Comments + Error

I rarely comment on movies since I usually see them long after "the crowd" and someone else has already made my point by the time I do. So it is a rare film that moves me enough to comment.

'(God's Army 2) States of Grace' is just such a movie. Few movies are so well-made and meaningful [in what I look for in a picture] and while some might bemoan this or that aspect, the characters are human and approachable. Director Richard Dutcher has a knack for story weaving and creates believable, understandable characters who could be living next door. This movie, while different from my life experience, isn't that different.

In listening to the Director's Commentary on the DVD, Dutcher challenges viewers to find what he first calls a 'continuity error' but then searches for another term which he never seems to find. In my first viewing, when Elder Farrell asks Holly for her "professional opinion" regarding Preacher Louis I thought to myself, "as what, a waitress?"

I am an amateur viewer of movies. While I haven't rated everything yet on IMDb, my list is well over 2000 features and short films, TV series, and documentaries. I would guess that there is some rule about referring to something as a plot point that is not shown or remotely referenced in the film. Granted, we are intelligent enough to fill in the blanks and I said to myself, "well, he must have seen her before the movie started when she had a role as a nurse." But some would contend that this is an error. Is it the one the Director referred to? Only he knows…

But don't let this suggest that I am really finding fault with this film. Granted, this film isn't for anyone who wants to see things blow up or likes easy entertainment. I might have done a couple things differently and I too would have liked to see what happened next -- but this is not my movie -- I thank Dutcher, cast and crew for giving us all such a wonderful jewel. I too can't wait to see 'Falling' and look forward to more work from Dutcher -- be the theme Mormon or Gentile.