States of Grace

I have become a big Richard Dutcher fan. I always spend several days after seeing his movies thinking about the implications. States of Grace is by far his best offering. I think I liked it so well because it tells an LDS story that is not only realistic but can hold meaning for anyone of faith. It is very well crafted and the cinematography is just beautiful. The acting ranges from good to extremely good and as always in a Richard Dutcher movie the symbolism is deep.

My wife liked this movie so much because she felt that it told the truth. Bad things happen in the lives of good people everyday and Dutcher does a phenomenal job of looking at what that life can become when viewed through a spiritual filter. Something that would have little significance for one person may be a profound life changing event for another. This film demonstrates that and shows how all lives can be touched by the atonement of Jesus Christ. I never thought that I would see a movie that could tell such a gritty and true story and yet communicate so powerfully the universality of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a great movie for Mormons but I can easily see why non LDS people would have trouble getting by the depiction of Mormon culture....too bad, I think anyone of faith could be uplifted by the message of this film.

Mormon film to this point has been mainly "Mormon", but flightily "film". While some pictures have had strong points, for example, the subtle humor in "Napoleon Dynamite" or action in "Saint and Soldiers", most of the genre has been self-absorbed and self-serving. Even Dutcher's previous "God's Army" was aimed specifically for a Mormon audience and did not have any lofty design or style.

The self-proclaimed "Father of Mormon Cinema" has here created a film that could be accessible to a wide audience and should be better received. The characters are again missionaries, but share little similarities to the characters in "God's Army." The fact that it is already disappearing from theaters is due to poor marketing and advertising, and does not reflect the quality of the film.

Finally a Mormon character faces some real problems and really struggles. Finally Mormon characters make real mistakes and have to pay real repentance. Finally a Mormon story involves real non-Mormon characters and views them not as the oddity, but real people in the real world. And finally, Dutcher has a real vision and real message and actually directs this picture like no one has dared in the genre.

The acting in the film is miles above anything yet seen in Mormon film, as is the direction. Moments between Lozano and Carl, or any moment with the street preacher Louis feel honest and natural. The "gangstas" (as the ads so poorly state) seem real, not like your Mormon high school production or road-show. Even the character of Farrell, who was initially the weakest link in the film, shows his true colors by the end. Dutcher constantly alludes to action in his story and composition, and he creates some amazing pictures, showing that he may be the least accessible person off camera, but he is the most capable director of the genre yet. Carl's confirmation scene, while paying homage to "The Godfather", is amazing in its own right. The story occasionally bordered on cliché, but Dutcher never let it go that route, instead opting for some really difficult decisions for his characters.

I know that many Mormons will not want to see this movie because it has characters that have or will make mistakes. It has some uncomfortable situations and asks some tough questions. What they should realize, however, is that this is the first "Mormon film" that actually has something to say. Instead of laughing at ourselves and our Jello molds, why not show situations that really happen? Why not dare to put ourselves in the shoes of our fellow men? Why not realize that we are but one religion among many, all of which bring goodness into the world? Why not join others in their everyday struggles and know that we are not alone in this world? This film is the first to ask these questions and most successfully answer them. "States of Grace" is not the best film I have ever seen, but it is the best "Mormon film" I have yet seen and is among the best of this year. Open-minded, open-hearted, open-souled viewers everywhere should watch this movie. It may change how you look at things.

I cried through the whole thing, it was so moving and affecting. I have not a big fan of Mormon Cinema thus far, as most of it is very idealized, filled with in-jokes, and generally just very "in your face". But this film is so real, so accessible, and so professionally done that I could not help being completely knocked out by it.

The performances are much better than I have seen in previous Mormon films. Particularly those of Ignacio Serricchio and Lamont Stephens, who are simply spectacular as the gang-kid-turned-missionary and the gang-kid-turned-convert, respectively.

I loved the fact that this movie is about faith and belief, but not specifically about the Mormon faith. The two main characters are Mormons, but the stories are about real life situations and the way people behave in them, not about how Mormons are "supposed" to behave.

I would recommend this film to any and all. I will certainly be buying it when it comes to DVD.

Let's start from the end - it was a good movie. At some point I thought it was heading to a "requiem for a dream" ending but something went wrong. Was it the weird final scene? Was it the lack of music? Was it the unbelievable characters? I don't know, still, as a non-Christian I found this movie to be good though my girlfriend that watched the movie with me said it was one of the worst films she have seen... I asked her why but she couldn't explain, she said "too much dialog, not enough action", and when a girl is saying that - you can guess what that means... So, going back to the beginning - it was a good movie but it could be an excellent one!

It's a movie about strugglers (some Mormon, most not) and the grace of God; it is beautiful, and even though from a Mormon perspective, it is not an in-your-face Mormon flick.

If you liked the ending to "Brigham City" (sacrament scene) you'll like this even better - less Mormon, more universal, and absolutely moving.

I wish there were more movies like this - that cause me to think about my relationships with others, my commitment to Christ, and how happy I am to live in a land where I am free to worship as I choose.

I hope people will see this movie and not worry about whether it's just a bunch of "Mormon propaganda" - because it is not. The Mormons are not the good guys and the non-Mormons are not the bad guys. There's plenty of good, bad and in-between for all.

Good job to all involved!!!