The Grace Card (2011)

[Billie Goodson]

Went to see a pre-release screening of The Grace Card tonight. Memphis Calvary Church of the Nazarene did this movie....knew several of the people in it from our TNU days! Much like Facing the Giants and Fireproof, the acting is not the focus of the movie. I did think think the story was excellent and relevant. Handles some tough topics (racism, hate, self) in a realistic manner.

I think the biggest knock I have against this movie is that it seemed to lack background noise. That causes an over focus on the actors speaking and makes it sound forced or strained, maybe stilted at times. But, I think this is the most powerful of all of the Provident releases so far.

They announced tonight that there will be three releases next year fro Provident! Excited about that!

Also, because this was a pre-release, the final edits were not done that may fix the sound issue and will make the whole thing a little tighter.

[Gina Stevenson]

Sounds good. Talking about its being one of "the most powerful" they have released, it reminded me again -- seriously -- about another issue that might be best brought to the attention of more folks than the regular news media has managed to impact via bringing another book to the screen. This is not b/c it belongs to a friend, or that I edited/designed it ... but we've heard yet again recently about human trafficking.

This book makes it seem a more personal thing, with "faces" put on the situation, and is rather action-packed with some intriguing (surprising!!) twists and turns in a rescue of a bunch of kids in such a situation.

Have been wondering if there's anyone now doing movies here in Michigan (where they've not been done before much until recently -- the "new West coast," we've heard it called where, instead of the Pacific, Lake Michigan is to the west of us) who would look it over and think about it. Have tho't about -- doing OK with dialogue, 'been told long ago -- attempting to begin writing such a screen play. But sure would be nice if someone would look at the book, and perhaps help.

[edited to add forgotten link; wonder about their price being way up there yet; usually after a cpl of years it comes down!]

http://www.amazon.com/Huachuca-Consp.../dp/0595398359

[Billie Goodson]

Everything can change in an instant ... and take a lifetime to unravel.

When Mac McDonald loses his son in an accident, the ensuing 17 years of bitterness and pain erodes his love for his family and leaves him angry with God ... and just about everyone else.

Mac's rage stonewalls his career in the police department and makes for a combustible situation when he's partnered with Sam Wright, a rising star on the force who happens to be a part-time pastor and a loving family man.

Mac's home life is as frightening as anything he encounters on the streets of Memphis. Money is tight and emotions run high as he constantly argues with his wife and his surviving son Blake, who is hanging with the wrong crowd and in danger of flunking out of school.

Sam Wright also never expected to be a police officer. He has a calling—to be a minister like his Grandpa George. But leading a small, start-up church doesn't always put enough food on the table for a young family, so Sam doubles as a police officer. With his new promotion to Sergeant, Sam starts questioning if his real calling might actually be police work rather than the pastorate.

Can Mac and Sam somehow join forces to help one another when it's impossible for either of them to look past their differences—especially the most obvious one?

Every day, we have the opportunity to rebuild relationships and heal deep wounds by extending and receiving God's grace. Offer THE GRACE CARD ... and never underestimate the power of God's love.

[Billie Goodson]

Ok -- here is what I liked about the movie --

The main characters are real, as in I think they could really exist. Mac is burdened down by the world and guilt. Each of us have things in our lives that have that ability to be so in our face that we can't see anything past them. Mac has a son that seems a lost cause, not enough income to match his families needs, and seems to be going nowhere at work. I can identify several Macs in my life.

Mac's wife is trying to hold together a family spinning out of control. We aren't given a window into her spirituality, and I appreciate that in the story.

Blake is not an atypical kid. Can't find love at home, go look elsewhere.

Sam -- part-time pastor who is human (hate to bust some bubbles with that). Sam is a Christian, but he has struggles too. Watching him work through his struggles is a gift in the movie.

Spoiler alert -- the story lines don't all tie up nice. Sorry, but that is a little too much like life I know. We can get that in life, why pay for it at a movie?

I love the story of Grace! I love how if you listen to Sam's sermon, then after it is all done, you realize what God was saying that just seemed so clear before you spackled over it with 9 pounds of mud.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

So the Board of General Superintendents have all "endorsed" the movie and are encouraging churches to use it. It's on the official Nazarene website. Not sure what that means or what precedence it sets. You can watch the trailer there. Or here:

[Julie Reed]

I just heard about this movie today. Can't wait to see it!

[Shea Zellweger]

Got an email this afternoon (addressed simply to "pastor") telling me to go see it when it comes out. Ya know, I just might...

[Jim Abrams]

I'm so disappointed it looks like the closest showing to my location is some 40+ miles away!!!! Going to be difficult to use this as an outreach tool considering the distance. May have to wait until it comes out on DVD.

[Jon Bemis]

I'm so disappointed it looks like the closest showing to my location is some 40+ miles away!!!! Going to be difficult to use this as an outreach tool considering the distance. May have to wait until it comes out on DVD.

That's a bummer - we are fortunate - it will be playing in Chattanooga which is less than 10 miles from us. That's where we saw the preview - IMO a really good movie!

[Ryan Scott]

I'll probably see it at some point, but I've got no expectations. All the other movies recently that have been projects of a congregation have been terrible. Maybe the Nazarenes will do it right!

[Andy Mistak]

I'll probably see it at some point, but I've got no expectations. All the other movies recently that have been projects of a congregation have been terrible. Maybe the Nazarenes will do it right!

The production values at least look reasonable, and Louis Gossett Jr is an Oscar winner, so it's got that going for it.

[David Troxler]

ENC is having an invitation only screening on campus of it in the next few weeks before its theatre release.

[Shea Zellweger]

ENC is having an invitation only screening on campus of it in the next few weeks before its theatre release.

how does one get on that list?

[David Troxler]

how does one get on that list?

Have you tried endowing a scholarship?

[Kevin Rector]

You can get the trailer or a trailer/GS endorsement video at the Nazarene Media Library.

While I'm sure it won't be an Oscar worthy movie, I am going to promote this to my church. I like grace, and I like it when grace is promoted.

[Kevin Rector]

So I went to see it last Friday night. I was rather disappointed at the turnout at the theater but then I remember that probably everyone that was in there was there because of word of mouth, so in that regard it actually was a pretty good turn out.

The movie got off to a rather slow start. As they were doing character development you could tell these were not seasoned actors. It was striking the difference between Louis Gossett Jr. and the other actors. Considering the budget and the fact that it wasn't full of a-listers though it was a good movie.

As the emotion of the movie built though it was interesting to see the quality of the acting increase. I guess the actors could feel the emotion of the scenes better and that translated onto the screen.

From a story telling perspective there were some serious plot holes especially at the end, but the emotion of the final scenes sort of helps you to forget that. I almost cried, my wife did cry (which usually means a good story).

It is an overtly Christian movie, and no apologies made. One thing that sort of annoys me with the new genre of Christian movies though is that there is always some prop that is used (I haven't seen Facing the Giants so I can't speak to that). In Fireproof there was a the "love dare" journal. In the new one from the makers of Fireproof (which had a trailer at the Grace Card) there was some fatherly contract to be signed. In the Grace Card there is literally a card that can be passed out that describes a relational grace.

For an amateur movie it was exceptional, it was however certainly not up to Hollywood standards. I'm still waiting for a really well done Christian movie - perhaps one that can tell the story of grace without a scene at an altar.

My favorite part of the movie though was the overall message that the most powerful force in the world is grace, grace that we can receive and grace that we can give.

[David Troxler]

Here is a link to the Boston Globe's review. It is a fairly good review.

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/arti..._budget_indie/

[Andy Mistak]

Here is a link to the Boston Globe's review. It is a fairly good review.

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/arti..._budget_indie/

Very intriguing review. "A world without villains", I really like that.

[David Snodgrass]

I was really impressed with the movie, considering the fact that it was shot in about 30 days and it had a budget of about 500k. I will admit that it was a little slow getting of the ground as the characters were being developed and it could have had more background music. Compared to what the Baptist church in Albany, GA puts out I would say that the Grace Card was superior.

[Barbara Phillips]

I saw this movie in a preview a couple weeks ago. It was very good. In fact I'm going to see it again tomorrow and taking a friend from Church to see it with me.

[Nate Pruitt]

I was really impressed with the movie, considering the fact that it was shot in about 30 days and it had a budget of about 500k. I will admit that it was a little slow getting of the ground as the characters were being developed and it could have had more background music. Compared to what the Baptist church in Albany, GA puts out I would say that the Grace Card was superior.

I love movies, and I also helped at this church with the youth group (so, yes, "Blake" and the other young men in the movie were a part of that group). I haven't really given a take on the movie until now, but felt like I should.

As was previously mentioned this movie was made on pennies to the dollar of a blockbuster Hollywood film. In that regard they immediately had a disadvantage. Most of the actors had no prior experience, particularly on screen (stage acting and screen acting require some very different things in case you haven't heard). Was the acting amazing? Probably not. Gossett Jr. was available for a very limited period of time, but they got a lot out of those scenes. In addition Dr. Evans, who directed the film, had never directed a feature before, only shorts used in conjunction with live action productions at the church. As an aside Memphis Calvary Church of the Nazarene is well renowned in the area for their Passion Play, which Dr. Evans typically writes and directs.

If dealing with comparisons, which most people seem to do, then this film isn't to be compared initially to Facing the Giants, Fireproof, or Courageous as none of these movies were the first venture for the Kendrick Brothers and their church in Albany, GA. Rather, the direct comparison would be Flywheel, which the Grace Card well surpasses in almost every category. This is another indication of how much finances impact film-making as the Flywheel movie was made for well less than The Grace Card. Since The Grace Card and Courageous both involved police officers there would be built in action. You know, because police officers are always involved in chases, shoot outs, and other such mayhem. Ha. On the level of these Hollywood staples you'll find Courageous to have a decided advantage. On car mounted cameras are superior and so you have action that can't be matched with the limited supplies used for The Grace Card.

Finally you get to the story, it seems, because in most Christian releases these days you do find stilted dialog (as was already mentioned in this thread) carrying along a story that is also rather stilted. Sometimes the writing in so many of these movies really does blow me away because it's as though it is written from an imaginative perspective about what witnessing looks like rather than one of experience. I feel that may have the biggest impact on how well these movies touch the lives of those who see them as an outreach tool. The one thing that seemed most significant to me was not the matter of the main character being saved (I won't consider that a spoiler since I doubt anyone was unaware such a thing would happen), but rather the incredible act of forgiveness that the salvation enabled. In this regard the movie is definitely a true blessing, and does do a good job.

Still worth picking up on DVD for a viewing at church and there are, of course, options available for doing a church study. Probably most encouraging to me are the reports from churches that have done the studies because there have been lives changed and congregations united when grace and forgiveness were long overdue for the sake of unity.