By Emilio Frenk.
Director: Jon Gunn
Cast: Mike Vogel, Erika Christensen, Frankie Faison, L. Scott Caldwell, Kevin Sizemore, Tom Nowiki, Robert Forster and Faye Dunaway.
Rating: Very Good.
Director Jon Gunn brings “The Case for Christ”, his 6th Feature Film and before watching this film I honestly didn´t had any expectations but again I was wrong.
Based on true events, the movie tells the story of Lee Strobel (Mike Vogel) an investigative journalist from the Chicago Tribune who witnesses with his wife Leslie (Erika Christensen) an event that almost cost their daughter´s life.
Leslie thinks that the event was a miracle while Lee thinks it was a coincidence since he is a proclaimed atheist. Eventually Lee´s wife will become a Christian and this will represent a series of conflicts between the couple.
Now Lee will embark in a journey that consists in the disapprove of the existence of Christ. This eventually will lead him to write his novel, which became a Best Seller.
Movies which are based in Christianity once they are brought to the big screen usually don´t work but “The Case of Christ” is the opposite.
Yes, the context of the film is about faith and a way of life but it´s also a journalism investigation told from another perspective and that´s the reason why it works.
The screenplay written by Brian Bird who wrote episodes of the series “Touched by an Angel” (which he also produced) and “Bopha!” had interesting moments and I liked the fact that most of the film was told by Lee´s point of view.
Some of the dialogue of the film is over the top but at the same time I understand why it had to be that way.
The direction by Jon Gunn in terms of technical choices was but there were moments that I felt that some of the scenes were too long and the characters had the tendency to over explain things when we already know what´s going on in the film.
The chemistry between the characters works and I did like Mike Vogel´s performance as a man who indeed wants to prove a point but at the end he cannot do it and it brings consequences like being distant with his family.
Other gems in this picture are both Robert Forster and Faye Dunaway which is delight seeing them in the big screen, even though both actors did not had enough time screening specially Dunaway who´s scene is the best in the film.
Also this is film that is related to forgiveness and cherish special moments with your loved ones. I was touched by the message of this film and I left the theater with a huge reflection in me.
With that being said “The Case of Christ” is a big surprise and I give a good recommendation to it.