March 2011 – ‘The Grace Card’ movie debuts with high marks
Another Christian-based, shoestring-budget, but stunning film came to the big screen when The Grace Card debuted February 25. The poignant story illustrates forgiveness and grace as it traces tragedy, bitterness, a vengeful spirit, racism, prejudice and finally, victory through the life of Memphis police officer Bill (“Mac”)McDonald. Along the way, overwhelming challenges and tense, nail-biting plot twists hold our attention.

Early in the story we learn that Mac’s troubles had begun years earlier when he went off the deep end emotionally upon the death of his five-year-old son.

Back to the present, Mac’s marriage is in trouble and his relationship to his teenage son hangs by a thread. Sam Wright, an African-American, bi-vocational pastor, is assigned as Mac’s new partner. Though Mac resents Sam’s talk about his faith, Sam is one important bridge to help Mac get his life back on the right track.

Some startling ironies and creative story elements sneak up on the viewer, adding depth and suspense to the film.

AFA commends producers for their sensitivity to concerns about language. When an early screener of the film was available, AFA notified a publicist that the movie included one use of God’s name that, by our standards, is unacceptable.

In one scene, Mac used the phrase, “for God’s sake” in an intense dialogue when he spoke not out of respect for God, but out of sheer anger.

After calling that to the attention of Provident Films, distributor of the movie, an immediate response came back: “If it’s that important to AFA, then it’s that important to us,” and AFA has been assured that the offending phrase was edited from the film.

“Finally, producers and filmmakers are listening to families and Christian customers,” said AFA president Tim Wildmon. “That’s no small thing for us, and we are grateful to Graceworks and Provident Films.”

Dr. David Evans, a Memphis optometrist, founded Graceworks Pictures to produce The Grace Card. Evans has been writing, directing and producing the annual Passion Play at Calvary Church in Cordova, Tennessee, for 15 years. As his interest in drama grew, he recognized the need for films with a Christian foundation, and in 2009 he began writing this screenplay. For a debut project, it’s a remarkable achievement on all levels. We hope to see more from Evans and Graceworks.
Review by Randall Murphree

Where the Red Fern Grows
Bridgestone Multimedia Group has re-released the classic 1974 film Where the Red Fern Grows, and a 1992 sequel, Where the Red Fern Grows, Part II. Both movies have received the Dove Foundation’s “family approved” seal. However, parents should be aware that the stories deal realistically and emotionally with such issues as poverty and death.

Both stories are told against the backdrop of a Christian worldview. Characters openly acknowledge God’s providence in trials and blessing. In more than one instance, Scripture is read and prayer is offered, once “in Jesus name.”

Christian parents who teach their children about the sufficiency of Christ in salvation may sense a need to qualify the repeated theme that we must “meet God half way.” The closing scene in Part II attempts to do that.

The original story focuses on a Depression era family whose son, 12-year-old Billy Coleman, dreams of owning his own ’coon hunting dogs. One of the elements that Christian parents will applaud is the portrayal of Billy’s relationship with his family, particularly his father and grandfather. The film co-stars famed actors James Whitmore and Beverly Garland.

Part II, based on a screenplay, picks up on Billy’s life as he returns home from World War II. During the war Billy has lost his leg and is somewhat bitter about his circumstances. Although the story is enjoyable and satisfying, it is not as cohesive as the original.

Wilford Brimley co-stars as Billy’s grandfather and Lisa Whelchel as his sister, Sara. Part II also contains a romantic storyline and includes two scenes in which Sara and Rainie, Billy’s war buddy, kiss.
Review by Rusty Benson

Pro-life pair of films have gripping stories, weak production quality
Two pro-life films – Mama’s Plan and Mama’s Plan II: The Reconciliation – have their dramatic moments and they serve the pro-life cause well. The gripping, emotional story line is the strongest element in both titles, but the intensity merits caution, especially for younger viewers.

The first DVD combines a mix of interviews along with the movie itself. Interviews include a volunteer firefighter, a woman with a baby she can’t care for at a safe haven, a mom who gave her child up for adoption and a teenage mother who kept her child.

Pregnancy resource centers and the Girls and Boys Town Hotline (800-448-3000) are given prominent attention.

The story opens with a sad scenario portraying a 16-year-old mother of twins. She had been raised by her alcoholic Uncle Harold who abused her physically, verbally and apparently sexually.

At age 13, she runs away from her uncle to live on the streets where she learns to lie, steal and be a hooker. Eventually, a young law student takes her home and appears to truly care for her for a long period of time.

Predictably, she becomes pregnant and they begin arguing often. He takes her to the hospital to have her twins and abandons her there.

When she is released from the hospital, she assures the nurses her boyfriend is coming to pick her up. But after a long wait, she gives up and is caught in the desperate act of putting her babies in a dumpster. She is tried and sentenced to prison as an adult. The closing scene has lingering shots of her bloody face lying on the prison floor after other inmates have beaten her. The obvious moral: sin has its consequences.

Redemptive value is found in the second film. It opens with that same bloody scene where the first film ended.

Then it skips ahead 19 years when she comes face to face with many of the people from her pre-prison life. She is reconciled to those who had brought pain into her life as a child and teenager.

The ironic twists and turns take the viewer by surprise – lending appeal to the gripping plot, and again the intense story keeps a viewer’s interest.

The films are produced by Promise-heart. The weakest element of these movies is the production quality.
Review by Randall Murphree

Walmart, P&G bring great family film to Fox
The fourth Family Moments movie, Change of Plans, bank-rolled by Walmart and Procter and Gamble, aired on Fox television Saturday, January 8. The two corporate giants are making good on the promise made early last year when they announced plans for the Family Moments series to produce family-friendly movies for television.

Change of Plans is the story of Jason Danville, a career-oriented aeronautical engineer, and his wife Sally, a rising star in the music industry.

With no children – and no plans to have any, both on the fast track to professional success and acclaim, the Danvilles pretty much have their future scripted and under control, That is, until Sally’s long time friend Teresa and her husband, missionaries in Uganda, die in a plane crash. In Teresa’s will, she named Sally as guardian of her children if anything ever happened to the missionary couple.

Sally and Jason reluctantly accept the challenge to assume temporary custody until suitable adoptive parents can be found to take all four children. Jordan, 15 and the oldest, is the only child by birth. Her younger siblings include Javier, Kaleb and Sung Lee, all adopted from Third World countries.

Predictably, Jason and Sally fall in love with the kids, but still contend they are not parent material, especially when both have unexpected opportunities to move to the next level in their careers.

A subtle but strong theme emphasizes the value of children and family, and there is no offensive language or content. The movie stars Joe Flanigan (Stargate: Atlantis), Brooke White (American Idol) and Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show).

Family Moments movie number five, Truth Be Told, is under production at present, and Walmart spokesman Ben Simon said that beginning with its airing in April, he foresees a monthly release of decent family films. He said Walmart’s goal is to change the dialog from “We’re going to boycott what’s bad” to “We’re going to produce and support what’s good.”

“That’s really all we’ve ever asked of the movie industry,” AFA president Tim Wildmon said. “We just want clean, decent, family-friendly entertainment.”
Review by Randall Murphree