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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Since 1996 |
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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The Reaping Stars: Hilary Swank, David Morrissey, Idris Elba, AnnaSophia Robb and Stephen Rea Director: Stephen Hopkins Scriptwriters: Casey W. Hayes and Chad Hayes Music: John Frizzell Warner Brothers Pictures Running Time: 101 minutes Rating: R The Reaping, a title that still baffles me. First of all, the film was made awhile back and for some reason released now. Then, I’m still trying to decide who is exactly reaping who? The movie stars Hilary Swank (Freedom Writers) as an ordained minister who lost her faith while working in the Sudan. Her husband and daughter were killed and Hilary decided God doesn’t really exist. This is the premise of the film as her character goes around the world debunking “mystical” happenings. She is living and teaching at Louisiana State University (prominently displayed) and telling her present class that she has over 45 “debunks” to her credit. In other words, science can explain everything so far. Enter a stranger, Doug (David Morrissey) who teaches in Haven, Louisiana with unexplained events taking place in the town. There are plagues as accurately and on time as those in the Old Testament, such as a bloody river, locusts, sick cattle, etc. Hilary telephones an old friend, (Stephen Rea), a priest for help and he tells her not to go. Ha. Before you can snap your fingers. Hilary and her right hand man, Ben (Idris Elba) are on their way to document what is happening. There are the usual frightened townsfolk, a scared little girl hiding in the swamp (AnnaSophia Robb), the girl’s mostly incoherent mother, and adequate special effects. The bloody river is a good one and so are the locust. You can figure out that someone is up to no good here and Hilary has the smarts to figure it out. She is a brave heroine, though whenever there is a closed door it must be opened or a dark passageway that must be explored---and Ben is right behind her. They are quite a team. Actually, Hilary Swank and Idris Elba should take on the next “Mummy” movie. They toss dialogue back and forth pretty well. In the end, The Reaping is a composite of several films like The Omen or any one you can think of with an altar and lots of knives. The Bible is explored as far as getting the plagues in order and then the story does a Buffy, The Vampire Slayer explanation of what is really happening. Don’t expect anything intellectual from “The Reaping.” The acting is good and John Frizzell’s soundtrack is fine, but there are a few holes in the script, plus, the timing. Why release it at Easter? Why not on a Friday the 13th or Halloween? Go figure. Copyright 2007 Marie Asner
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