The Gospel (2005)

Strong and Moving!

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

I agree - the music was great. I thought Kodjoe gave a fine performance. The Charles Frank character was believable in his self-righteousness. Overall, I thought this was a good presentation of the parable of the prodigal son. Having been in the church for years, I also thought the depiction of the church worship services were inspiring. The movie could have fleshed out some of the sub-themes. I also liked the relationship between David Taylor and his manager, Wesley. I recommend this movie, especially to Christians who enjoy gospel music and want to see a slice of church life, particularly in the African-American community.

Maybe a little cheesy with some of the acting...but truth doesn't lose it's value in the messenger. I think that in the end it makes a good movie because of it's message. I am speaking from experience...and I know truth when I see it. I do understand that everyone's entitled to their opinion and all...I mean, I don't like everything Ebert says is "good stuff"...so with that in mind, if you like music, if you have an ounce of Christian faith, you'll enjoy this film. If you've been to a church in the south, I mean a "full gospel" church, you'll be able to relate tremendously...enjoy! If you are not a "person of faith", I hope you give this movie a chance to see what it's about...faith and the movie...that is. It's worth the time, in my opinion.

My excellent rating for this movie is based on the story line. What was so moving to me was how realistic and relevant the story is to living "the Christian life" in today's world. Christian or not, we are all human and I'm sure I'm not the only one that can relate to this movie. Your life may not be exactly as that of the characters but you can probably relate to their personal characters. One of my favorite quotes from this movie is "Don't allow those situations in your life to keep you from having a relationship with God...you need to know Him." Perhaps it was just that the message of this movie is what I needed to hear, but I will confess that the message brought me to my knees. I pray that if you are at a point in your life "exactly where He wants you to be" that you will also appreciate the message and find hope.

of all the comments here I could deal least with skoptarevich whom I consider doctrinaire. forgiveness and inclusion is the way for me.rules are to guide and nothing else.lots of people seem unable to develop questions like who is Rob hardy and what is his view of things? why would he make make a movie like this and present it to the public? the lack of development of story-lines and all the other "flaws' of Hardy's work here, alluded to by many reviewers, seems not to belie the fact that all they list could not possibly have been been missed by Hardy from the start....Hardy who clearly is a highly competent professional.the end result then has to be exactly what he intended.that intent to me is the presentation of a film that looks great, has an accessible and important message, explores the social reality of African American churches to an extent...but of vast and basic importance here seems the presentation of African Americans in a positive light in their daily lives that is more consistent with everyday reality. it is the way they are and the way the would be all be things being more equal than not.Hardy gives us an impression of African America that is healthy not drug ridden, overflowing with pimps and police, almost naked Blac women shaking their tails over everything. Hardy gave us a cast the most consistent and intriguing feature of which is its normalcy, its normal health and humanity. it is middle class African America, it is a good impression and hardly inaccurate.the music was special, Tamyra Gray special also, Nona Gaye a truly impressive woman, Elba and Powell fine actors, Boris Kodjoe, a presence that contributes mightily to the overall impression of African American humanity that Hardy surely intended to convey first and foremost, at the expense of all the so-called short-comings of the movie.Boris Kudjoe is calm, charming, strong, quiet, tall and unrelentingly good-looking. He did no harm to this movie..indeed made it the excellent whole, fine product that it is.especially during Kodjoes 'rendition' of "God you are good and your mercy endure-th forever," the tremendously rich dark, tan, chocolate, brown tones of the picture drew to mind a descriptive that can only be termed classic - American classic.Yes that is exactly what it is - classical - for it is of original America, the 'original' America of the colonists and slaves, the music that is basic to that America and its creative streams finally I am African but not American, and though brought up a catholic I do not subscribe to any religious conception of things human.Yet I try to understand and accept the conceptions of things otheres hold, how they have achieved their survival and what because of these conceptions. what works for them is fine by me. and when I see such as Gospel I get a glimpse of what works for African Americans, and it is something fine to behold....indeed!