Caminho do Perdão

Having worked for four years at a place that shows Christian family movies every week, I have seen quite a number of cheesy clunkers in my time. And while "Mercy Streets" is not the best I've ever seen, it is far better than most.

For once, the production quality is on par with the average TV movie, and it doesn't look like it's been shot with a camcorder. As far as the storyline goes, it's engaging, if not entirely original, and it doesn't beat you over the head with the message.

The performances of both Eric Roberts and David White are to be commended, though most of the other cast members could use some improvement. Even so, the acting is quite a few notches above many Christian movies. I've been a fan of David White for a number of years, having seen him in "The End of the Harvest" and "The Moment After". He is one of the few actors in Christian film that actually tries to act, and he usually succeeds. "Mercy Streets" is undoubtedly his strongest performance so far.

In short, "Mercy Streets" is a movie that seeks to provide good entertainment to both Christians and the secular world, while glorifying God. And it succeeds, where "Omega Code" and similar films failed. "Mercy Streets" utilizes decent actors, a good script and good production values to provide an exciting, entertaining and meaningful film, without being preachy or cheesy.

Mercy Streets is just a great flic, plain and simple. The acting, the story and the music make this film a must see. David White is an up and coming. Eric Roberts is convincing. And hey, when's the last time you got to see a great con movie that really worked, with cool special effects, without excessive language or crudity?! This is it man. I loved it!

David A.R. White gets to play twins in Mercy Street. On the one hand White is a deacon in the Episcopal church and ready to take his ordination vows in a month or so. The other White is a notorious con man who may be ripping off the wrong people. But his mentor Eric Roberts wants White the conman around for a really big score.

That greatest of conman films The Sting is the inspiration for what these guys have planned. They have it mind to make the mark part with his money the same way Newman and Redford did to Robert Shaw.

Deacon White is having some agonizing doubts about becoming a priest because of something in his childhood where he let his brother down in a crisis. In the mysterious ways of the Creator/Deity he gets a chance to make it up.

The outright preaching is kept to a minimum. White in his two roles and Eric Roberts do fine. This one is more than for church audiences.

I am a fan of Christian films, but most are cheesy at best. This one was movie-making at its best--pure art. The writing was superior to anything I've seen lately. I'm glad to see quality film making representing what I believe in.

Christian film makers still haven't found their niche in today's movie market, and I don't they will for some time. Yet Mercy Streets seems to have succeeded where others have fallen short. Despite a relatively outrageous plot and some hokey acting, the film boasts some fine direction by Gunn, a good cast (Eric Roberts, David White), and an intriguing storyline. It's squeaky clean as far as language, yet it doesn't detract from the script. There's no book somewhere that says that there must be foul language for characters to express angst, hatred, etc. This movie has a lot going for it, and it's a step closer to a piece of great film making. 8 / 10.