"The abnegation of reason is not the evidence of faith, but the confession of despair."
- J.B. Lightfoot
Saturday, March 14, 2009
I finally watched Fireproof last night. When watching this movie, it's easy to tell that it was made on a very low budget ($500,000), and that many of the actors are not professionals.
I absolutely loved it.
You can read further conversation on this movie in Bird's post. If you're distracted by less than top-notch acting, directing, or cinematography, this movie may not be for you. But if you can get past that, you might find something valuable in it. While many have criticized the quality of the work, the fact that it was produced by a church (who has used the profits to build a recreational center for their small Georgia town) impresses.
In the CNN article linked in the previous paragraph, Variety magazine says it is "as sincere, uncynical and subtlety-free as a Sunday school lecture". Perhaps. But I, for one, have had my fill of the insincere, cynical culture we live in. And I push back against the charge that it didn't have subtlety. Yes, I knew how the overall arc of the story would play out (I know that in most movies, and so do you), it still surprised me in its pacing and its moments of tension and uncertainty.
Though much of the acting was not at professional quality, I think Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea turned in good, and at times great, performances.
I've heard Christians (who haven't seen the movie) complain about the "name it and claim it" aspects of the film. It's obvious to me that they don't know what they are talking about. Perhaps they are confused with Sherwood Baptist's sophomore effort Facing the Giants, which certainly had those elements. I see none of that in Fireproof. There is never a hint of "Do these things and God will restore your marriage." The lead character has to learn to love with no guarantees, persevering in the face of rejection and with his marriage all but doomed.
Finally, I've heard criticisms (in this space, by a commenter who admitted not having seen it) of the "paint by numbers redemption story" in Fireproof. This entire movie is about redemption, and, paint by numbers or no, it's a story I've seen played out in real life in the marriages of people I know. God can save a marriage, and that's one of the most beautiful things He does. I can understand, I guess, why pockets of our overly cool, cynical, relevant and worldly Christian culture are embarrassed by that.
I will take redemption any day of the week. Paint it by numbers, paint it free-form, heck, fingerpaint it, I don't care. I'll take redemption any way I can get it: small portions, big portions, box it up, serve it up hot or cold. I'm going back for seconds. I love redemption in all instances. Redemption always reminds me of the rescue-mission of Jesus, and His great redemption of those He has called as His own. I can't get tired of that!
I'll take redemption, served with sincerity, a lack of cynicism, and vast personal effort by a church-based production company. Especially when it results in a story as beautiful and inspiring as Fireproof.
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Comments on "Fireproof":
2. Chestertonian Rambler
- 03/14/2009 12:19 pm CDT
Not a huge fan of Fireproof, but I will say this:
In my book, it was incredibly directed, at least on the acting side of things. The actors (especially supporting), as has been noted, were not top-class. But I've rarely seen a movie when bad acting was as ignorable--simply because the director knew exactly what to do with his limited resources.
Fireproof also seems to "cheat" a lot less than most movies; it's not my cup of tea, but I didn't feel emotionally violated and manipulated as I'd expected.
3. Bill
- 03/14/2009 12:24 pm CDT
I agree, CR. Many times during the movie I thought "Ok, here's where the reconciliation happens". I wanted it to happen. But Caleb's character was rebuffed, time and again - because in real life people don't just fling away seven years of abuse and neglect because someone brings them flowers.
I thought it was very well played.
And the scene where he asked for forgiveness was masterful. And even better because he didn't receive it right then.
4. nhe
- 03/14/2009 3:39 pm CDT
I agree, CR. Many times during the movie I thought "Ok, here's where the reconciliation happens". I wanted it to happen. But Caleb's character was rebuffed, time and again - because in real life people don't just fling away seven years of abuse and neglect because someone brings them flowers.
Its interesting that you mention this Bill as one of the knocks on the 3 movies these guys have done is that they're a tad "rose-colored" in their perspective........become a Christian and have a happy life.
I actually agree with the this criticism. If you mark the time from which Caleb actually "becomes" a Christian in the film, his life is pretty happy.
Most of the rebuff comes earlier in the film.
Kendrick tends to be a tad Jesus=happy life for me.
5. Bill
- 03/14/2009 4:13 pm CDT
I actually agree with the this criticism. If you mark the time from which Caleb actually "becomes" a Christian in the film, his life is pretty happy.
Why did you put the word "becomes" in scare quotes?
I wouldn't trade my life with Christ for the world. I guess this is one of my critiques of much of the God blogosphere (although to bring it up invites getting shouted down and probably stomped on). Why would anyone want to become a Christian after reading us?
Kendrick tends to be a tad Jesus=happy life for me.
Jesus does equal a happy life, for me at least. I didn't say easy. But I'm a LOT happier with Christ than without him. I hope you are too.
I never dreamed other people who are Christians felt differently until I got into the blogosphere. A lot of what I read almost sounds like "Stay away from my Jesus. He (or, more often, his awful followers) will make you miserable".
I don't get that. That's not been my experience.
Now, of course, I don't believe that being a Christian means less trouble. And I don't teach that either. It's impossible to teach the Bible seriously and fool people into thinking God solves all their earthly troubles. In fact, if we live for Christ we should have more trouble. But we also are changed internally, and learn how to be content and trusting in the midst of terrible times.
In the context and subject of this movie, YES, I believe getting right with God makes for a happier marriage. I'm baffled that people don't think that.
If it wasn't for Jesus, I don't know where I'd be. I wouldn't be married to my wife, that's for sure (would never have even met her). Which means I'd be miserable.
"Most of the rebuff comes earlier in the film."
She served him divorce papers after he had become a Christian. I never got the thought that everything became rosy after he came to Christ. The main thing that changed was him (which, of course, resulted in better times ahead).
6. Michele
- 03/14/2009 4:44 pm CDT
We loved it, too. Yes, it was artless, uncomplicated, sort of like a flannel-graph telling a true story; But, there was something so sweet about the way this church was confident enough in the power of the gospel, not in their own talents, to want to tell this story.
To watch the bonus material was very touching--the folks praying on their knees everyday, Kirk thrilled to be there, totally humble, hanging with all the folks. I felt like I was at a potluck or something.
A little trivia: John MacArthur went to a screening as Kirk Cameron's guest and hadn't been to a show in a theatre in 30 years. At the most critical moments of the film, Pastor M would lean over and make totally insensitive comments. When Caleb is crying and asking for forgiveness, he whispered something like, "Now, are these paid actors, or do they volunteer, and is that house a set, or a real one?" Poor Kirk, totally nervous and vulnerable, and sort of funny the great pastor is just not that sensitive. He should've brought Frances Schaeffer.
7. nhe
- 03/14/2009 6:29 pm CDT
Michele...that is a tad troubling (though funny) to hear about John MacArthur.
Bill - I have a happy life too - poor choice of words, sorry.
Quite simply, in each of Kendrick's three films, resolution happens too neatly for my taste. The first two even felt a little prosperity gospel to me - this one didn't, but it still just made me uncomfortable, even though I like the 40 day concept a lot and even though I teared up at the end.
I think I would have really liked this film if it took place in New Jersey and Caleb's father was played by James Gandolfini. I'm serious. I couldn't get past the father in the film - WAY too sappy-southern for me.......that's a "me" problem though.
I have to admit to that I was put off when Cameron announced at the movie's premiere (my wife was there live) that they flew in his wife to be a stand-in for the kissing scene at the end of the movie. I thought it was great that Cameron had that conviction and did that - that's awesome - but announcing it to everyone at the premier feels very self-promoting to me. If someone else associated with the film had mentioned it, it would have been much more appropriate.
I heard about that before I saw the film, so I went into the film with a bit of a bad attitude.
I guess bottom line, if I had my choice about what kind of movie I want to view with non-Christians as a jumping off point to discussing the gospel, I wouldn't pick this one. I'd much rather go with "The Passion" or even "The Shawshank Redemption" or "The Matrix".
Fire Proof was a nice movie to see with my wife on Valentines Day though.......but I wouldn't want to export it to the world as an example of what a good Christian film should look like.
I'm not sure why I put "becomes" in quotes......maybe a Freudian slip as to how I truly feel about decision based salvation.
8. Bill
- 03/14/2009 7:38 pm CDT
I hear you nhe. And I'm not fighting with you, though I'm sure it seems like it. You strike nerves with me, but not necessarily in a bad way. You're one of my fav commenters.
On the Cameron announcement. . . some grace possibly? If I was an actor and had a policy of only kissing my wife, I might want people to know that too. Not as a self-promotion, but just . . . because. So they'd know my wife has all of me. I dunno.
Fire Proof was a nice movie to see with my wife on Valentines Day though.......but I wouldn't want to export it to the world as an example of what a good Christian film should look like.
To each his own. With each movie they produce, they get closer to something that can hang with the big boys. If their budget had been five million instead of $500,000 they could have hired some more professional actors and it would have been better.
I wouldn't, by the way, take someone to any movie in hopes that it would be a jumping off place for the gospel. I've had bad, bad experiences trying to do that in the distant past when I was a young, clueless but fervent Campus Life guy. There are people who may not be in the Kingdom because of one particular stupid move I made (a concert I took some non-Christian kids who trusted me to that got out of hand vis a vis people speaking in tongues, etc). I will always, always regret that. My ministry to those kids fell apart after that.
I guess I'm gun-shy. I'm not sure how taking someone to see The Matrix is a jumping off point either, but I'm sure some have used it that way. I can't imagine someone calling out to Christ after seeing it (not that it's not a good, thought-provoking flick), but all kinds of things happen, I suppose.
I also remember what it was like to not be a Christian. I think sometimes we think that non-Christians are way more sophisticated than they really are. In other words, we're more embarrassed of our self and our bros and sisters than we need to be.
I dunno - this is a big subject for me, but I don't remember ever, when being exposed to early 80s CCM or some of the other Christian stuff back then (Carmen, anyone?) of thinking "this is cheesy". I was a music snob and felt like I had good taste in movies, but what I saw in Christians back then just didn't strike me as embarrassing. It just didn't enter that part of my brain - I reacted to things of God with a different part of my mind than the part that critiqued Rush records. I can't explain why.
I can picture someone with a troubled marriage being absolutely inspired by Fireproof, whether they were a believer or not. But who am I to say?
I do think that there will never be a time when many Christians who currently are embarrassed by Christian art will come around and call something good. Because as soon as a Christian does something artistic that rises above the level of "good", these same people are at great pains to explain that that person "isn't a Christian artist, but is rather an artist who just happens to be a Christian".
In other words, no win situation.
I'm babbling a bit here. Hope I'm not offending - not meaning to. This subject just has never made any sense to me.
Fireproof isn't the best movie in the world (although it's one of the best I've seen in the past 12 months, not that that's saying much). But I don't think that a person turned off by Fireproof will somehow come to the gospel if given a more artistically excellent (if far more veiled) gospel-tinged work.
As you have noticed (through many conversations here on Thinklings) this doesn't compute with me. I realize I'm in the minority, of course.
10. Lauren
- 03/14/2009 10:26 pm CDT
my fiance and I recently watched it on dvd. At first it was very painful to get through the very bad acting and cinematography. But once we stopped watching to be entertained and started watching to see the story progress we both LOVED it. I never saw facing the giants and I have no care to see it.
I do have a question though, I heard that Kirk Cameron had decided to never kiss another woman other than his wife..so did his wife step in for that kiss or was that just a rumor?
11. Molly
- 03/14/2009 11:06 pm CDT
The woman he kissed at the end was his real-life wife.
Dad - this whole conversation reminds me of GG - "Christians can rock! *throws up rock symbol*"
13. nhe
- 03/15/2009 1:34 am CDT
Bill - I feel really misunderstood and its my own fault. I said "view with non-Christians" but I don't do that. I don't take non-Christians to movies and then discuss. But I have gotten into some great conversations with non-Christians about some of the movies I mentioned above. I just think they make for an easier bridge to the gospel than something like Fire Proof, that's all. I didn't seek out those conversations, they just happen......we didn't go to the movie together, just discussed them. I had a great conversation with a guy at work about Christian hope in Shawshank - we got much further than when we debated creationism ad naseum. That same guy would be extremely critical of Fire Proof - I guess some of this is according to the circles we find ourselves in.
Its funny that you mention Carmen, he's actually a good example. I think I find Fire Proof cheesy now in much the same way that I found Carmen cheesy back then. I've always been more of a fan of the outcasts like Larry Norman.
Regarding Cameron mentioning the scene with his wife: I see your point about making his wife feel special - that's valid. I was just struck by it being similar to a Christian getting up and announcing he doesn't drink to a room full of 5,000 Christians (which was in his audience). In each case, its an unsolicited broadcast of a personal conviction. Whenever someone does that, I feel that they're really just talking more about how everyone else (or in this case, other Christian actors) should behave like they do. I get uncomfortable with unsolicited broadcasts of personal convictions that others might have a different Biblical take on.
Also, much of this is style preference I think. I'd be much more likely to enjoy a low budget film by a Northern Presbyterian and than a Southern Baptist......the former is just more my peeps.
14. Bird
- 03/15/2009 10:12 am CDT
In each case, its an unsolicited broadcast of a personal conviction. Whenever someone does that, I feel that they're really just talking more about how everyone else (or in this case, other Christian actors) should behave like they do.
That may be the case, but we'll never know the intent of Cameron's heart. If he's holding it up as a "you-should-be-like-me" standard, than he's got a problem, but we have no idea.
I'll say again, I loved this movie. Like Bill it was one of the best movies I've seen the past 12 months. It resonated with me on so many levels, and I didn't even get distracted with the bad acting.
15. Bill
- 03/15/2009 1:48 pm CDT
nhe,
Bill - I feel really misunderstood and its my own fault.
Nah, it's my fault. You're just caught in the crossfire of one of my big hobbyhorses. Sorry
Its funny that you mention Carmen, he's actually a good example.
Yes - and that was kind of my point. When I was a new believer I didn't "catch" how cheesy he was. I think it's because I wasn't thinking about it that way. In fact, his stuff was very edifying to me. I'm probably alone on that, but this is one reason I tend to always take the contra anytime people are slamming away at some artist (movies, music, etc) that they consider an embarrassment to Christianity.
Not that they can't be. I'm just not as quick to write it off. I know too many genuine people who are blessed greatly by movies like Fireproof and by music that even I don't like.
I get what you're saying about the southernness of this movie. It's based in Albany, Georgia, so not surprising. But I can understand how that might not resonate so well with you.
Thanks for the conversation, nhe, and I apologize if I've been unfair.
16. Shrode
- 03/15/2009 3:13 pm CDT
On Carmen:
Me too! I was blessed and helped a lot by his music early on in my Christianity. Then I went through a period where I mocked him...but I'm over that now. :) I'm glad for him.
(I had "The Champion" memorized and could perform it in it's entirety as a one man show. Unfortunately, only my very closest family members ever saw it. It won't be showing up on youtube. :)
18. Michele
- 03/16/2009 6:02 pm CDT
I'll come out of the closet, too; In the 80s, we were way into Carmen--unabashadly--used to make people sit down on the couch and play that monologue (where he acted like he was the devil delighting in killing Jesus, and then gets totally blown away when he gets up again) full blast, innocent delight on our new-believing faces. Oh, to be that uncynical again!!!
20. Bill
- 03/16/2009 9:31 pm CDT
Oh, to be that uncynical again!!!
I loved that song.
"If you're asking where the Lord is
At this very hour
I tell you He's alive and WELL
WITH RESURRECTION POWER!!!!!"
Awesome.
22. Brian in Spring
- 03/24/2009 1:37 pm CDT
I absolutely loved it! It moved me to tears. That isn't something that happens often in movies. When the Who's of Whoville gather and sing around the spot that use to contain their Christmas tree and when Frodo leaves Sam are two examples that really move me.
I saw Fireproof with my wife and we both loved it. It reminded me that sacrificing for her is not something that I should wait for an imminent crisis to begin. What an awesome message?
I believe if all of the donated sets, time, etc were included in, the "true" budget would be much more than $500k. It was a whole town coming together to accomplish something huge for a cause (preserving marriages) of which I am a HUGE proponent.
I love acting in dramas/plays whatever and I enjoy watching the same. Yes, some actors can do a truly "bad" job, but most of the time they are just more or less effective at communicating an intended emotion (i.e. takes more imagination for the watcher ;-). I found all of the actors to be at least effective in that regard and in some cases really good. (For really "bad" acting, see Star Bores episodes 1-3).
This is probably the only movie, besides LOTR, that I have recommended in the last 15 years.
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You're the man, Bill! As you know, I loved it too.