God's Country (2012)
Meghan Doherty is a young, talented executive who neglects her mother and close friends to focus on one goal MAKING MONEY. After closing a multi-million dollar deal Meghan is asked by Mr. Randolph Whitaker (her boss/CEO) to close a deal of a lifetime. She's taking her talent to the Mojave Desert in hopes of getting a Christian land owner to turn over his land before auction. With a $100 million dollar potential deal looming, there is nothing that will stand in the way of her getting what she needs to further her career. Not even GOD? The foreclosed land in question, called God's Country, is owned by Eden Graham, a minister who runs a youth camp there, along with his wife and son, Jake. Upon arrival at the camp in her Ferrari and designer clothes, Meghan is clearly not a good fit, but Eden persuades her to stay; he promises to sign over the property to her if, during her weeklong sojourn there at the camp, she is not convinced of the value of what they are doing.
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Redundant and unnecessary.
It is a performances centric movie
This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
If you're looking for a movie with lots action, complex plot and characters - you will likely be disappointed here. But, if you're in the mood for a movie that challenges today's self centered money motivated secular values - then you're in luck! Fans of the beautiful and talented Jenn Gotzon won't be disappointed either. She literally shines in this film. Those who know her won't be surprised by this in the least. (It's almost as if Angels surround her throughout the film.)Technically, there are some rough edges, but over all Chris Armstrong does a masterful job at helming his wife's star turn. A combination that completely works for both Gotzon and Armstrong here.Personally, I wished there was more to the script itself to challenge the viewer and some of the casting seems a little awkward, but industry stalwarts Daniel Hugh Kelly, Gib Gerard and Michael Toland all turn in fine performances. Two more bright spots in the cast are Kevin Brown and Stephanie Barnes. Barnes seems to carry the spirit of the picture with her on screen and her scenes with Gotzon work especially well and help to beef up some of the necessary story conflict that add so much to a satisfying resolution.I'm a softy for movies with a lot of heart and I don't mind saying that I kept my hankie busy for the last quarter of the film.
If you're looking for a great evening of quality family entertainment you need look no further than 'God's Country". It is inspirational and moving - a movie that you will want to watch many times. Chris Armstrong's (in his first directing venture) does an exceptional job, especially with the breath-taking scenery. I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future. And the cast is superb. Jenn Gotzon really shines in this film and shows why she was voted Best Actress at both the Global Art Film Festival and the 168 Film Festival. Her portrayal of Meghan Doherty as a money obsessed worldly bank executive transformed by love and the power of God is brilliant and inspiring. The supporting cast is excellent as well - Gib Gerard (Jake Graham), Michael Toland (Eden Graham), and Daniel Hugh Kelly (Mr.Whittaker). Does Daniel Hugh Kelly ever age? Kelvin Brown's infectious humor as Lenny and Stephanie Barne's innocent (yet perky) portrayal of Geri are noteworthy as well.But the story of God's Country also speaks to something bigger. It demonstrates the contrast between materialism and spirituality. What the human heart seeks will not be found in riches, jewelery, or Ferrari's (as Meghan discovered) but in the simple truth of God's love for us and our love for one another through community. The people of "God's Country" had found this truth and their acceptance of Meghan in love transforms her. We should seek to emulate this in our own lives.The Apostle Paul wrote 2,000 years ago "...brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Those words are still relevant today and "God's Country" exceeds each one of those standards. I know you will be blessed by this wonderful film as I was.
Bravo to director Chris Armstrong, in God's Country, the actual location becomes a character in the movie, it was as if God himself was slowly speaking through the retreat center and the land. You can clearly see the director raising the bar in cinematography and turning a simple story into a memorable movie. Excellent job by Jenn Gotzon in portraying amazing change and redemption, reminding us that independent Christian films can have great performances. The overall cast was cleverly written, acted and directed to show the main characters breakdown of all the areas in her life that needed to be given back to God. Overall a great family movie that is easy to identify with and leave us with the timeless principle of "God's unique timing, economy and grace".
5.0 out of 5 stars God's Country, an Excellent Film of Inspiration, April 21, 2013 By Dr. Fred "Dr. Fred" (Salem, VA) - One of the things that plagues independently made films of faith is that without big studio backing there will be problems with such things as lighting, editing, music and sadly even acting. There is no such problem with this film, it is positively brilliant and I have had the privilege of reviewing faith based and family films for years. This is a film that should have been featured in theaters as there is a wide open expanse of beauty that harks back to the great old days of the John Ford epics. Of course this is not a Western though it takes place in Western style territory. There are also scenes in the metropolis of LA and here is one of the areas the film shines in. You are taken back and forth from city to country, intercutting between scenes in a style often over looked in films today. Certainly the director Chris Armstrong, who put this together, deserves credit for knowing his craft. However, I have to single out one element in particular. Though the over all cast is good, this is a Jenn Gotzon film and were this theatrical we would be talking Oscar. Jenn Gotzon plays a top notch business woman who knows the art of the deal and is at the pinnacle of the ladder of success. Her assignment is to talk a preacher and his family into giving up his land, his dream, which is used as a campo for young people. The preacher challenges Jenn to wait six days and during this time... well I don't want to be a spoiler. I will just say that seldom has an actress had to make herself believable in so many settings and she pulls it off in the style of the great actresses during Hollywood's Golden Age. Of course it is a faith based film and you will see the hand of God throughout the story. The film is a miracle itself and I am thankful it was shown in a special preview screening. I will say I am not alone in my opinion as the film drew the audience in a way I have seldom heard of and there was applause at the end.