Robert Frost famously wrote “…Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” The Bible tells us to “ …Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction…” (Matthew 7:13) As usual, there are movies available in theaters for the first week of November that lead to destruction and there are other movies that lead us to Life even in the midst of danger and loss. Some of the movies currently in theaters that lead to Life are the following: Hacksaw Ridge, I’m Not Ashamed, Priceless, Greater, Voiceless, Queen of Katwe, New Life, To Joey With Love, Deepwater Horizon, and Sully.
Hacksaw Ridge is a comeback, Christian movie for director Mel Gibson. It is rated R due to brutal military violence. It is appropriate for older teens through adults. It is about Desmond Doss, played by Andrew Garfield, who is an heroic conscientious objector serving as an unarmed medic during the intense battle of Okinawa in World War II. This movie has received good reviews.
Sonoma Christian Home provides stories and interviews for I’m Not Ashamed. It is another powerful movie about real-life heroines and heroes in the true story of Rachel Joy Scott and the Columbine High School shooting. It is tragic but also inspirational. The ensemble acting in this movie is believable and captivating. When Rachel Joy Scott refused to deny her Lord and Savior in her final moments at Columbine High School, her life was taken.
She recorded her prayers and faith journey in her journal that became the basis for her parents’ books about her life and for the movie I’m Not Ashamed (PG-13). See the Sonoma Christian Home interview with Rachel Scott’s mother, Beth Nimmo, who tells how our Lord prepared not only her daughter, but herself and has enabled her to work with high school students to avoid tragedies in their lives.
Priceless is another heroic movie based on true events. It is about a down-on-his luck man who drives a truck all night to earn some fast money, not knowing it contains human cargo for sale. When he discovers that his “cargo” is two sisters being sold into human trafficking, James must decide whether to walk away or stay and fight for these girls. This movie exposes the evils of the sex trade. Sonoma Christian Home provides a powerful interview for this movie with Luke Smallbone who, with his brother Joel, are a Grammy Award and Dove Award-winning Christian pop music duo, For King and Country.
Greater is an underdog football story and is also based on a true events. This film is about Brandon Burlsworth, who is considered one the greatest walk-on, non-scholarship players in college football history. In his small hometown, Burlsworth is mostly known for his horn-rimmed glasses and genuine character. With the support of his older brother, Marty, and their struggling single mom Barbara, Brandon walks on to the Arkansas Razorback team in 1994. He succeeds in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
Voiceless is about a recently discharged soldier, Jesse Dean. Jesse had a rough upbringing; but because of his wife, he has found God and is totally devoted to his faith. He and his wife move to Philadelphia for a job as an outreach leader at an old church whose membership has been declining. Everything goes well and he starts to connect to the community.
However, he discovers an abortion clinic directly across the street from the church. He goes to his church’s pastor and others in the church to get their help, but to no avail. He comes to a decisive point and gets involved with the abortion problem. However, the more involved he gets, the more resistance he gets from those in the church, community, and his wife. Finally, he makes a choice.
Disney presents Queen of Katwe. It has received many good reviews. It follows a Ugandan slum girl’s rise from a hopeless future to that of an international chess player. David Oyelowo (Selma) plays Robert Katende, a missionary and refugee of Uganda’s civil war who as a chess teacher sees potential in 9-year-old Phiona Mutesi. Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave) plays her mother.
In New Life, Erin Bethea who recently gave Sonoma Christian Home a lovely exclusive interview, plays a wife whose love story with her husband takes on the worst life can throw. “New Life follows Ben and Ava, who meet as children, marry as young adults, and together face what life brings,” Bethea says. “Audiences respond to seeing young love become something lasting and strong. We wanted to inspire audiences with love’s power, in any circumstance, to give strength and hope.” Director, Drew Waters also gives Sonoma Christian Home an exclusive interview in which he reveals the touching story behind the writing and producing of this movie.
To Joey With Love tells the incredible real-life story of Joey Feek. It was filmed as Joey battled cancer. Joey, her family, and friends laugh, smile, and cry through this amazing woman’s journey, as she says her goodbyes to her loving family.
Sonoma Christian Home provides an interview with a real Christian survivor of Deepwater Horizon who is depicted as a key character in the movie. This gripping film is about the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, which exploded during April 2010 and created the worst oil spill in U.S. history. This redemptive movie focuses on the real- life heroes and heroines in this disaster and includes prayer and divine provisions in the midst of danger, as does Sully.
Sonoma Christian Home presents another exclusive interview with the screenwriter for Sully in which he tells about relying on prayer to write the winning screenplay. Sully is about the “Miracle on the Hudson” in which Captain Sullenberger saved the lives of all his flight by landing in the Hudson River. Tom Hanks performs skillfully the everyman heroic captain, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.
Many good redemptive movies for various ages are in movie theaters for the first week of November. The top redemptive movie picks in theaters are the following: Hacksaw Ridge (R), I’m Not Ashamed (PG-13), Priceless (PG-13), Greater (PG), Voiceless (PG-13), Queen of Katwe (PG), Deepwater Horizon (PG-13), and Sully (PG-13). These movies present heroes and heroines who as role models show us the way we should go to experience redemptive Life that overcomes even danger and loss.
Continue to research and review movies before you see them. Don’t forget that what may seem innocent, may not be. Buyer beware. See further stories, reviews, and interviews about these movies here on Sonoma Christian Home.
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