Starring: Michael Joiner, Mike Higgenbottom, Louis Gossett Jr, Cindy Hodge and more.
Genre: Christian movie
Director: David Evans
The Story:
The Grace Card” is about a man (Mac) who became a police officer after his 5-year-old son was hit by a fleeing African-American drug dealer. Mac (Michael Joiner) blames himself for the accident that happened in his own neighborhood. Thinking he might prevent such a travesty from happening to another family became a motivation for his joining the force, but his unresolved feelings only complicate his new career. Misguided emotions cause him to lash out at his wife and his second son, over the years, creating a crisis of alienation that comes to full fruition in the film.
The setting begins when Mac is teamed up with an African-American officer named Sam (newcomer Michael Higgenbottom), who happens to pastor a church part-time, as well. To add fuel to Mac’s fire, Sam gets a promotion to sergeant—skipping right past Mac—who’d already been recently overlooked for advancement.
Sam consults his grandfather (Louis Gossett Jr.) for advice on his own quest for the right path in his life—to make a difference—be it pastor or police officer. Enter the delicate fabric of serendipity—like only God can weave into life in order “to work out all things for good” (Romans 8:28).
With that setup, the themes become obvious, but they are not limited to “race issues” in the Deep South. Instead, they go much deeper, and include race,redemption, forgiveness, family,poverty, life, and death. The film is ambitious, and some may argue handles too much, but, just like the recent script from “To Save a Life,” the screenplay (nicely done by Howard A. Klausner, “Space Cowboys”) integrates them all with relative ease.
Samuel Goldwyn Co. has been a strong backer for faith-based films (“Fireproof” / “To Save a Life”), and they didn’t disappoint with their distribution of this weekend’s “The Grace Card,” another Christian indie seemingly destined to join the ranks of “Facing the Giants,” with its impressive opening weekend box office—entering the top 20 of all time for a Christian film—and in the top 15 films competing in the secular market this Oscar®weekend of 2011.
“For it is by grace you have been saved…” Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) is what truly stands out in this film, in ways that you don’t anticipate. In reflection upon this year’s past films during this Oscar® Eve, I recall the line and theme from “The King’s Speech,” “I have a voice,” which had a powerful punch, or the gritty determination of the young Mattie in “True Grit” seeking justice for her father’s murderer, with biblical determination—both strong films. But I can honestly say that it’s a simple film like this one which can often become a world changer for the believer. These are the kinds of films we long to see, even if they don’t have a multi-million dollar budget. “The Grace Card” has a lot of true grit, and it definitely has a voice.
“Witness the power of forgiveness”
Watch trailer
