and drew did an awesome job overcoming some of the biggest challenges in the film making business: working with children and animals and the movie being set over 100 years in the past. Having worked on films like this, I know how hard it is so kudos to all of you who worked on this film. I highly recommend this very family friendly Christmas themed movie. Even the dog "Shadow" did a fine job. I wonder if the dog was named in honor of Shadow from Homeward Bound? That Shadow from Homeward Bound was actually a miracle worker in real life having helped mute autistic children to speak for the first time.