I didn't like the movie much, especially because I didn't buy the moral and religious evolution of one of the protagonists. (Excuse me for being vague, but I'm trying to avoid at least the most blatant of spoilers.) One of the protagonists starts out an egregiously violent, cruel, rage-filled man, and then works his way to the light, sustained by a belief in God and God's forgiveness.
Such radical transformations happen : for instance, there are hagiographies telling of pimps, robber barons or assassins turning into truly good men and dying as saints. However, such radical transformations tend to be very, very rare (which is the reason why they fire the imagination and turn into hagiographies). Moreover, one would hope that the people who do go through a genuine conversion a) would know and recognize the full horror of their misdeeds and b) would try to make amends, especially to the innocents they hurt the most. In this movie, however, there is very little to indicate that the man who bettered his life tried to repair the awful wreckage he left behind - which is a problem, since the movie insists that he does indeed have a full grasp of his obligations before God and man. He has become good, he has achieved wisdom and he realizes he has to help a certain someone, but he doesn't do so, because... ? Because ?
If there is a "because" I certainly didn't get it.
So this isn't a very good film, although it contains a sprinkling of valid observations, here and there, on sin, human fallibility and redemption. Sutherland and Hurt give insightful and compelling performances, but even they can't iron out the flaws in the story.
For people interested in Roman-Catholic teachings or in the Roman- Catholic sacrament of confession : leave the movie be and go talk with a Roman-Catholic neighbor or colleague. Or look up a Roman-Catholic priest. Your discussion would be interactive, you might make a friend AND there is a sporting chance of getting offered a nice pint of beer.
Such radical transformations happen : for instance, there are hagiographies telling of pimps, robber barons or assassins turning into truly good men and dying as saints. However, such radical transformations tend to be very, very rare (which is the reason why they fire the imagination and turn into hagiographies). Moreover, one would hope that the people who do go through a genuine conversion a) would know and recognize the full horror of their misdeeds and b) would try to make amends, especially to the innocents they hurt the most. In this movie, however, there is very little to indicate that the man who bettered his life tried to repair the awful wreckage he left behind - which is a problem, since the movie insists that he does indeed have a full grasp of his obligations before God and man. He has become good, he has achieved wisdom and he realizes he has to help a certain someone, but he doesn't do so, because... ? Because ?
If there is a "because" I certainly didn't get it.
So this isn't a very good film, although it contains a sprinkling of valid observations, here and there, on sin, human fallibility and redemption. Sutherland and Hurt give insightful and compelling performances, but even they can't iron out the flaws in the story.
For people interested in Roman-Catholic teachings or in the Roman- Catholic sacrament of confession : leave the movie be and go talk with a Roman-Catholic neighbor or colleague. Or look up a Roman-Catholic priest. Your discussion would be interactive, you might make a friend AND there is a sporting chance of getting offered a nice pint of beer.