Saving God (2008)

I remember a theater director once telling me that 80% of directing is casting the right people. Saving God, starring Ving Rhames, Dean McDermott and Dwain Murphy is a film that validates my theater directors assessment.

Produced by Cloud Ten Pictures, which created the Left Behind trilogy, Saving God has the tough and powerful Rhames portray the equally intimidating convict-turned-pastor, Armstrong Cane. Cane, fresh out of prison, returns to his local, run-down church, determined to reach out to the inner city he once loved as a child.

As Cane makes his presence quickly known to the local hoods, including drug dealer Blaze, played with surprising creepiness by McDermott, people start to show renewed interest in the success of the small church.

The bulk of the story takes the macrocosm of life on the streets and boils it down to the touching story of Norris Johnson, played by the charming Murphy, who finds faith and renewed self esteem, leading him to try and change his life and move out from under the dangerous and watchful eye of the evil Blaze. The relationship between Johnson and Cane is wonderful and keeps you actively involved in the story.

But it's the performance of Rhames that keeps your eyes locked to the screen. His massive stature, short-fused temper and commitment to Jesus Christ is a great combination of contradictions. You really don't know what he might do next when push comes to shove. Will he revert to his youthful rage or rely on the soothing source of the Word of God?

The production value of this film is top notch and the performances are stellar. This film would easily be broadcast on television stations across the country if it weren't for the blatant acceptance of Jesus Christ as a requirement for salvation.

Saving God is making the festival rounds now and we can only hope it will garner enough positive feedback to get it distributed as widely as possible.

A Midnight Clear (2006)

One Christmas Eve we find that random acts of kindness can change everything... one person at a time. That's the basic premise of A Midnight Clear, a very good Christian film that leaves the preaching for the pulpit and leaves the dense storyline to the cinema.

The film follows the lives of many people who intertwine throughout the night. There's Lefty, played by Stephen Baldwin, who's just lost his job and is on the verge of losing his family. There's Eva, played by K Callan, who struggles with loneliness and a fragile existence and ponders about taking her own life. And Kirk, played by Kirk B.R. Woller, who runs his own gas station on the outskirts of town. And, finally, Mary, the wife of a brain damaged husband recovering from a car accident a year earlier who, on Christmas Eve, finds herself stuck at the gas station with her car broken down and her nerves near the breaking point.

Each of these people are broken, lonely and feel as if they are helpless to overcome their current situations. Over the course of the story we find their simple acts of kindness toward each other propel them forward toward self realization, responsibility and healing.

The story is quite strong and the performances rock solid. The film was originally a 20 minute short that was extended and re-shot into this touching feature film. Fortunately, this is not one of those low-budget Christian flicks that bashes you over the head with Bible verses and dire warnings. This is a human drama of faith filled people struggling within themselves. Writer Wes Halua and director Dallas Jenkins weave a fine and moving tale. The production quality lives up to Hollywood standards and film will stay with you after its over.

One fine flick.

Through a Mother's Eyes

The one thing I love about the way God created us are the vast and definite differences between men and women. I've read studies that have shown that mothers teach children how to act within a home and fathers teach children how to act outside of the home. That's why, if fathers do not go to church regularly, the children will usually follow suit, no matter how devout the mother may be.

Mothers are also greatly protective of there children. Nothing amuses me more than to see "Mama Bear Claws" come out when someone criticizes a mother's child. Mothers usually assume the best of their children, building them up, holding them in the highest regard. Fathers usually try to push the children forward, to make them face challenges, to test their ability to overcome obstacles, even if that includes failure.

This difference in approach could not be more visible than this past weekends baseball tournament. My son was pitching a good game, but gave up a home run. My wife, in her ever protective Mama Bear mode, offers "Well, they couldn't hit a home run if Gabe didn't throw such a beautiful pitch!"

Only a mother can turn a child's failure into a moment of success.

I love that about mothers. They are the safety net we all need. When all else fails, we know our mothers will be there, no matter what we've done or what we've failed to do and will look at us through their loving eyes, seeing us at our best, even when we are at our worst.

Mothers are very lucky... their uncompromising love of their children is a gift from God, an insight into how our Creator looks at us... through loving eyes, focusing on what we are capable of doing instead of what we have not done well.

SoulWow!

Very funny take off of the ShamWow commercials, this one is called SoulWow! and was done by a parish in Brooklyn to get people to come to confession.

Very well done. Take a look...