The Gospel

A story of redemption, pride, jealousy, and reconciliation.

Fine cast with a stirring gospel soundtrack.

Although others have criticized the camera work and editing, those aspects of the movie neither bothered me nor detracted from my enjoyment of this uplifting film. I found that the acting, music, and story were engaging and enjoyable.

The singing performances of the choral groups and such gospel stars as Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammonds, Mom Winans, and Martha Munizzi combined nicely with, and elegantly complemented, the dramatic work of Idris Elba, Omar Gooding, Nona Gaye, and Clifton Powell.

American IDOL finalist Tamyra Gray shined in her acting and singing roles and showed that she has a bright future.

Not an award winning film, but quite entertaining.

I have a confession. It was out of the pure, unmitigated desire to see Idris Elba, the delectably evil Stringer Bell from HBO's "The Wire", on the big screen that I agreed "to have church," via the movie theater on a Friday night. I must say, the guilt along with the redemption was worth it. And I know I'm a sinner in that I didn't know who to look at first, Idris in his wife-beaters and tailored suits or Boris Kodjo in washed jeans and black leather--too much glorious macho for one screen let alone one southern black church. Kodjo is warm, expressive, and impressively at ease in walking that line between saint and sinner as he uses his God given gift to save the church and at the same time is not above beating down the unrepentant if the situation demands it. If I have one complaint, it would be that the sexual rivalry was implicit but not fully heightened to dramatic ends, though I am sure such a heightening would have compromised the message. Nona Gaye's moments on screen, The Matrix, Crash, are always a visitation of nearly ethereal grace, nobility, and an uncompromising beauty. The audience applauded at movie's end, vowing to buy the soundtrack and pick up a prayer book.

The Gospel was a nice movie. It was what the Fighting Temptations should have been. Unlike the Fighting Temptations, this movie dealt with real situations and showed people going through real struggles. It showed people who were flawed and who were struggling with their faith but who persevered and grew. It was not a groundbreaking movie but there were surprises. Some of the characters went in different directions than I expected. The ending could have been made a little clearer. The director choose to end with flashes of scenes that you had to look at quickly before they went away. But it was a nice movie. The music was nice too, although I would have liked to have seen more variety in the songs they picked. Most of the songs came from only one composer.

This movie was every bit of what I expected. I didn't expect a profound and complex story. I didn't expect great acting, but I found some very good acting. I rented the movie mainly to see how Tamyra Gray had what it takes to carry a good share of a movie - and of course to hear her sing.

I think she pulled it off. Her acting skills came across quite well. I hope to see her in more mainstream films in the future. The other cast members did a good job of acting, too.

The music in this film is exceptional.

Although this is by no means a fantastic movie, I think it deserves more than the 2.7 rating that the IMDb members gave it.

There is something about THE GOSPEL that makes you want to like it: some fine actors (Boris Kodjoe, Idris Elba, Clifton Powell, Tamyra Gray, Aloma Wright, Nona Gaye) and some really terrific gospel singing. Writer/director Rob Hardy stretches the biblical tale of the Prodigal Son to the updated story of the son of a bishop of an evangelical church who runs away to become a R&B singing star only to return to his father when cancer of the prostate signals the end of his life. The 'other' son has inherited the mantle of the bishop with special interests deflecting his commitment to the bishop's origins and the Prodigal Son finally finds acceptance in offering his talents to further the original dream of his father.

The script is conversationally pedestrian but the actors do their best to make credible characters. There is a sense of commitment from the cast of extras that leaves a warm afterglow, but in the end this is a slight story saved by some fine music. Grady Harp, January 05