The 10 Most Redeeming Films of 2004Saviors were everywhere at the multiplex last year, with everything from superheroes to the Savior himself—all with a story of redemption to share with the world.By Mark Moring and Jeffrey Overstreet |
posted 1/25/2005
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The Incredibles
When it comes to redemptive animated films, director Brad Bird is now 2-for-2. First came 1999's The Iron Giant, with a clear Christ figure who literally gives his life to save the world. Bird revisits that theme here with Mr. Incredible, an ex-superhero now masquerading as an ordinary, cubicle-bound, overweight, middle-aged guy named Bob Parr. A plethora of lawsuits have forced superheroes to repress their powers and live regular lives. Bob, an overworked and under-appreciated insurance salesman, longs to exercise his superpowers again—and finally gets his chance when something wicked his way comes. For the audience, it's an exhilarating ride with a man not just trying to save the world, but his family—including two superkids who are more concerned about their parents' marriage than anything. Yes, this is first and foremost a movie about Real Family Values, a passé cliché which Bird has managed to make incredibly cool once again.
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Les Choristes (The Chorus)
It's an old story—bad kids redeemed by good teacher, who inspires them to greatness. To Sir With Love, Mr. Holland's Opus, Music of the Heart—they've all told this story before. But director Christophe Barratier resisted any temptation to contemporize the formula, choosing instead to set it in post-WWII France (the film is in French with subtitles). He cast the warm, affable Gerard Jugnot as Clement Mathieu, who is in over his head as the new teacher at a school for delinquent boys. But when Mathieu starts up a choir, coupled with his liberal doses of humor, patience and grace, well, let's just say the results are magical. And did we mention grace? Yes, but it's worth mentioning again. At the austere school known for its harsh discipline and zero tolerance policies, the boys are clueless about this thing called grace. But when Mathieu extends it time after time, the boys begin to get the picture—and lives begin to change.
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The Passion of The Christ
A list of 2004's most redeeming films couldn't be complete without the story of redemption, could it? Mel Gibson's film might not have wowed the critics, but it certainly wowed Christians, who wowed the box office—and Hollywood—by helping to make it the highest-grossing R-rated film ever ($370 million). Jim Caviezel gives a stirring performance as Jesus; as a Christian himself, Caviezel desperately wanted to communicate God's sacrificial love, and he succeeded. Many critics bashed the film for its excessive violence, and it's hard to argue with them; it is quite bloody. But for Gibson, that was the point; he wanted to emphasize the blood sacrifice, every single drop. The result isn't so much stomach-turning as it is heart-rending; many Christians left the film with a deeper appreciation of Christ's sacrifice and God's redeeming love. Many also said they'd never approach communion table the same way again, knowing better than ever what Jesus meant when he said, "This is my body, which is given for you."
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The Return
Imagine this: You're a teenage boy coming home from a typical day, and you discover there's a strange man sleeping in your family guest room. You're informed, to your amazement, that this man is your father. That's what happens to the two brothers in The Return. A quiet, brooding, brusque, and mysterious man enters their lives and takes them away on a trip. He answers few of their questions, gives them orders, punishes them when they complain, and keeps his intentions secret. Does it sound like your relationship with your father? Does it sound like your relationship with God? The Return is a cinematic parable par excellence. Russian director Andrei Zvyagintsev has made a stunning debut with this film, which feels like a classic work of Russian literature, looks like the gorgeous filmmaking of Andrei Tarkovsky, and inspires us to soul-searching and spiritual meditation like a chapter from Krzysztof Kieslowski's Decalogue. It's a spooky, suspenseful, unforgettable film.
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