God’s Not Dead (2014)
Certified: PG
Duration: 113 minutes
Directed by: Harold Cronk
Starring: Shane Harper, Kevin Sorbo, David A. R. White, Trisha LaFache, Hadeel Sittu, Marco Khan, Cory Oliver, Dean Cain, Jim Gleason, Benjamin Ochieng, Cassidy Gifford
College professor Radisson (Kevin Sorbo) is well known for being an upfront atheist. A student who is a fervent Christian, Josh (Shane Harper), applies for his course even though he knows Radisson’s viewpoint on religion.
Radisson tells his students to sign a note that says ‘God Is Dead’, so that the course is not derailed into a theological discussion. Josh does not accept and is thus challenged by Radisson to give three lectures in which he must prove God’s existence. Josh accepts the challenge.
The film follows the lives of other people on campus and their struggles. There is Chinese student Martin (Paul Kwo) who is starting to believe that God exists but does not know how to handle this; Amy (Trisha LaFache), who is an internet blogger just out of a rough relationship and who is diagnosed with terminal cancer; Ayisha (Hadeel Sittu), a Muslim woman who has embraced Christianity but does not know how to tell her father about this; and Mina (Cory Oliver), Radisson’s girlfriend, who is in a tight spot in her faith.
I believe the film hits the nail on its head and in one way or another makes sure to leave its mark
Meanwhile, Pastor Dave (David A. R. White), to whom many go for counsel, feels he is out of depth and finds help in his friend Reverend Jude (Benjamin Ochieng) who reminds everyone that God is not so easy to be pegged.
God’s Not Dead is an independent film that is made with a clear as crystal Christian agenda.
That in itself does not make it a better or worse film. In its essence, it is an interesting and well-acted film feature that has some unusual things to say that we do not usually see on film. To its merit, God’s Not Dead is not the piece of propaganda that it was made out to be. Instead I found it to be an effective vehicle where members of the audience can have a serious rethink about what they believe and why and what it means to actually believe in something.
Though an independent production, this movie is a slick affair, one that has considerable production values attached to it. What I found refreshing is Sorbo’s performance which is well honed and miles away from his muscle-toned antics of the Hercules TV series. He makes his professor a genuine person when it could have been just a one-dimensional reproduction of the typical cinema tyrant. Instead, he delivers a smooth performance that is simply spot on.
As in the case with films that have a myriad of sub-plots, some work and some others don’t.
In this case I would say that the sub-plot of the Muslim woman converting to Christianity and her father is a bit too stereotypical.
Propelled by its overall earnestness and all-round sense of effort, I believe the film hits the nail on its head and in one way or another makes sure to leave its mark.