It will probably hurt the box office performance. I was actually surprised (although maybe I shouldn't have been) at the number of my fellow Catholics I have heard say the R-rating is a turn off for them. Many have families too and don't like that they won't be able to see it with their young children.
I thought it was great though. The point of the film is redemption, and it's very gritty and realistic. There is tough stuff in this movie. Not for the faint at heart.
Although you will leave feeling inspired, its not a sugar coated version of Christianity, where if you trust in God all of your problems go away.
Quite the opposite. The film is summed up by Father Stu's line in the end that "we shouldn't pray for an easy life, but the strength to endure a difficult one."
It may lack the commercial appeal that will give it an instant "pop" so to speak, but this movie will be widely viewed for years to come. It's a very well made and important film.
Audience scores are currently 96%.
The theater wasn't super full at my showing, but it wasn't empty either.
This movie won't have to make a ton of money to be successful. It didn't cost that much.
It will have legs, if not in theater, beyond.
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BeaSouth (2800)
2 years ago
The final scene involving the confession Father Stu took from the priest he disliked, Father Jacob, was very very compelling and well acted. I’m still trying to really understand the meaning especially the reference to which father and son Stu was talking about. Was he talking about God or his own father / Jacob’s father (who forced him into the priesthood) when he said, “Whether by offering his son, or for watching one die, a father's just looking for love, like the rest of us. Imagine how it must've felt for Joseph...to be the less important father.” I think the script intended it to be ambiguous but the message to Father Jacob was to forgive his own dad and try to have sympathy for dads who make mistakes with their sons.
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