This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.
What Would Jesus Do?
Plot Overview
Optometrist Grace Farlow (Jena Malone) treating a patient for advanced
macular degeneration (AMD) needs a miracle but turns to science.
Her friend and colleague Dr. John, an expert in his field, offers
little hope. Receiving news of the tragic death of her priest brother
Michael (Steffan Cennydd) she travels to Mt. Saviour
Convent situated on a remote coast of Scotland to investigate for
herself. It becomes patently obvious that her “indifference” to
religion is outright hostility. She distrusts the nuns' account of her
brother's death on the rocky shore below the cliff.
Fr. Michael, it turns out, had gone
to Mt. Saviour to search out his sister's
past whom the convent had once tried to adopt, she being a foundling
at age ten. They are heavily into penitence, these nuns, one of the
sisters even gouging out her eye to rid herself of evil. Returning
crusaders in the twelfth century had left a stone of penitence just
back from the cliff's edge. The penitent was to stand praying facing
the stone with her back to the brink. Each time she remembered a sin,
she took a step back. If she was a profligate sinner, God would catch
her before she sinned any more: a practical way for a sinner to die
a saint. This Catholic path to sainthood might be compared to a
Baptist-approved resolution of a 1930's labor dispute as
described by novelist George S. Schuyler:
On the advice of a conciliator from the United States Labor Department, Blickdoff and Hortzenboff, took immediate steps to make their workers more satisfied with their pay, their jobs and their little home town. They built a swimming pool, a tennis court, shower baths and a playground for their employees but neglected to shorten their work time so these improvements could be enjoyed. They announced that they would give each worker a bonus of a whole day's pay at Christmas time, hereafter, and a week's vacation each year to every employee who had been with them more than ten years. There were no such employees, of course, but the mill hands were overjoyed with their victory.
The local Baptist preacher, who was very thoughtfully paid by the company with the understanding that he would take a practical view of conditions in the community, told his flock their employers were to be commended for adopting a real Christian and American way of settling the difficulties between them and their workers. He suggested it was quite likely that Jesus, placed in the same position, would have done likewise. (136–7)
If she'd committed fewer than ten sins in the week, she can walk back down a happy nun.
Ideology
Michael held that Grace had a guardian angel.
Grace felt protected at any rate. She'd acquired a reputation for
miraculous healing she felt she didn't deserve. Her memory was blank from
before her adoption, but she had visions of her past and future. One vision
was of returning crusaders persecuting for witchcraft a gathering of
Druids meeting in the woods. The order of knights founded this convent that
harbored serious distrust of the supernatural. Grace had gotten on
their bad side (“She
doesn't know her strength.”)
One feels obliged at times to entertain family & friends. Christians and especially nuns are obligated to receive strangers as well. We gladly shoulder any inconvenience. A visitor that demonstrates some kind of miracle might seem off-putting, especially to knights returned from pagan lands. The antidote for distrust is, (Heb. 13:2) “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Angels sometimes look quite human and may come unannounced.
Production Values
“” (2023) was directed by Christopher Smith, having been written by Christopher Smith and Laurie Cook. It stars Jena Malone, Danny Huston and Thoren Ferguson. The acting was okay though some of the more recognizable faces were stuck in supporting roles.
MPAA rated it PG for action/violence throughout and brief language. The scenery was awesome. The nuns were integrated including a couple blackamoors, a one-eyed penitent, and one not quite right in the head, i.e. lack of seriousness. Runtime is 1½ hours.
Review Conclusion w/a Christian's Recommendation
I like a good mystery and here it is achieved by chopping up the timeline and introducing woo woo strange happenings. There's a nice flow of tension and resolution. It won't scare the bejesus out of you, but you may want to leave the night light on … or not.
Movie Ratings
Action Factor: Weak action scenes. Suitability for children: Suitable for children with guidance. Special effects: Average special effects. Video Occasion: Good for Groups. Suspense: Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Overall movie rating: Four stars out of five.
Works Cited
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version. Pub. 1611, rev. 1769. Software.
Schuyler, George S. Black No More. Copyright, 1931, by The Macaulay Company. Reprint by College Park, Maryland: McGrath Publishing Company, 1969. Print.
bibles.n7nz.org