Facing the Giants
For the Shiloh Eagles, the season has started like many others have under Grant Taylor (Alex Kendrick). Another player has transferred his senior year to hopefully have a chance at winning. The apathy on the team has turned into defeats, and Grant grows frustrated and is unable to lead his team. On top of everything else, he and his wife (Shannen Fields) have been unable to have children, there’s a rancid smell in their house, and his car battery continually dies. How can he turn things around in time before he loses his job?
If you’ve seen one of Sherwood Pictures’ other two films- “Flywheel” and “Fireproof”- or seen my review of the latter, you already know the answer. “Facing the Giants” may be your typical sports underdog film (and trust me, it is in every way), but it’s also an Evangelical Christian film made by Evangelicals for their flock. Sherwood Pictures is based out of a church in Albany, Georgia, and through Samuel Goldwyn Pictures, they have had great success (for independent films at least) at the box-office with “Fireproof” and “Facing the Giants.”
Here’s the thing about Sherwood Pictures’ films (the two I’ve seen at least). Yes, they’re not particularly well-acted (too many stilted and forced line readings). Yes, they follow every cliche in the book. And yes, the Evangelical, give your life to Christ, attitude is laid down really thick (were you expecting something subtle?). But ultimately, both this and “Fireproof” worked for me because they’re sincere about their message, and in all honesty, when it comes to the themes in both films, they are universal.
The religious part of the film is out in the open of this film (you have to give credit for the makers being honest about it), but while I don’t particularly find myself moved to get more religious in the traditional sense of the term, that doesn’t mean that the film is a failure. I’m a sucker for underdog sports films (especially of the football variety), but I am able to get something out of the religious angle. I think the point of these films is to show that great things- whether it’s turning around your life, a football team, or your marriage- can only happen when your heart and spirit are spiritually sound and strong. To some, this might mean turning to God (whichever name you call Him by) to go on that journey, while to others it might mean pursuing activities and passions that can fuel that spiritual side and teach you some things about yourself.
For me, that means working on films and musical projects that are personal to me, whether it’s a thriller that explores friendship and loyalty, an album inspired by one of my favorite films of all-time, reviewing a film that allows me to share a bit of myself with you my readers, or reading a book about a politician I admire, a subject that inspires and moves me, or a book that gives me ideas on how I can better myself as a person and become more spiritually strong and sound. “Facing the Giants” may not get me to turn to Christ to better my life (at least more than I already consider the subject), but this film has allowed me a forum to share some of my thoughts with you, and for that, you have to give it credit for what it accomplishes, even if it’s flawed filmmaking.
For other films with a spiritual and/or religious subject that’ve inspired me, check out “Fireproof”, “Andrei Rublev”, “The Last Temptation of Christ”, “Keeping the Faith”, “A Walk to Remember”, “The Passion of the Christ”, and “The Cross: The Arthur Blessitt Story”.
