The Basics
Cast: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Kathy Baker, Michael Shannon
Directed by: Marc Forster
Written by: Jason Keller
The Good
Machine Gun Preacher is gripping, brutal, and utterly compelling. It is all of these amazing things simply because it is a story based completely in fact. The reality that Sam Childers acquaints himself with on a daily basis is one of violence, heartbreak, sadness and death. And this violent biopic does an admirable job in showcasing that "turning the other cheek" will only take you so far. Sometimes, to truly save lives and combat the pure evil that exists in the world, one must commit fully to destroying that evil by any means necessary.
Gerard Butler is very good in the role of Mr. Childers, devoting every ounce of energy to each side of the epic battle that wages within the very heart of the man. At first glance, Childers is raw animal. Life is a wall and his fate thus far has been to hit that wall, often and with great zeal, at 100 mph. Addicted to heroin, emotionally abusive, physically terrifying and utterly incapable of empathy, Butler succeeds in portraying Childers at his absolute worst. He also triumphs in the inevitable transformation Childers undergoes. After hitting rock bottom, Childers finds the strength within himself to change his life for the better. And from there we move into the action focused, hard-hitting Butler performance we've come to expect from most of his work. Though there really isn't anything brazen or fearless about the performance, it is mesmerizing to watch, simply because you know it really happened.
Michelle Monaghan, always a joy to watch, brings her sublime energy and natural talent for nonaffectatious performance to the role of Lynn, Sam's beleaguered but unquestionably loyal and loving wife. Seeing her husband rise above his weaknesses and sacrifice everything for the betterment of not only his family but the world brings her a subtle joy that, in spite of the hardness developed in her previous years, still shines through. Her chemistry with Mr. Butler is also strong making for a solid and believable pairing.
Michael Shannon is also a strong point in the film as Childers' childhood friend Donnie, also addicted to heroin and the hard life. While not possessing the mean streak and hardline attitude of Childers, it's easy to see why the two are such devoted friends. Shannon's natural talent for reservation and a sort of innocence in his performance lends itself to Butlers strength, creating a deep brotherly relationship for the two. Shannon has always been a strong actor and this is another poignant success for him.
The real kicker for Machine Gun Preacher however is the brutal visuals that accompany Sam's trips to Africa. Every time he steps foot upon the continent, more horrors reveal themselves. Knowing the reality behind these terrible sights makes the scenes of unbelievable carnage and death even more heartbreaking. Gruesomely captured with a keen documentary style, some images will be difficult to shake from memory, but knowing that there is a man out there who refuses to let these crimes go unanswered helps to ease the pain.
It must also be noted that director Marc Forster, the man behind Monster's Ball and The Kite Runner once again does an excellent job of capturing reality-borne human drama. With the candid eye of a documentarian combined with a stellar passion for narrative, he is able to entwine the vivid truths of the world with the flair and flow of film, as though reflecting the emotions and passions behind the actions, the pure memories, instead of the simple actions themselves. Forster, as before, has truly excelled once again in his cinematic endeavors.
The Bad
The only negative aspect of Machine Gun Preacher is that is stands solely on the strength that it is a true story so in turn is becomes rather predictable. Man hits rock-bottom, man turns life around, man finds God, man finds a mission, end of story. This formula is almost textbook for any biopic that details real people changing the world, and sadly, it does pull some of the excitement out of watching the film. There is little expectation for what is coming and the true excitement exists in the moment. Knowing the story is still continuing in reality as you watch the film is almost like reading a history report on current events, offering only the backstory as we patiently await whatever plausible conclusion may occur in the future.
The Scorecard
Acting - Strong performances throughout the entire cast. Butler, Mognahan, Baker, Shannon, not an individual is wasted and everyone of these immensely talented actors gets an opportunity to shine.
Directing - Powerful direction once again on behalf of Forster whose keen talent to combine reality and cinema has once again proven to be a powerhouse. I see awards in the future.
Writing - Realty does make for much better writing than fiction. Enjoyable, funny, heartbreaking, and compelling, it's everything you'd come to expect from a biopic.
Sound - Par for the course, save for the scenes in Africa. The combat between the evil LRA and the Sudanese soldiers, with Childers, is brutal and raw.
Visuals - The stark differences between idyllic life in the States and the horrors of the Sudanese region of Africa are powerful in their depiction. It can't really be described, you must experience it.
Overall
A triumph for director Marc Forster, Machine Gun Preacher proves indelibly that everyone deserves a second chance, hate can be a weapon for good in this world and that real heroes do still exist.
Machine Gun Preacher gets a 7.5 out of 10.
-Jarod
