Be ‘Courageous’: Go to the Movies on September 30

BY DAVID O’BRIEN

A common complaint these days goes something like this: "the movies and what’s on TV today are garbage...I have 150 channels at home and I can’t find a thing to watch...What ever happened to the great movies?... Now it’s just violence, car chases, sex, and more sex, stupidity, foul language, bad behavior and the glamorizing of the worst parts of our society...Did I mention that no one writes good scripts anymore?"

Have movies and TV really sunk that low? Is there truly nothing worth watching these days?

Sometimes, I admit, I am less than thrilled with what is served up by Hollywood. But at other times, I have hope.

Adam and Dylan have trouble seeing eye to eye

These days, I’m riding a wave of optimism. My wife and I watched "The Help" when it first came out. Surprisingly great fl ick, especially when I didn’t expect much since the book was phenomenal.

We also recently rented "Soul Surfer" and were uplifted by the main character’s witness of faith after her arm was bitten off by a shark while surfi ng.

Both these movies were widely released and viewed by millions despite the lack of curse words, gratuitous gore or lurid exploitations of half dressed men and women. In fact, I would dare say that my mother and my grandmother would have approved and even applauded these shows.

Another show coming out on September 30 that will equally satisfy those with a taste for substantive narratives and compelling plot lines is the movie "Courageous."

Set in a modern day suburb, four cops confront what it means to be men of integrity, determined to "not just be good enough." These men commit to pursuing the high standards to which God has called them no matter what the cost.

All this soul searching takes place amidst intense, pulse spiking, action sequences that match any episode of "Cops" or "Law and Order." Take, for example, the opening scene where one of the central characters has his SUV carjacked at a gas station. Instinctively reacting as a police officer, he chases his stolen vehicle and launches himself into the open driver’s side window. One minute into the story, they had me.

The men take time to pray for their friend

The main characters are typical, wise cracking, sports-watching guys but they choose to be courageous policemen and bold disciples of Jesus Christ. This comes as a refreshing break from the normal Hollywood depiction of men as either Rambo, Cassanova or Pee Wee Herman; or the standard portrayal of Christians as either fanatics or simple-minded Pollyannas.

The makers of this movie emphasize, without apology, the centrality of Christ and the importance of a Christian community in one’s life. To their credit, Christianity emerges as a heroic, inspiring and attractive way of life.

One high point in the story is how one cop, led by his pastor, deals with a tragic loss. Grief is not easy to show in a movie without overplaying the emotions triggered by loss. But the screenwriters do a phenomenal job of showing how a person can make it through terrible suffering with God’s help. Many pastors and Christian counselors will undoubtedly use this movie in the future to help people cope with their grief.

Another scene that could become a model for many people in their own lives is the interaction between one father and his teenage daughter. On the verge of womanhood, this daughter is taken out by her father to a fancy dinner where he presents her with a beautiful ring and asks her to trust him to help her find the man who will love, cherish and honor her like her Daddy does. While watching this scene, my mind immediately imagined such a moment with my own precious daughters. Powerful. If you have young daughters, make sure to bring tissues.

"Courageous" opens on September 30 in Andalusia, Auburn, Daphne, Dothan, Enterprise, Gulf Shores, Mobile, Montgomery and Prattville. How it fares over that first weekend will decide whether it will open in many other theaters or be sent straight to DVD. Don’t miss this opportunity to support a truly redemptive movie that will not only speak to your heart but may actually lead people to Christ. How many movies have that much to offer?

Check out www.courageousthemovie.com to watch the trailer and see where it is playing.

[Note, the Men of St. Joseph in the Mobile, AL area has reserved a theatre for a Courageous showing, on October 2, at 4:00. Tickets are available at area MOSJ meetings.]

About David O’Brien David O’Brien is the Associate Director of Religious Education for Lay Ministry for the Archdiocese of Mobile. His column, Everyday Faith, appears regularly in the archdiocesan newspaper, the Catholic Week. Email David at dobrien@mobilearchdiocese.org.