tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776899.post2363358107601070851..comments2024-03-06T03:15:58.539-05:00Comments on <b>THE NEW REFORM CLUB</b>: Amazing "Amazing Grace"Hunter Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14961831404331998743noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776899.post-10095465679669068682007-02-27T01:21:00.000-05:002007-02-27T01:21:00.000-05:00Sam, thanks for the review of the review. This see...Sam, thanks for the review of the review. This seems so typical of Christians who think influencing culture is best done with a cudgel about the head. They look for ways to be offended and see the sleight where none exists. The aroma of faith is much more effective than a seven course meal shoved down the throat. I can't wait to see it with my whole family.Mike D'Virgiliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150525537509460056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776899.post-17840018375811067532007-02-25T23:11:00.000-05:002007-02-25T23:11:00.000-05:00I'm with Sam - I don't know what Allen was lookin ...I'm with Sam - I don't know what Allen was lookin for - maybe an altar call at the end? <BR/><BR/>And can you believe that they made the film for less than $30 million?Michael Simpsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10987298276951380726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776899.post-61899948161336507762007-02-25T22:05:00.000-05:002007-02-25T22:05:00.000-05:00Thanks for the reference, Mike. I categorically di...Thanks for the reference, Mike. I categorically disagree with Ms. Allen's assessment of the film. To give evidence of an absence in a film is difficult, of course, but it is significant that she doesn't give any examples of specific instances in which the film slights religion. All she provides is an interview statement by Michael Apted to <I>Christianity Today</I> in which he clearly meant to convey that he wanted to avoid preachiness in the film. That is a statement for which I would commend him.<BR/><BR/>In my analysis here I concentrate on how the film's aesthetic techniques convey its ideas, and hence I don't give a lot of examples about how the film shows Wilberforce's religious convictions and how they affect his actions. But that is indeed a strong aspect of the film, pace Ms. Allen. She fails to acknowledge, for example, the film's treatment of Wilberforce's struggle to decide whether to go into politics or the ministry, and his friends' persuasive argument that his talents would be best spent in politics and hence that is the best place for him to serve God. The first scene in which we see him at home, he is lying on the ground staring in wonder at the pastoral scene around him, and talks to his servant about his great delight in God's creation. If anything, Wilberforce comes off as entirely driven by religion and specifically a fiercely passionate relationship with God through Jesus Christ. There can be no doubt of this from anyone watching the film fairly and carefully.<BR/><BR/>In addition, the treatment of Wilberforce's friend John Newton is about <I>nothing but</I> his Christianity and how it affected his life. And so on, throughout the film.<BR/><BR/>To suggest, as Ms. Allen does, that this film obscures the Christian foundations of the slavery-abolition movement in a mannter reminscent of Spielberg's <I>Amistad</I> is so wrong as to be calumnious.<BR/><BR/>The film makes it perfectly clear that Wilberforce's evangelical Christianity was entirely central to his actions.<BR/><BR/>My analysis of the film begins with a point about a scene being more subtle than it may initially seem. Perhaps Ms. Allen simply wanted more of a Fox Faith kind of thing. That, of course, is her prerogative, but I'll take <I>Amazing Grace</I> any day.S. T. Karnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05971214612730402709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776899.post-33699502567947289392007-02-25T19:23:00.000-05:002007-02-25T19:23:00.000-05:00Sam, thanks for the review. I look forward to seei...Sam, thanks for the review. I look forward to seeing the movie. I was wondering if you saw a piece in Friday's WSJ about the movie by a Charlotte Allen. She has a different take on how the movie depicts Wilberforce's faith. She says it downplays the role his Christianity played in his life. <BR/><BR/>I found the article online at OpinionJournal.com. You'll find it in Friday's edition under "On the Taste Page." Click through and you'll see the article, "Hollywood's 'Amazing' Glaze: What the new movie covers up about William Wilberforce." If you get a chance I would love to see what you think about her take on the movie. <BR/><BR/>I have a feeling some people are not fans of subtle when it comes to depicting their faith in movies, but until I see it I can't really say how it's played in the movie. I trust what I think is your more nuanced understanding of the movie, so that's why I am very curious about what you think of her view of it. Thanks.Mike D'Virgiliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150525537509460056noreply@blogger.com