 |
| Director
: |
Rob Hardy
|
| Starring
: |
Boris Kodjoe
Nona Gaye
Idris Elba |
|
| The plot of
The Gospel |
A
successful R&B singer who years ago rejected
God returns home when his father, a bishop, falls
ill. |
The Gospel
Movie Review
|
Review by Robert
Koehler:
An ego-maniacal Baptist reverend and a sexy pop star
who has drifted from his Christian roots stumble toward
redemptions of a sort in "The Gospel," a creaky
melodrama that wants to be a musical. Mimicking a traditional
movie tunertuner, director Rob Hardy's script allows
for plenty of gospel music to bridge the gaps in his
slight drama centered around a struggling Atlanta church.
Pic will find its target auds with families, Christian
groups and gospel fans, especially in cities with solid
African American congregants.Already displaying his
chops and charisma, young David (Michael J. Pagan) leads
rapturous churchgoers in song and is planning to become
a minister as is his pal Frank (Sean Nelson). When David's
father, Bishop Taylor (Clifton Powell), arrives too
late to be with his wife when she dies at a hospital,
David lashes out at him and runs away....more..
Review By LAURA
KERN:
Set against a lively,
music-filled African-American church, "The Gospel,"
written and directed by Rob Hardy and loosely inspired
by "The Prodigal Son" parable from the New
Testament, endeavors to be a powerful tale of faith
and forgiveness, but in the end fails to capture even
the slightest essence of spirituality and religious
belief, or to provide any real insight into its characters'
conflicts, desires and motivationsAfter his mother dies,
David Taylor (Boris Kodjoe) rejects the church and his
father (Clifton Powell), a bishop, who was too wrapped
up in God's work to be with his wife during her final
minutes. Young David, perhaps a bit melodramatically,
throws down his Bible and renounces his former desire
to follow in his father's footsteps.......More..
|
