Checked out The Shack, a flick that sounds like a generic scary movie but is really an impressively crafted faith-based film. Based on a popular novel, it tells the story of a man whose daughter is murdered and is then invited to The Shack where he angrily hashes things out with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
This is a movie about faith, belief, and god that manages to be gentle, thoughtful, humane and not hammer you with a theological message in any kind of ugly or heavy-handed way. The members of the Holy Trinity are played pretty casually by a homebody black woman (Octavia Spencer), a middle-eastern man (*gasp* Jesus looks like he’s from the middle east!), and an Asian woman. Each has his or her own unique personality that is very casual and may not jibe with what we would expect form a presentation of these characters. I think this is important as it takes out a lot of the self-important Old Timey wrath of god type religious out of the film.
The movie is presented as basically a long discussion between a faintly religious man who is angry and guilty over not being able to protect his little girl. Angry at being told god is all loving and all powerful yet allows evil to occur, angry that he is told he should not judge, that he should forgive.
I was legitimately impressed by this gentle film. I guess it’s not subtle but its also not judgmental and while its arguments may not be original, they are well crafted and told (even with the occasional strawman). I suspect some might find it all corny or even offensive, but it worked for me and I certainly walked into the movie with a cynical chip on my shoulder over a movie that looked like it was going to be maudlin and manipulative.
So, yeah, I think this is a good movie no matter how religious you are or are not. It may not be as serious-minded as some of the VERY religious people might prefer but it’s also not sanctimonious pap that a less (or anti) religious person might dread. I liked this film’s angle, it’s presentation, and its simple approach to a religious discussion. It was surprisingly good.
Score: 85