Tweet

EMAIL

PRINT

Comments (0)

 1 of 4

What do we mean by "redeeming" films? They're all stories of redemption—sometimes blatantly, sometimes less so. Several of them literally have a character that represents a redeemer; one even includes the Redeemer. With others, you might have to look a bit harder for the redemptive thread, but it's certainly there. Some are "feel-good" movies that leave a smile on your face; some might leave you uncomfortable, even disturbed, and asking, "How should I process that?" But you won't be able to shake it from your memory, either.

It's interesting to note that our top four choices in the list below are all based on true stories, while the rest of the list is based on fiction. That's not by design, but we find that intriguing. Was there something subconscious going on in our voting? Do we tend to gravitate toward the true stories of redemption over the fictional ones? Perhaps. Or were these four movies simply better than the others in the list? Again perhaps.

Whatever the case, check it out for yourself. We present the list in reverse order, with the No. 1 movie at the bottom. (Just imagine the drum roll in your head and play along, OK?)

December featured the released of at least two movies about pregnant young women whose babies represented the future hope of the world—The Nativity Story, which depicts the biblical account of Joseph and Mary and the birth of Christ, and Children of Men, which depicts a future world plagued by global infertility, in which no babies have been born for 18 years. But along comes a miracle: A pregnant girl who, like Mary, must make a harrowing journey in which to give birth to a child who could save mankind—and there's even a very brave "Joseph" to lead her along the way. (Our review.)

So, only 10 minutes into the movie, you know how it's probably going to end. But this heartwarming story is rendered so believably well, and the main characters—especially as played by Keke Palmer and Laurence Fishburne—are so endearing, that you don't care about its predictable outcome. It all adds up to a sweet, family-friendly flick that underscores such themes as persistence in the face of obstacles, families and communities rallying together, and the virtues of fair play and honesty—not to mention the way-cool message that it really can be hip to be a fabulous speller. (Our review.)

In his directorial debut, Tommy Lee Jones—who also wrote the screenplay—plays a Texas cowboy whose good friend Melquiades, an illegal Mexican alien who has been working for Jones on the ranch, is killed by a racist, trigger-happy border patrolman. Jones' character spends the rest of the film seeking a sort of revenge, but in a redeeming-but-harrowing way, employing tactics that are quite difficult to watch. He's not out so much for vengeance as he is to honor his dead friend—and to make the murderer understand the gravity of his sin. Does it work? See for yourself. (Our review.)

In yet another 2006 film focused on the welfare of a baby (like Children of Men and The Nativity Story), this one takes quite a different twist. Here, the infant's primary "caregiver" is a violent street thug—the title character—from the slums of Johannesburg who, after stealing a car, literally ends up with a baby in his lap. What will he do with it? Will he have the same disregard for this child as he does for other human life? Or might the baby actually get to him, perhaps changing the way he thinks about the value of life? You can probably guess which happens, but the end result is a powerful depiction of redemption.

Spiders are supposed to make people scream, not cry. But here's one arachnid that is certain to get your tear ducts moving. Based on arguably the best-written children's story of all time, there's no way the film could be as good as E. B. White's nearly-perfect book. But director Gary Winick and the cast—including Dakota Fanning as Fern and Julia Roberts as the voice of Charlotte—do a terrific job of bringing this beloved tale of redemption to the big screen. Family, community, friendships, self-sacrifice, humility, God's creation—those are just a handful of the themes handled beautifully here. (Our review.)

next page... |  1 of 4 | last page

Related Elsewhere:

The 2006 Critics' Choice Awards	Printer view
Our third annual Critics' Choice Awards pick the Top 10 Films of 2006—a list that somewhat resembles others in the mainstream, with a few surprises thrown in.

---

Ahoy! Readers Pick Pirates	Printer view
We asked our readers to pick their favorite movies of 2006, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest rose to the top. Captain Jack Sparrow rules, savvy?