| “An Interview With God” (2018) — movie review | |
| Today’s review is for the “religious” movie which ran in theaters for three days last year and which is currently appearing on Netflix: “An Interview With God” starring David Strathairn as God and Brenton Thwaites as a religious reporter / journalist Paul Asher who works at a non-sectarian newspaper. The other main characters are: Yael Grobglas as Paul’s estranged wife: Sarah Asher, Charlbi Dean as Sarah’s sister (Paul’s sister-in-law): Grace, and Hill Harper as Paul’s boss: Gary. Paul is suffering a crisis in faith after having spent an extended period in Afghanistan covering the war while embedded with combat troops. Paul is contacted and agrees to three half-hour interviews with someone who represents himself to be God. The “GOD”. The interview sessions are to be conducted over three days and at locations specified by God. | |
| The movie was sponsored by a conservative Christian who also paid to have the movie released nation-wide in a limited number of theaters – hence the limited three day run. Now, I did not know anything about the sponsor until after I’d seen the film and was doing research prior to writing this review. I gather both factors (limited release and sponsorship) contributed to the fact there were very few reviews of the film by “mainstream” film reviewers. I saw the movie preview last year, but never got to see the film in the cinema. When I saw it was running on Netflix, I thought I’d give it a look-see because I like spiritual films as long as they don’t try to beat me over the head with religion. This movie is definitively Judeo-Christian biased, but it is surprisingly more philosophical than “religious”. That is, it raises philosophical issues about God and the real world, but it doesn’t really try to convert you Christianity (which surprised me a little). | |
| Of the cast, Strathairn is relatively well known actor (Best Actor Oscar nomination for his Edward Murrow role in “Good Night, and Good Luck“. I have also seen and enjoyed his performances in numerous other roles in films and on TV. Thwaites is an Orlando Bloom look-alike, whom I gather is coming up through the Hollywood ranks as a heart-throb. I know Harper from his TV role in the series: “The Good Doctor” – and I like him in that series. The two females are (were) unknown to me. I felt all five actors gave very creditable performances in their respective roles. | |
| It is difficult to say too much about the movie because to do so would be to give away plot twists and the movie has only recently come onto Netflix so it would be unfair to spoil the movie given its very limited release. I will say it is a movie you have to both watch and listen to. The few reviews I have seen seemed (to me) to miss a number of points which explained / clarified other portions of the movie. Basically, they said: “What was this or that about?” My response: “Did you watch the movie?” | |
| So, is this a great movie? No, but it is thought provoking. Is it well written, acted, shot? Yes. Yes. And, yes. Is it a religious experience in and of itself? Give me a break… It’s just a movie. Do I intend to watch it again? Yes, as a matter of fact I do intend to and I’ve already spoken to two family members about it (recommending it to them). | |
| Final recommendation: Strong recommendation. I like Strathairn’s acting and he’s good in this role. I like thought provoking movies and this is one of those (for me anyway). I tend to enjoy movies about faith and humanity and this deals with both. At only about ninety minutes, this movie was actually a better investment in faith than attending Mass today. As sacrilegious as that may sound, I can (in my own defense) only offer a poem excerpt: | |
| God moves in a mysterious way | |
| His wonders to perform; | |
| He plants his footsteps in the sea, | |
| And rides upon the storm. | |
| … | |
| Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, | |
| But trust him for his grace; | |
| Behind a frowning providence | |
| He hides a smiling face. | |
| From the poem: “Light Shining Out of Darkness“, by William Cowper | |
| You can find the entire poem here. | |
| . | |
| On This Day In: | |
| 2018 | History Will Judge Harshly |
| Father Time, Perhaps? | |
| 2017 | Odds Are |
| 2016 | Prayer, Too |
| 2015 | History, n. |
| 2014 | See It Sometime |
| 2013 | Precious Friend |
| 2012 | It Couldn’t Be Done |
| Feeling Surrounded? | |
| 2011 | Surprise! |
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