Facing the Giants

Facing the Giants boasts no Hollywood stars. Many of the players are locals who were part of the actual true events the story is based on. The acting is fine but nobody will be nominated for an Oscar. The dialog is at times simplistic if not down-right trite. But what Facing the Giants has that so many other films lack these days is a ton of heart and an unapologetic focus on the power Christian values to change the direction of peoples' lives, thereby changing the direction of the organizations they participate in (families, schools, football programs, etc.).

This film was primarily funded and produced by a church in Georgia... completely outside of the grips of Hollywood influences. Like many of the other Kendrick Brothers films, it is a small production with mostly volunteer actors and technical staff. I believe there were only about 6 people total who they had to bring in and pay.

Most people who watch this film (I'm guessing) are already Christians or are at least sympathetic to Christian/traditional Western values. Regardless what your 'beliefs' are, this film demonstrates how these values- when sincerely applied in one's life and brought to bear on troubling situations- can transform mindsets, change circumstances and open doors to amazing experiences and achievements.

People who give this movie a poor rating do so because they are turned off by religion (or at least Christianity) and no amount of money, big-name stars or fancy production will change their minds. Sure this film isn't a cinematic masterpiece by traditional measures. But are your measures traditional? Maybe they shouldn't be.

The big-budget Hollywood film is dead. The formula is failing. Nothing that comes out of Hollywood has any soul anymore because all the people in Hollywood have sold their souls a long time ago. In the 60's, Hollywood turned out many epic religious films such as Ben Hur, The Greatest Story Ever Told and The Ten Commandments. Why are they not making these kinds of films anymore? After all, they are still making war films and westerns and gangster/caper films and 'comedies' (which aren't very funny). Hollywood has been completely and thoroughly morally corrupted evidenced by the absolute absence of any recent product that one could say is morally uplifting whether religion is part of script or not. If Christian religion is part of the script at all, it is factually misrepresented at best and belittled and demonized at worst. At this point, Hollywood is incapable of producing anything that isn't soul-crushing, heart-blackening and mind-numbing. That boat has gone over the falls and there is no turning back. Thank GOD they can't force me to watch their garbage.

Thankfully, today, small, independent films and other media from all over the country and world are being created to fill this void and bring light back into a dark, oppressive, soulless industry. People crave truth and hope... even if on a shoe-string budget. The big wigs in Hollywood are freaking out because they no longer have a stranglehold on "mainstream" entertainment. So, instead of giving the people something better that speaks to their higher nature, they just get more and more base... spending ever increasing amounts of money in an effort to keep pushing the primal buttons of fear, anxiety, jealousy and hate. People are tired of it and they want something better because we were made for something better. Facing the Giants is a small but powerful film that provides something better. It's a "feel-good" movie, a term which has become a pejorative in this context. But since when has "feeling good" from watching a movie become such a bad thing?

Well, this movie was a shock to see and to hear. Among the thousands of mainline films I have watched over many years, this is the first I've seen with a modern-day story that was unapologetically Christian. It actually used Jesus and God's name as you would hear in a sermon in church. Of course, the fact that "Hollywood" didn't make this film is understandable; it was produced, directed, written, etc., by a Baptist church in Georgia.

But - surprise - it's available in good quantities at the video stores and actually has the production values of a big-budget Hollywood film. In other words, this looks nice and, for the most part, is adequately acted even though amateurs do the acting. The only one I thought sounded wooden, unfortunately, was Alex Kendrick playing the main character: coach Grant Taylor, the Shiloh Christian High School football coach. Kendrik directed and wrote this film, so kudos to him for all that wonderful work....but an actor, he ain't. Real-life University of Georgia football coach Mark Richt makes a guest appearance and he sounded very relaxed and convincing, as a professional actor would sound. They should have given Richt the main role!

Yes, the story is hokey, especially at the end at the last football game, but what Hollywood movie isn't? It's just a little far-fetched to anyone who knows football. At any rate, the action scenes were well-done and very realistic looking.

To see a movie with this many inspirational and profound Biblical statements was a "revelation" and really nice to see (hear). Hokey or not, there are several moments in this film that should drive most viewers to tears. If not, check your pulse.

The main message of the movie: "All things are possible with God," is a good one and one everyone, including Christians, need to be reminded of periodically. Secular people who don't want to hear anything positive about God or the Bible, or who are just plain biased against Christians, will hate this film and wouldn't last 30 minutes watching it. I have a very good friend who is in that category and I couldn't recommend the film to him, because he'd be in the bathroom puking his guts out after a half hour. However, if you are more tolerant, or are a follower Of Jesus Christ, then you will find this film inspiring and emotional and worth your time.

There are enough things wrong with this movie that I should rate it a 2 but I love this movie so much I can overlook the flaws very easily. I've seen it so many times I've now lost count. First, what's wrong with this movie.

1.) With the exception of the main character, there are very few women in the picture. Grant Taylor has a wife, there is a teacher and there also is a clinic featuring 2 women but other than that, none of the boys seem to have a mother. Matt has a father as does David but neither boy has a "mom," although David's father does wear a wedding ring. A small point but a mighty one.

2.) The African-American coach is one step above "Steppin Fetchit" or "Amos & Andy." He talks in a rather lazy fashion and seems a little bit slow although he isn't. When he gives David a "unique" way of remembering how to get the ball in between the goal posts or when he keeps up with Larry, his coaching partner, in a game of one-upsmanship of famous names, you see how intelligent he is but for much of the movie, he seems to be a bit of a doofus. In this day and age of political correctness, it's NOT a good idea to portray an African-American character as slow or dim-witted.

3.) Coach Taylor's hair. C'mon, guys, you could have done better with the front of his hair than what we see. It makes the coach look stupid, dorky - kind of like a Jim Carrey character.

Now, what's Right about this movie:

1.) God. There is lots of "God Talk" in this movie and I don't mind. This is a fundamentalist Christian view of God and may seem somewhat simplistic but it works, at least in this movie. Too bad real life isn't that easy (trust God and you'll get what you want). I'm Roman Catholic but I found the "God parts" very inspirational, although somewhat hokey at times. 2.) The acting. While it's not Laurence Olivier in "Hamlet," you really believe Alex Kendrick as Coach Taylor and Shannen Field as Brooke. Some scenes are heartbreaking and others are very funny. But all in all, it's a delightful pairing of 2 obvious believers. 3.) Let's face it, some of those young football players are CUTE, especially David and Zach. Clean-cut, with short hair and decent clothes (David even wears a tie to the final game!) without looking like nerds or geeks. That's refreshing.

All in all, I love this movie. Ii'm not a football fanatic and so I fast-forward some of those scenes. Other readers have pointed out football mistakes; I wouldn't know and I really don't care. To me, this movie isn't so much about football as it is about faith. It would be far worse if the mistakes were in faith instead of football. When I find myself feeling down and this movie is on, I watch it and I'm immediately uplifted. There aren't too many movies that can say that. And I doubt this movie will ever air on network television --- too much religion - GOD FORBID. That's a shame, though, because it's an uplifting, inspiring movie and many young people would benefit from watching it.

Strong Christian movie. This movie will give you joy, it will make you sit on the edge of your seat wondering what amazing thing God can pull out of the events. Yes it is a movie but it shows Gods love for those who give it all to him. This is a must see movie for the entire family. I saw this movie with my youth group at our church. This movie all had us crying o the floor because it is so true. This movie can help you get your life straight. You can actually relate to this movie you must see it. I know it will change you life for the best by God's intentions.

PROS

+ Wonderful display how a leader can influence others through his faith, to follow the same, to have even a small revival on the football field and to fully trust in THEOS in the ups and downs of (football) life.

+ Great acting, which comes across as very natural.

+ Great display of the restoration of a relationship between a father and one of the players.

+ Good and honest display of the suffering of the coach.

CONS

• The movie brings up the topic of in vitro fertilization, but fails to decidedly judge it. Brooke should have at least said to the doctor that she is a Christian and cannot follow such an approach. The couple did not do it in the end, but the viewer could be misled to consider it as an option, because he or she now associates it subconsciously with the Christian faith.

• The movie oversimplifies the Good Message and displays it rather as something you receive than something you give. It would have been great if the coach would have taken his team to serve others, do some good works in the neighborhood or in a church, to have some Bible studies et al.

The Good Message is very different, it is predominantly about serving and trusting, and only eventually to receive something in return. This movie could lead especially new Christians to become quickly disappointed if they do not receive at least some small miracles.