Come Sunday

A well crafted film, I was interested how they were going to approach the controversial topic of religion and its doctrine Hell. I was excited to see this film because, I don't believe in hell or the trinity. The low rating must be from those who believe in hell, but a good film should make you think about your core beliefs and maybe make you a little mad. Then the actors did their job, the bishop was believable and outstanding, the calm of the movie was real. Growing up in bible study I can see this happening this way. I've learned something interesting about Isaac Newton who is considered one of the smartest man who ever lived he didn't believe in the trinity but kept his findings in his journals because he said the leaders weren't ready for a change, I wonder what he would say about hell? This movie didn't offend me because through research I've already known hell is a made up teaching, you can find things in the Bible to support hell and the trinity but were these teachings come from would amaze some if they diged for the truth. This movie is an awakening for those who question the status quo.

Come Sunday is a powerful film delivering an even powerful message 'What if GOD allowed you, now, to understand a meaning of the Message that was contradictory to what others as well as yourself previously believed?' This is not a crisis of faith, but that of interpretation and understanding. Come Sunday will resonate with Believers and will really hit home who have discovered the true understanding of the Word years after it's first reading. If you believe that GOD will only allow you to see when GOD feels that you are ready, you will find Come Sunday a most wonderful film.

I watched "Come Sunday" in an irreverent mood while downing vodka martinis and exchanging acerbic comments with my fellow cinema club friends about the hypocritical nature of religion. Chiwetel Ejiofor's courageous and contemplative portrayal of Pentecostal Bishop Carlton Pearson's revelation that hell does not exist is hopeful. What is lacking is the fervor and ecstasy of the Pentecostal church due to the film's mostly subdued congregation and restrained sequences of praise and worship. Compared to the Pentecostal church I grew up in, Pearson's Higher Dimensions church in "Come Sunday" felt lukewarm even after Ejiofor's fiery sermons and musical accompaniment by church organist Reggie (Lakeith Stanfield).

After watching "Come Sunday" I walked into the kitchen of my friend who was hosting our cinema club. I noticed a card tucked neatly into a frame hanging on her wall with a quote from Chief Joseph on it: "We do not want churches because they will teach us to quarrel about God." That quote along with the message of "Come Sunday" was just as sobering as the cup of coffee that, by that time, I was holding in my hand.

Based on a true story, this intriguing drama follows the self-discovery of an Evangelical preacher, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. I'd never seen a movie of his before, and I was extremely impressed by his performance. What an actor! I believed every single word he said, and his emotions were so personal, it was as if he didn't even know a camera was filming him. While he did give broad "performance" preaches, he also had some very private scenes.

When the movie starts out, he's a prominent member of the church and beloved by all. He has a little strain in his marriage, but that's to be expected when he's traveling all over the country to different churches, and when he's home he's pulled in different directions by his best friend and business manager, Jason Segal. When Chiwetel visits his uncle (Danny Glover) in prison, he's brokenhearted that the sinner refuses to repent. Shortly after, he receives the news that his uncle has killed himself. Because he's wracked with guilt, disappointment, and despair that his relative is burning in the fires of Hell, he turns to his family, friends, mentor (Martin Sheen plays Oral Roberts), and God for help. (There's also a little scene where he watches the genocide in Rwanda on television, and he feels terrible that all the innocent souls weren't saved and were therefore sent to Hell.) God finally tells him that there's no need for despair; everyone's soul has already been saved and therefore no one is going to Hell.

You can imagine the uproar Chiwetel receives when he preaches the news. Everyone turns on him! His friends, his family, his congregation, his mentor, the other preachers throughout the country. . . It's a huge backlash, and he gets intense pressure to publicly change his story. The rest of the film shows his enormous struggle, within himself and within the community.

I found this movie fascinating, and Chiwetel's performance was a tour-de-force. I'm not sure how regular churchgoers felt about the film and the message, because in real life (and as portrayed in the film) it was very controversial. Since it is a touchy subject, there are those who might not want to watch it. But for those who appreciate fine acting, I would absolutely recommend this movie.

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There is quite a bit of handheld camerawork throughout the film, and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

Yes you've got it, I don't believe in any of it. But the film was a decent portrayal of someone who does, but then asks questions of their own belief, that's true enlightenment. As Voltaire very cleverly put it, " if God didn't exist, man would have to create him ". Make no mistake there has to be a creative power, I just happen to be one of those who thinks we don't and never have been able to comprehend it. All of human history has had a Heaven, be it Valhalla or Nirvana, basically a fear of mortality. Hell in the modern sense was a late arrival, if you crossed the river Styx, it was just the dead underworld. Hell and demons take centre stage with the advent of Christianity or specifically Catholicism. All pagan gods now become the hierarchy of demonology. All heretics are doomed to hell, salvation must be sought or bought. Christ threw out money lenders, so Christians could be millionaires. If I lie, strike me down now, Aaaaarrrrrgghh.