MovieChat Forums > The Song (2014) Discussion > Faith based? Not so much (Contains Spoil...

Faith based? Not so much (Contains Spoilers)

posted 10 years ago by keithgate
11 replies | jump to latest

Although this movie, in its "pre-screening" version is a well enough made movie from an entertainment standpoint...considering it "faith-based" or a movie that should attract Christians, I fail to see it living up to those labels.

To the non-believer, unless they are told that this is a faith-based film, I would not expect them to find any relevant Biblical foundation to lead them towards Jesus Christ by what they see in this movie.

Jed's sins never really cost him much of anything...he was never really alone in his misery. After taking all the pills, the face he woke up to was his wife...granted she was there to give him her rings...but she didn't tell him to get his life right by Jesus Christ. He didn't turn to God when he hit bottom, he went to rehab to get clean physically and then went right back to the old life as soon as he was out.

The naiveté of Rose to be surprised to find out her husband was sleeping with Shelby made her character out to be a complete idiot, which was not how she was established in the beginning. Her character appeared to be "spiritual" just like Shelby was and not particularly Christian at all.

The foundation of a Christ-centered, Bible-believing church was never a part of the story either. And were it not for Jed's narration throughout the film, there would not have been one single Christian thing about the film.

The moral of the film would appear to be that of every other "singer that was good, turned bad, crashed, and was good again" genre that all the hero has to do in the end is say a few right things and sing a song that ties back to the beginning of the movie and the heroine will melt and turn right back. Where is God in any of that?

All that the non-believer that sees this film will likely take away is that apparently you can just lead a good life and still make it too heaven. The only redemption Jed seemed to find was through his own power...it wasn't prayer, it wasn't spending time in the Bible, it wasn't taking his family to church....but it was the same old fallacy of this world, implying that there are many ways to get to heaven...when there is only one way...through Him that is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...Jesus Christ.

[–] vickersatwork 10 years ago

Keithgate, thanks for reviewing this new movie. I think you and I have different expectations in what we are looking for in a story.

I get it that some people need a very elementary step-by-step presentation of the message of a book or movie. But must all movies that are created by believers be a cinematic version of a Jack Chick tract? I think not.

I love stories and great storytellers. C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo, Steven Lawhead, Andrew Peterson, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Charles MacDonald, Veggie Tales creator Phil Vischer, even John Grisham (The Testament) and countless others tell stories of redemption that are not glorified re-tellings of the plan of salvation. But they get us thinking about the Big Questions and they can and do change lives. I had a classmate in college who became a believer as a result of watching the movie "Brian's Song", not exactly an Evangelical classic.

Even Jesus told stories to people that were not step-by-step guides to salvation. His own disciples often came to Him and said "What does this mean?" He challenged them to THINK. I love that!

City On A Hill's mission statement reads "Story is the language of our hearts. Media is the language of our times. We use both to share Jesus with the world."
Once again, I understand that some people like having things laid out for them in an uncomplicated manner. But I like to be challenged. Some of my best learning comes from stories and people that I disagree with. (Not that I disagree with anything in this film.)

Here are my grades for the movie:

Plot: B
Script: A+
Characters: A
Acting: A
Editing: B
Cinematography: C
Music: A+
Plan of Salvation Step by Step Presentation: F
Scripture: A+ (I have only seen two movies with more verbatim Scripture in them; The Jesus Film (1979) and The Gospel According to Matthew (1993)

In the spirit of full disclosure I must confess that my daughter is employed by City on a Hill. She had nothing to do with the making of this film, but they are her employer and I cannot be totally objective. Sorry this is so long. Thanks for your indulgence.

[–] keithgate 10 years ago

Thanks for your reply to my review.

In regards to this story in particular, having been approached as a church Pastor (or in my case more specifically, as one of the deacons of the church that my pastor invited my wife and I to attend with them), and also considering all the pre-publicity material we were directed to before the screening, the video introduction the preceded the film, and the follow-up video that encouraged us to "buy out a showing" from our church...I expected not the "step-by-step" story you described, but at least a modicum of anything scriptural over above the narration of scripture by the lead character.

As I said in my review, as a movie, it was entertaining and I thought pretty well done. But it is the marketing of this movie that causes me to wonder why it is being billed as "faith based".

I agree that many movie makers like the ones you referenced can and do tell stories of redemption. I would call those type of movies "little R" type of redemptive movies...those which make the point of 'living a good life'. A movie that is being marketed specifically to Christians and churches should contain at least SOME reference to a "big R" type of redemption...a Christ-focused type of Redemption.

How easy would it have been to show characters praying earnestly? Or to have ANY kind of discussion about the "big R" type of Redemption that Jed needed in his life? All of that could easily have been done without having to go step-by-step down the Roman's Road...but at least a few steps down that path would have been refreshing to be acknowledged in a "faith based" film.

I am merely critical that the way this movie is going to be marketed does not meet the qualifications of it being a particularly "Christian" film. I take exception with asking Christians to help make this movie "successful" and leaving any part of Christ's true redemption story out of the movie.

As I said several times, it was entertaining, but I thought Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line" had been done before fairly well, and that's really all I saw when I watched this movie.

[–] vickersatwork 10 years ago

Keithgate,

I love learning stuff and had never encountered the terms "big R" and "little r" redemption. Great concept. I'm definitely stealing that.

Your thoughts on the marketing of "The Song" were well expressed. I think City On A Hill would be interested in your thoughts as expressed in your reply and I feel they would be receptive to those ideas, should this film be successful enough for them to get another go in the world of big-time theatrical cinema. I will contact them and ask them to read your comments.

Blessings on your ministry and your family.

S.D.G.

[–] Hanz-Willhelm 10 years ago

I've seen the previews. Go ahead and spoil for me, I don't mind. Does the singer guy end up sexually betraying his wife or does he just come close but turn away? If he actually goes all the way than I don't really want to see this film.

Deutschland hat die Weltmeisterschaft zum vierten Mal gewonnon!

[–] mikevickers-2 10 years ago

"The singer guy" (a modern day King Solomon) does exactly what Solomon and his daddy, King David, did. He sexually betrays his wife. "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired. I refused my heart no pleasure. -Ecclesiastes 2:10"

If you are asking how explicit this scene is, it is as explicit as when Rhett carried Scarlett up that winding staircase in "Gone With the Wind". No more, no less.

The Song does not glorify infidelity. Instead it shows the carnage such decisions leave in a way one seldom sees in today's movies. And it offers realistic, lasting hope.

[–] Hanz-Willhelm 10 years ago

Yeah, I have no interest in this then. Why do I want to see a film about a guy who has a happy marriage and a loving wife and him go off and screw some other woman. I have better things to do. Since I know the film will anger me, I'll not choose to see it. I only hope the lady divorces that piece of (fictional) crap. It's not one of those, let's stay together through an affair stories I hope.

I'm not a fan of tragedy's. I'm pissed for reading The Mockingjay (SPOILER AHEAD) The entire Hunger Games trilogy is based on Katnis volunteering for the hunger games to save her young little sister. I would have never read the stupid series if I knew they were going to get to the last chapter of the last book and suddenly have the little sister get killed out of the blue. I don't like tragedy's. I don't purposefully try and get myself upset. I like to feel better after a movie not pissed off.

Thanks for the heads up.

Deutschland hat die Weltmeisterschaft zum vierten Mal gewonnon!

[–] dini0519 10 years ago

I agree. Wasn't inspiring. The badly written and acted movie was just laughable. God is not Dead and Heaven is for Real were not perfect, but they were both worth watching. I saw The Song for free and wish I could get a refund on the waste of time.
Dini

[–] bjp249249 9 years ago

Yawn

[–] wyldeone2 8 years ago

The moral of the film would appear to be that of every other "singer that was good, turned bad, crashed, and was good again" genre that all the hero has to do in the end is say a few right things and sing a song that ties back to the beginning of the movie and the heroine will melt and turn right back. Where is God in any of that?

The OP makes a good case for the most part. I hadn't seen any previews or reviews before watching last night via rental DVD. The movie seemed more about bleakness or weakness and despair. Suffering through life via scripture narration (by his conscience as god) and guilt for being a human doing human things. And being torn between the earnings from his career vs staying home with his wife and doing what? She seemed frigid and never up to his lust for her. She knew nothing about music which should have been his first clue that they weren't a good match for life since his career path was music and performance.

They may have been able to live off the earnings from her fathers vineyard but he was not an experienced farmer. No other workers were shown besides his wife and her dad but I am sure they had some. Farming is hard work, especially grapes being susceptible to black spot mold. So where was his fulfillment from work supposed to have came from? His carpentry skills? They never mentioned going to heaven either. It is implied that if you marry and have kids (they only showed the son happy), that is your heaven (hell was not implied) on earth ... then you die, just like Soloman knew and did.

His original music was mediocre lyrically and melodically and nothing I would want on a CD. Had it not been for Shelby's fiddle playing bringing it to a more upbeat mood I would have rated it a 4 instead of 6. I get it that she was supposed to represent the devil on the mountain or the serpent to Eve. I was waiting for them to break into "Devil Went Down To Georgia" to hammer their meaning home. Jed's cover of the Byrds song Turn, Turn, Turn was not good either.

Don't get me wrong on the music because I do like a good ballad sometimes as well as up beat music. There just was not any good ballads in it. Nor did his Mormon/Amish looking beard help him hide from the fact that he was not as good musically as his made up father character was.
_____

Just try to stay alive and see what the next minute brings.

[–] ckimsey-1 8 years ago

Keithgate agree with all you said. But, I saw it as a movie that implied that the husband and wife both had faith based upbringings and knew Jesus. The moral of the story is to CHRISTIANS more than non Christians. It is a warning to Christians that our behavior will drive us to or away from God.

[–] joy_wilday 8 years ago

I think what most people miss is this movie at least in my opinion is meant for a certain audience. The couple on the film were young and newly married (within five years). He chased after what pleased his desires, so marriage, music, money, fans. He had never fully surrendered to God. He never had the understanding that only God can fulfill your deepest desires. So he chased after things the whole movie. This movie whether you all care to acknowledge it or not is EXTREMELY important for young married folks. My husband and I are young and newly married. We lead a young adults Bible Study and this mindset is exactly what people encourage in most circles (Even so called Christian) A person will get married believing it's fulfilling them and when it doesn't they keep searching. I'd encourage any young married person (or any age) to watch this. It's not of course how everyone's life may go, but it's a good Biblical example of what a life of chasing after the wind looks like. You think you can go a certain direction and then just stop, but when the devil gets you caught, you only get deeper into addictions and sins. People need to realize that our purpose in this life isn't our careers, family, selves. It's glorifying God! He reads that verse at the very end and I'm surprised that anyone would say there wasn't any "Christian" aspect to it considering he was quoting scripture the ENTIRE movie. Can't get much clearer than that. The Word is the most powerful witnessing tool, Gods own words. I encourage those who disliked it to understand that God placed this message on the creators hearts. They wanted to share this Biblical truth with others and they did. If only one couple was helped by this, the job is worthwhile. Many couples were helped and their eyes opened to the pointlessness of the cravings of the flesh. You may not feel this story helped you, but maybe that's because it was meant for someone else.