Hungry spirits Food for thought

We are seated in a sold-out movie theater on a Tuesday at 1 p.m. in a town with a population of less than 11,000. And yes, I did write that it is a Tuesday. If you supposed all these folks had come to see the latest car chase or the latest superhero subdue bad guys with rocket-propelled grenades, you’d be mistaken. Nor did they pay to see Hollywood’s latest obvious attempt to socially engineer society toward its no-holds-barred moral preferences. Instead, we all were there to watch I Can Only Imagine, a wildly successful independent film with a deeply Christian message released earlier this month. No critic in shallow Tinseltown could have imagined how popular this movie that took $7 million to create would become, grossing more than $17 million in its opening week. I Can Only Imagine is the latest in a string of successful mostly independent films with engrossing testaments to hope, forgiveness and spiritual inspiration rooted in the Christian faith. The men, women and children rustling popcorn sacks around us had purchased tickets to absorb this particular film’s message of love, forgiveness and God’s amazing grace. Imagine that. Like many millions of Americans today, I believe they also were there to help fill a hunger for significance and meaning that’s been building for years now. I need not remind any reader of the times in which we live. Meanwhile, the monotonous drumbeat from mainstream entertainment has grown increasingly distant from the core beliefs and needs of America’s majority. My friend Ed Thiel, whose brother, Nick, is a Hollywood screenwriter, said the films today that aren’t mere rehashes of their originals focus primarily on three aspects: “Sex, violence and special effects.” Not only is Ed correct, I believe he’s hit on the primary reason attendance at movie theaters nationwide has spiraled downward of late. Increasingly, people just don’t want to pay handsomely to have Hollywood’s agendas forced upon them. Since they have a choice, they choose to say “The expensive popcorn might be good, but I’d rather keep my money.” The repetitious Hollywood themes have become stale, even boring. The writing, for the most part, is mediocre. Meaningful messages, outside of obviously pushing California’s controversial social and sexual agendas, are mundane and shallow, if present at all. Disgraced Miramax producer and admitted sleaze Harvey Weinstein certainly understands that game by now, along with other “stars” of his leanings who’ve been unmasked during the past year. Contrast those lackluster offerings with films containing actual storylines. Many, such as Greater, are true stories. In 2016, Greater defined the transforming faith, tenacity, forgiveness and overcoming of the late Razorback standout Brandon Burlsworth from my hometown of Harrison. I Can Only Imagine has similar messages based in musician Bart Millard’s troubled childhood, an alcoholic and abusive father, his fledgling love of music and eventual rise to form the popular Christian rock band called MercyMe. There, he used spiritual strength generated from his lifelong pain and resulting forgiveness to his dying father to write “I Can Only Imagine.” That inspired song became the most-oft-played (and triple-platinum-selling) Christian song on radio. Millard’s story is the gritty, deeply human exploration of life and spiritually enriching truths that makes an audience want to stand and clap when the credits roll, which ours did. They were thankful to have paid to experience this film that left them feeling inspired and encouraged. Other films that proved financially and culturally successful at lifting human spirits, rather than relying on glitzy special effects and sophomoric story lines, included God’s Not Dead and its sequel, Let There be Light, The Shack, Forever My Girl, Wonder, and Saved By the Light, to name but a few.

Tom Joyce of Lifezette said I Can Only Imagine’s success “is one the Hollywood Reporter called a ‘surprise upset’” because the film outperformed major releases such as Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time and 20th Century Fox’s gay teen romantic comedy, Love, Simon. I agree with CNS.com blogger Craig Bannister’s view that Hollywood studios and entertainment media “should not be surprised to see faith-based and faith-friendly films succeed at the box office at this point.” He provided examples of some successful Christian-themed films of 2017: The Star ($62.9 million on a $20 million budget), The Case for Christ ($17.6 million on a $3 million budget), The Shack ($96.9 million on a $20 million budget) and Let There Be Light ($7.2 million on a $3 million budget). There were no masked actors wearing Spandex in any of those offerings, no predictable car crashes, fiery explosions, scenes of gratuitous mass murder, shades of sadism, full frontal nudity, sex, or streams of meaningless expletives inserted for shock. In their place was what I believe most Americans would call genuine substance. I’m talking about the feelings, empathy, compassion, caring and a sense these hungry crowds had left their seats fed with a form of meaningful manna that nourished their hearts and spirits. And, for me anyway, that’s well worth $7.50 for a ticket.