The Grace Card

I knew nothing about the movie before seeing it, except I heard a brief rave on Christian radio so I was inclined to go. Even though I am giving this film a 6 out of 10, I was touched and moved by several scenes. The low score is due to the heavy handed feel of the film, and the choppy editing that made the acting seem worse than it was. My wife thought the acting was amateurish, but I think bad directing, editing and camera work made their acting seem worse than it was.

Michael Joiner's character, Bill McDonald, was unrealistically morose. He blames himself for the death of his first child and resents the second child who lives 17 years later. I blame the director for the character' unrealistic grief. I think it would have been more realistic if he tried to put on a normal demeanor, kidding around and striving to be professional with bursts of behavior that would betray the underlying grief and anger that he carried around.

Another example of directing that should have changed regards the son Blake (played by Robert Erikson) after the counselor (who is a Christian) suggests the son try to reach out to the hurting father. For the amount of conflict that had already been established between father and son, I felt the portrayal of the boy's effort to be nice was too sunny and cheerful. The director should have had more struggle on the son's part to be nice for it to be believable.

As for Bill McDonald's recently assigned partner, Sam Wright (played by Michael Higgenbottom), who also was a black pastor promoted as a police Sargent, I thought the Christian family portrayed was too happy and loving. It was almost stereotypical of Christians. Particularly concerning Sam's regard for his missing father. It was like the missing father was only written into the story to be a touchstone of sympathy for Sam's character when he talked to Bill. Otherwise it was a meaningless element of the story that should have been built up to give more realistic depth to Sam's character and family.

Nevertheless, the film had an edifying message, so I don't regret seeing the movie.

We finally got to watch this movie, after missing it for the box office opening night. Excellent movie! I cannot believe it was done in 28 days on a $200,000 budget....just goes to show you can produce quality film without spending millions! Schools show lots of fluff, idiotic and useless movies all the time. This movie should be required viewing at every middle school and high school...not for the subdued religious tones, but for the race relations for all of us. The shot in the end was an amazing message alone. I highly recommend it for all ages. My own sons, 11 and 14 watched it with us tonight and I intend to let them watch it as many times as they want to. This one is a good one to let all the messages of the movie sink into their hearts!

I finally watched this film today after trying to find time over the past two weeks. Here is the review I wrote for http://ChristianDocumentaries.Wordpress.com (strangely enough I haven't had time to review a documentary for the site.

I've been meaning to see this film for the past two weeks and finally made it out today. One reason I wanted to see it was because I heard the trailer for Courageous (http://courageousmovie.com/). A movie I really can't wait to see in September.

I saw this movie at 4:30 in the afternoon (it is a lot cheaper then) and I was the only one in the theater except for an older black lady who came in right as it started. That seemed appropriate considering the nature of the film.

The Good:

The film had some really great points about it. Most of the acting was was great. I love Louis Gosset Jr. though I must admit he was a bit more rotund than I'm used to seeing him, but he always pulls off his roll well. It was also nice to Stephen Dervan in a minor role. You'll probably remember him as one of the comic relief firefighter's in Fireproof.

I think my favorite actor in this film was Dawntoya Thomason who played the role of Debra, Sam Wright's wife. I don't know if she was really the best actress, but there was something about her on the screen that really just shone through.

The variations in lighting as though showed the two different families really popped out as well. I don't normally notice this too much, but since studying more about film areas like this stick out. I also must say I enjoyed the soundtrack for The Grace Card. Much like the Sherwood films much of the music was contemporary Christian (most sounded similar to Third Day or MercyMe). I'm not usually a fan of CCM but this was all well done with no "poppy" high vocals.

One other great point in this film was the wonderful portrayal of a pastor (in character traits). It was really nice to see a positive impact from a man behind the pulpit. That seems to be neglected in many Christian films.

The Bad:

Like most Christian films it had a few week spots in some the minor characters acting. Most notably I found the Police Chiefs (I think that was his role at least) played by Bob Childers to be a bit unbelievable on the screen. I'm not trying to tear him down, but I just don't think he was right for this role.

The script also had a few challenges as well. It was well done over all, but like most of the new writers (I believe the writer is actually full time in the medical field) he tried to have the characters say too much without just showing it. More than anything it came across when trying to show Mac's racism.

My last two points for this section are more theologically or philosophically based. I want to be clear than many dear saints may disagree with this assessment.

First, while I like the portrayal of the pastor I really was taken back by the fact that neither of the times he is shown preaching does he actually read or quote the Word of God. He talks about experience and says some fine things but unless it comes from the Scriptures it isn't preaching it is just motivational speaking. I realize time is precious in a film as well as flow, but I personally think that would have made those scenes much more powerful.

Second, my biggest fault with this film was the lack of God-centered grace. The theme of the entire film was grace, but the whole time they speak of grace to fellow man and never grace from God. The only reason we can give grace to one another is because it has so freely been given to us on the cross. It is a fundamental point that I felt this movie just lacked. They mentioned Jesus plenty of times, but never explained the gospel and while that is not something necessary in Christian film I just don't get how you have a movie about grace and never show that.

The Recommendation:

I think this movie is really worth seeing and supporting. While the last two points above really concern me I'm hoping this film does well enough that the writer will create more films and have the opportunity to correct those errors (or at least errors in my view). If you have the chance I'd take the time and money to go out and see The Grace Card.

A religious film. A Christian one. Nice, useful, touching, moving. Like many others. This is the first impression. And it is right and fair. But the film gives more than a moral lesson. Or a preach. It is a film about sufferance - a profound one - and about family. It is a film about the meanings of life. And about chances. About faith and hate and hope and angry. Sure, predictable in many moments and scenes. And too pink in others. For me, I admite, one of good points remains the performance of Louis Gosset jr. in a role who gives to him doing a special , seductive chatacter. Short, an interestong film.

It's so nice to see a well-made film that entertains, enlightens, and challenges us to be our better selves.

Mac has good reason for his bitterness and unforgiveness, but it's colored his whole life and continually inflicts pain on his family. Sam, on the other hand, is understandably conflicted when he's forced to partner with Mac in this cop drama. The inter-twinings of their families and their lives bring the real issues to a fever pitch in a desperate situation. I also loved Oscar winner Lou Gossett Jr.'s character, as the elder sage who had clearly walked this road before. Everyone has something in their lives--some pain or disappointment they hold on to. THE GRACE CARD is a wonderful drama about shaking free from it, and at the same time, releasing others.