Raising the Bar, the Alma Richards Story

Another T. C Christianson film! I always love those!

T. C. Christensen's Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story is an uplifting and beautifully crafted biographical drama that sheds light on one of America's forgotten Olympians. The film follows the inspiring true story of Alma Richards, an Utah farm boy and a Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who defied the odds to become the first Utahn to win an Olympic gold medal.

Christensen, known for his faith-affirming films like The Cokeville Miracle and 17 Miracles brings his signature sincerity and reverence to this historical faith filled story., The film's heart is undeniable, and its message is clear: great things are possible through discipline and faith.

So in conclusion, It wasn't T. C.'s best film he's made, but it was still great! My only caveat is that the theme of faith was not very present through most of the movie. And I was hoping it would be more so! But it was still great!

Too bad a quality writer and director didn't take up this true story. The dialog is absolutely boooooring with laughable "conflict." I don't know any Mormons who actually talk like these do. It would be great for a 6 year-old movie night with friends, because it's as clean a movie as I've ever sat through. But I would not recommend it to anyone except as a good example of what not to do. I sat through this terrible film only to see how bad it would actually get. The "cheese" factor is laid on extremely think and I was looking over at my wife constantly during as the dialog continued to miss again and again.

Glad I only paid the price of a ticket at a discount theater.

I've liked many of these based-on-a-true-story inspirational stories and disliked some. THis one gripped me the most. The acting, costuming and make-up capturing the era are superb. For a no-name cast, I was extremely impressed - especially the one-or-two scene actors getting everything as if I watching it live. The story seems to have been impeccably researched. There's never a slow moment.

A number of these inspirational films get very religious and preachy. This one barely mentions church, just personal integrity and purpose-of-life. Alma's spirituality is very understated until the climactic scene and even then it's just deeply personal. It's his humility, perseverance and strength of spirit that carries him to achieve what no one before him could do. I thoroughly loved it from start to finish.

What an amazing story of human heart, American pride and due diligence in adversity! Alma was a gentle giant who became an incredible athlete and teacher! Alma's achievements become an inspiration for generations to come. Living through faith show's you and those around you how God works in us, his generosity, kindness of heart, showing you your character in the Lord.

This was a really great and beautiful story told in a very awkward way. The movie consisted of two things and only these two things. First, awkward moments intended to be funny. Second, a handsome and well-casted actor who was supposed to be playing someone awkward, but actually wasn't made fun of by people who were actually awkward and very intentionally so. I enjoyed the story, but the way it was told made me feel uncomfortable almost the entire sitting. There were just so many long, awkward pauses between different actors at different times. I'd still recommend seeing it, but if there were a book about it, I'd recommend that more.