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The fine people of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, pulled off a nearly impossible feat this year. They accomplished something that would have been unthinkable just a couple of years ago.
What did they do? They produced a feature-length motion picture that was picked up and released by a major Hollywood distributor. The staff and congregation nurtured resident talent, pooled their resources and made a movie. An honest-to-goodness-you-can-see-it-in-a-theater-near-you-movie. They did an admirable job, too.
The movie’s title, Facing The Giants, is also an apt description of what the self-professed amateur filmmakers did. A mostly volunteer crew and all volunteer cast joined forces to tackle one of the most labor-intensive of all enterprises: physical production of a movie.
While the Baptists were making their film in relative obscurity, a highly touted studio-backed project was wrapping up in Los Angeles. Stranger Than Fiction, written by Zach Helm, had been a hotly pursued script in Hollywood. The production boasted an experienced and distinguished crew. An impressive cast signed on including Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, Maggie Gyllenhall and Queen Latifah. But there is something more noteworthy than budgets or the level of Industry support that differentiates these two films.
I saw Stranger Than Fiction and Facing the Giants within a few days of each other. I dislike using the word as an adjective but it seems appropriate here to say that I found Fiction to be a more authentically “Christian” film than Giants.
Facing the Giants is about a high school football coach who has not had a winning season in six years. His discovery that disgruntled parents are plotting to have him fired stirs an already brewing crisis of confidence. Then, as if his manhood hasn’t taken enough hits, his doctor informs the beleaguered coach that he’s the reason his wife can’t get pregnant. Coach Taylor emerges from this crucible with newfound faith and a new game plan for his team. I’m not giving anything away by telling you that at this point everything in the coach’s life improves in miraculous proportions.
The official website for Facing the Giants has numerous endorsements from celebrities, sports figures, evangelical leaders and average moviegoers. Among the quotes found on the website is this jewel: "The storyline was right on it: with God, all things are possible. There is a lesson for all that can be learned from what we saw. Hopefully the word can be spread and Hollywood will get the idea. This is one of the few movies that you wouldn't mind Jesus sitting next to you and sharing the popcorn." (No attribution for this quote is given on the website.)
As long as we’re invoking the image of going to the movies with Jesus, I’d love to hear what he has to say about Stranger Than Fiction. I’d spring for his ticket.
Stranger Than Fiction is the story of Harold Crick, a solitary IRS auditor who leads a humdrum life until two extraordinary things happen: First, he becomes aware that his life is being “written” by an author whose voice he suddenly begins to overhear narrating his daily activities. This goes from disturbing to alarming when the narrator announces that Harold is going to die. Then he falls in love with a passionate, empathetic, sensuous woman whom he is auditing. Now that he has something, or more accurately someone, to live for he sets out to find the author in the hope that he can extend his life.
Like a parable Fiction introduces characters and situations that engage the imagination and foment questions. The elements are familiar enough that we don’t feel lost; unexpected enough that we’re given an opportunity to think about life and death in fresh ways. Director Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland) on what drew him to the project: “I saw 'Stranger Than Fiction' as the story of a man who's been asleep for most of his life and suddenly wakes up and realizes he has very little time left and that he has to do something we all would like to do in some way—change our story. I thought it was a fantastic script, a very funny comedy with heart and soul."
Facing the Giants doesn’t tell a story so much as it builds a case. The people who made it hope that the end result of their efforts will be…well, more Christians. This comes from the official Facing The Giants website: "Our church has been able to take the football teams from two of the largest high schools in the area to see the movie in the past two weeks. Out of the over 300 people that saw the movie, 66 young men accepted Christ because of your movie. Thank you!" (No attribution for this quote is given on the website.)
Giants is an infomercial for a brand of Christianity. From the moment it starts to it’s never-in-doubt conclusion, it does what all advertising does: sells. The film doesn’t have much patience for an audience that came to kick the tires. The pitch is clear: Buy Jesus now and as a bonus he’ll fix everything broken in your life from a bad alternator to a middling football team…even a low sperm count. Now that’s a deal!
Art often begins with a question that propels us on a journey to discover the answer. Advertising begins with an answer --- whether certain or dubious --- and creates questions to lead us to that answer. Stranger Than Fiction is art, even if it’s fluffy pop art. No matter how well made or how sincere the intent, Facing the Giants is essentially a commercial.
I’m glad both films were made and I’m glad I saw them. I loved Stranger than Fiction. I didn’t hate Facing the Giants. I respect the filmmakers of both movies. I suspect they might be confused if not irritated by my comparing their films. My point is not so much to compare the films but rather my experiences of watching them.
I won’t presume what Jesus’ take would be on either film. But I wouldn’t mind chatting with him about it over a tub of popcorn during all those commercials they play before the trailers.
This review was previously published by Relevant Magazine.
Tim Jackson is a filmmaker and co-founder of Category One Entertainment Group. He lives in Little Rock, AR with his wife and son.
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Well, there you have in a real life example one of the distinctions of modern and post modern christianity. The packaging of Christianity as a commodity and which results in programs, cliches, catch phrases, and any other type of formula to "get people saved" vs. an honest look at what issues we as humans deal with in our lives either with or apart from God. One tends to be simplistic, clean, neatly packaged and defined and rosy in outlook with no "downsides". The other a bit muddier with less certain outcomes, but with more real substance and relevancy to where most people live their daily existences.
God can and does communicate to us either way to his purposes, and at best, our communication of his truth is always flawed to some extent, or if not flawed, incomplete. One of the problems with the "happy ever after" message is that while ultimately true that Christians will see glory, the path for many, Jesus being our primary example, may not be what we had envisioned in our modern sound bite advertised addled brains. His true mission is a bit of a tough sell.
I have not seen the movies, so this is in no way a critique of them or their creators. However I really only look forward to seeing one of them.
I loved "Stranger Than Fiction", for those reasons and more. I think it puts the sticky position of Creator to a human, and shows how difficult it must be for Him.
The other doesn't sound interesting at all.
Interesting. Our church each fall does a series "Cedar Ridge goes to the movies." Generally the movies chosen do not have overt Christian themes, but whomever is presenting the clips uses them to explore issues relevant to the gospel. Last year, one movie with over Christian themes called "Saved" was chosen. This movie actually wrestles with questions related to the meaning of the gospel. Not surprisingly, this makes it a controversial movie. And a few folks at Cedar Ridge felt it shouldn't have been used, although I think most folks appreciated it.
I thought that both movies challenged me in different ways - Stranger than Fiction for the reasons mentioned in the article but Facing the Giants for the courage and skill that it took for a church to put together such a professional product with volunteers. Regardless of the story line (which I had pretty much figured out when they introduced the David character - Facing the Giants - I can put those two things together...) I was personally challenged by their willingness to put their beliefs out there to be critiqued by anyone with a couple bucks and a DVD player. Most "Christian" projects are poorly written, acted and distributed but my wife and I didn't even get the typical "cheesy Christian" alarm bells going off when we picked it up at our local Blockbuster. I definately chringed a time or two about the storybook endings while still recognizing the times in my own life when the choice to focus on serving Christ rather than "winning" led to real positive things happening in my life. That doesn't happen all (or even most) of the time but watching Facing the Giants encouraged me to stay the course and serve Jesus first regardless of the consequences and for that reason I think they did a great job.
I see your point that Stranger Than Fiction is more subliminal in its raising of spiritual questions, and a much softer evangelistic sell. However, as you are writing not a criticism of the films but a distinction of your viewing experiences, I wanted to share my experience of viewing Facing the Giants.
I was so relieved finally to see a film which portrayed normal people in normal situations (broken car, infertility, losing games) whose Christianity infused their lives. When they faced an obstacle, they prayed (isn't that the normal response? It certainly is for those of us who follow Christ!). When they saw a negative attitude in their response to a bad event, they spent some time with God to work that out. It's unfortunate that you viewed Facing the Giants in such close proximity to Stranger Than Fiction, because Giants is one of the few flims to portray true marketplace, real-life Christianity in recent years. I loved Narnia 1 as well, but it was more difficult for me to put myself in the film. I could see myself Facing the Giants.
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Well, there you have in a real life example one of the distinctions of modern and post modern christianity. The packaging of Christianity as a commodity and which results in programs, cliches, catch phrases, and any other type of formula to "get people saved" vs. an honest look at what issues we as humans deal with in our lives either with or apart from God. One tends to be simplistic, clean, neatly packaged and defined and rosy in outlook with no "downsides". The other a bit muddier with less certain outcomes, but with more real substance and relevancy to where most people live their daily existences.
God can and does communicate to us either way to his purposes, and at best, our communication of his truth is always flawed to some extent, or if not flawed, incomplete. One of the problems with the "happy ever after" message is that while ultimately true that Christians will see glory, the path for many, Jesus being our primary example, may not be what we had envisioned in our modern sound bite advertised addled brains. His true mission is a bit of a tough sell.
I have not seen the movies, so this is in no way a critique of them or their creators. However I really only look forward to seeing one of them.
Posted by Harvey Meister | Posted at 02/10/2007 6:42 AMI loved "Stranger Than Fiction", for those reasons and more. I think it puts the sticky position of Creator to a human, and shows how difficult it must be for Him.
The other doesn't sound interesting at all.
Posted by Liz | Posted at 02/14/2007 1:53 PMInteresting. Our church each fall does a series "Cedar Ridge goes to the movies." Generally the movies chosen do not have overt Christian themes, but whomever is presenting the clips uses them to explore issues relevant to the gospel. Last year, one movie with over Christian themes called "Saved" was chosen. This movie actually wrestles with questions related to the meaning of the gospel. Not surprisingly, this makes it a controversial movie. And a few folks at Cedar Ridge felt it shouldn't have been used, although I think most folks appreciated it. Posted by Bill Samuel | Posted at 02/22/2007 3:44 PM
I thought that both movies challenged me in different ways - Stranger than Fiction for the reasons mentioned in the article but Facing the Giants for the courage and skill that it took for a church to put together such a professional product with volunteers. Regardless of the story line (which I had pretty much figured out when they introduced the David character - Facing the Giants - I can put those two things together...) I was personally challenged by their willingness to put their beliefs out there to be critiqued by anyone with a couple bucks and a DVD player. Most "Christian" projects are poorly written, acted and distributed but my wife and I didn't even get the typical "cheesy Christian" alarm bells going off when we picked it up at our local Blockbuster. I definately chringed a time or two about the storybook endings while still recognizing the times in my own life when the choice to focus on serving Christ rather than "winning" led to real positive things happening in my life. That doesn't happen all (or even most) of the time but watching Facing the Giants encouraged me to stay the course and serve Jesus first regardless of the consequences and for that reason I think they did a great job. Posted by Leif | Posted at 02/24/2007 8:40 AM
I see your point that Stranger Than Fiction is more subliminal in its raising of spiritual questions, and a much softer evangelistic sell. However, as you are writing not a criticism of the films but a distinction of your viewing experiences, I wanted to share my experience of viewing Facing the Giants.
I was so relieved finally to see a film which portrayed normal people in normal situations (broken car, infertility, losing games) whose Christianity infused their lives. When they faced an obstacle, they prayed (isn't that the normal response? It certainly is for those of us who follow Christ!). When they saw a negative attitude in their response to a bad event, they spent some time with God to work that out. It's unfortunate that you viewed Facing the Giants in such close proximity to Stranger Than Fiction, because Giants is one of the few flims to portray true marketplace, real-life Christianity in recent years. I loved Narnia 1 as well, but it was more difficult for me to put myself in the film. I could see myself Facing the Giants.
Posted by Christopher Smith | Posted at 02/25/2007 4:07 PM