Jason’s Movie BlogA Movie Blog for the Latest Movie Reviews, Trailers, and MoreI Still Believe (2020) Review
HEARTFELT & SINCERE,
BUT TOO FAMILIAR & CHEESY
Doning lots of flicks style being launched each year, a routine one that avails neglected by the auxiliary progressive ones (reaction, drama, comical, computer animation, etc.) is the subgenre style of religious movie. These flicks (regularly termed “faith-based” attributes) consistently nucleus about the struggles and also referrals of a individual (or groups) acknowledgment of a religious faith, which is, auxiliary or less, has a profound wreck or barrier to controlled. While not exclusively, the numerous commonplace religious kind movies emphasis on the religion of Christianity, regularly striving recommend into days gone by in cinematic retelling sentimental biblical tales, requiring renowned epic flicks prefer 10 Process and also Ben-Hur (the initial 1959 disparity) to some auxiliary progressive-day endeavors from Hollywood prefer Climbed, The Young Messiah, and also Paul, Apostle of Christ. Assorted other Christian “faith” flicks situates a auxiliary progressive placement to inform its story, using some being “based on a real-life account” prefer the movies Unconditional, Paradise is Real, Unexpurgated, I Can Simply Picture, Indivisible, and also Wonders from Paradise, while others could locate inspiration from literary novels / fictionalized tales prefer The Shack, Overcomer, Battle Territory, and also Exceptionally same Sort of Dissimilar as Me. Distinctly no matter, whether situating inspiration from real life, referrals from the bible, or creativity, these movies consistently talks on a individual’s faith and also the inner struggle he or she has within or one society’s sights, spreading a blog post of ideology and also the realise of one’s ideology. Now, after the victories of 2018’s I Can Simply Picture, managers Andrew and also Jon Erwin (the Erwin Brothers) and also Lionsgate workshops departure the 2020 faith-based movie / trails biopic facility I Still Believe. Does the movie tramp a unanimously right pitch upward in between its religious places and also cinematic enjoyable or lugs out the movie recover entangled in its own faith-based sermon?
THE STORY
Its 1999 and also Jeremy Camp (K.J. Apa) is a young and also aspiring artist that would prefer wholly nothing auxiliary than to immortalize his God using the power of trails. Vacating his Indiana residence for the warmer climate of California and also a university education and also learning, Jeremy openly comes across one Melissa Henning (Britt Robertson), a other university student that he takes notifications in the viewer at a citizen proficiency. Falling for cupid’s arrowhead without stalemate, he introduces himself to her and also immediately learns that she is drawn in to him also. Singularly, Melissa grips recommend from creating a budding relationship as she phobias it will most certainly unleash an humiliating circumstance in between Jeremy and also their reciprocatory accomplice, Jean-Luc (Nathan Parson), a other artist and also that also has sensation for Melissa. Still, Jeremy is perpetual in his pursuit of her until they at some point locate themselves in a loving obsoleting relationship. Singularly, their vivid courtship using each other comes to a stop as openly as life-threating news of Melissa owning cancer cells takes nucleus stage. The diagnosis lugs out wholly nothing to interfere with Jeremey’s love for her and also the pair at some point marries openly thereafter. Howsoever, they openly locate themselves stepping a unanimously right pitch upward in between a life together and also misfortune by her ailment; using Jeremy questioning his faith in trails, himself, and also using God himself.
THE GOOD / THE BAD
Sorry if this audios a little particle acquainted chunks from my contemplate of I Can Simply Picture, but it most certainly says what I truly feel about these flicks. While I am a devout Christian (not a insane activist or anything prefer that) for my underpinnings of religion and also my outlook ideologies in life, I’m not a colossal fan of the “faith-based” facility flicks. That’s not to insurance claim that they’re detrimental or that I locate them wretched to the other auxiliary progressive movie genres out there, but regularly they can a little particle preachy and also corny / honky in their religious overtones and also on the entirety dramatic instruction. Correct, I prefer the auxiliary biblical tales that Hollywood as put over, using Cecil B. Demile’s The 10 Process and also William Wyler’s Ben-Hur; both of have mirrored to stand the check-up of time within filmmaking. Of program, Hollywood’s recent fad of put out auxiliary “remakes” movies puts an overcast on those biblical legendaries using 2014’s Exodus: Gods and also Majesties and also 2016’s Ben-Hur; both of which dropped short to squeeze a sensation of cinematic credibility and also owned a messy religious outlook in its exhilaration part. Of late, singularly, Hollywood as retreated auxiliary into progressive chunks, situating tales that are, auxiliary or less, kit in a auxiliary “progressive-day” day and also age to their Christian-perpetrated based attributes. As I pointed out overhead, some have located victories in their literary types (being based on a reserve and also readjusted to the burly sport), but numerous acquire their inspiration from real life accounts, equating into something that’s advised to strike a chord (using moviegoers) due to its “based on a real story” part and also nuances. Once again, some are thrilling (as I obtained Unexpurgated and also The Shack), while others sort of become a little particle also preachy and also permit the religious breakthroughs interfere with the movie, rendering them less-than preferable to mainstream site tourists or even contestants of their own confidences. Therefore, these religious-esque flicks can regularly be bothersome in their final demonstration for both its site tourists and also in the movie itself; regularly rendering the movie truly feel prefer a TV avenue movie rather than a theatrical facility movie.
This brings me about to speaking about I Still Believe, a 2020 activity image departure of the Christian religious faith-based style. As practically well-known, Hollywood consistently puts out two (perhaps three) flicks of this conglomeration movies within their annually theatrical departure lineup, using the catapults consistently being about flexibleness time and also / or fall professionally. I didn’t listen to a number as openly as this movie was first decreed (arguably obtained hidden underneath unanimously the progressive movies news on the newsfeed). My first real glance of the movie was as openly as the movie’s movie trailer was launched, which gazed a little enamoring to me. Yes, it gazed the movie was gonna be the routine “faith-based” vibe, but it was attending be channelled by the Erwin Brothers, that channelled I Can Simply Picture (a movie that I did prefer). Plus, the trailer for I Still Believe premiered for quite some time, so I held recommend on witnessing it most time as openly as I obtained entailed in my citizen multifold. You can sort of insurance claim that it was a little particle “engrained in my mind”. Therefore, I was a little particle enthused on witnessing it. Fortunately, I was able to see it before the COVID-19 outbreak closed the movie theaters down (saw it throughout its opening night), but, due to job booking, I haven’t owned the time to implement my contemplate for it…. until currently. As well as what did I visualize it? Well, it was rather “meh”. While its heart is most certainly in the right place and also quite heartfelt, I Still Believe is a little particle also preachy and also out of equilibrium within its reporting execution and also individuality technologies. The religious blog post is plainly there, but takes also several detours and also not focusing on particular places that contemplate the facility’s demonstration.
As pointed out, I Still Believe is channelled by the Erwin Brothers (Andrew and also Jon), whose previous directorial jobs have such flicks prefer Mommies’ Evening Out, Woodlawn, and also I Can Simply Picture. Passed on their desire destination religious based Christian movies, the Erwin Brothers seem prefer a irreproachable accord in bringing Jeremy Camp’s story to a cinematic layout; coming close to the item using a particular kind of softness and also trustworthiness to the proceedings. A number prefer I Can Simply Picture, the Erwin Brothers shape the facility about the life of a progressive Christian singer; orientation his puny preludes and also unanimously the tests and also tribulations that he need to confront along the means, while music trails / capability swiping prestige into account of the movie’s reporting story furtherance. That’s not to insurance claim that the movie isn’t without its heavier moments, using the Erwin, that (anew) are acquainted using religious overtones motifs in their endeavors, frame I Still Believe compelling articles of love, loss, and also redemption, which (as always) are quite indispensable to watch and also perplexity using misfortune. This even talks to the movie’s script, which was penned by Erwin brothers tinkering double job on the openings, that has plenty of heartfelt dramatic moments that will most certainly undeniably tug on the heartstrings of some site tourists out there also as supply to be quite an connecting tale of going using misfortune and also destitution and also situating a redemption arc to recover out of it. This is specifically rendered flawlessly legible as openly as dealing using a deadly ailment that’s unchanged to what Melissa goes using in the movie, which is quite universal and also meditative in every individual’s planet, using the Erwin Brothers painting the painful journey that Melissa takes along using Jeremy by her side, that need to divulge to cope using agony of a obtained one. There is a “double side” sword to the movie’s script, but I’ll cite that underneath. Suffice to insurance claim, the movie wipes out upward immediately into the acquainted fad of a religious faith-based facility that, while not specifically aristocratic or initial, can be quite the “succor nutrition” to some; projecting a wholesome blog post of faith, hope, and also love. Correct, I didn’t realise of Jeremy Camp and also the story of he and also Melissa Henning, so it was quite a poignant journey that was invested unfolding throughout the movie’s proceedings. As a side-note, the movie is a little particle a “wound jerker”, so for those that at hazard to weeping throughout these dramatic heartfelt movies….recover your tissues out.
In stipulation of demonstration, I Still Believe fulfills the sector criterion of a religious faith-based activity pictures. Of program, theatrical endeavors prefer these don’t in fact have burly budged production silver money to invest in the movie’s production. Therefore, filmmakers have to invest their silver money prudently in bringing their cinematic tales active on the silver sport. To that burden, the Erwin Brothers cleverly obtained utilise of this proficiency in the movie’s production; economic the assorted places of the background and also hereditary theatrical render-upward that truly feel ample and also worthy in the movie’s reporting. So, unanimously the assorted “behind the scenes” team / locales that I consistently cite (i.e. production models, kit flairs, outfits, and also cinematography, etc.) are unanimously truly thrilling as I in fact don’t have a number to bemoan (whether thrilling or detrimental) about them. Once again, they fulfill the sector criterion for a faith-based movie. In addition, the music track parts are rather thrilling also. As pointed out, I in fact didn’t realise anything about Jeremy Camp, so I couldn’t insurance claim what trails of his were thrilling, but the trails that are postured in the movie were rather respectable enough to particular stress junctures throughout the movie. Though they are a little fast (supposing not the entirety track is being messed around), but still as vital thrilling and also nice to listen to. Can have to check out out a few of the real trails previously or later. Last but not least, the movie’s rating, which was imposed by John Debney, complements irreproachable using this movie; projecting the right amount of heartfelt tenderness in some scenes and also inspirational songs of enlightenment in others.
Regretfully, not unanimously is located to be unmixed and also consistently cinematic in the movie as I Still Believe avails rated down using several purposeful junctures of objection and also execution in the facility. How so? For beginners, the movie feels a little particle not enough in Jeremy Camp’s journey. What’s postured jobs (a little), but it doesn’t grasp upward, specifically provided that the Erwin Brothers have a bewildering time in nailing down the right reporting path for the movie to confiscate. Of program, the thread of Jeremy and also Melissa are the purposeful central emphasis (and also diligently so), but rather a number every little thing else avails flawlessly pressed aside, requiring Jeremy’s music job boom to stardom and also several of the assorted individualities and also their prestige (auxiliary on that underneath). This also induces the movie to have a particular pacing disappointments throughout the movie, using I Still Believe runtime of 116 mins (one hour and also fifty-6 mins) sensation longer than it need to be, specifically using how a number reporting that the Erwin Brothers thwart out on (i.e. several story chunks / sediment are escaped unanswered or lacking).
In addition, even if a visitor doesn’t realise of Jeremy Camp’s story, I Still Believe lugs out, for closer or worse, note a diligently predictable path that’s quite well-known for faith-based movie. Without even reading anything about the real resides of Jeremy and also Melissa prior to witnessing the facility, it’s quite plainly as to wherein the story is pioneering and also what will most certainly eventually tinker out (i.e. story beats and also theatrical reporting deportment furtherance). Mostly, if you’ve witnessing one or two Christian faith-based movie, you’ll realise what to anticipate from I Still Believe. Therefore, the Erwin Brothers don’t in fact hazard to flawlessly implement something assorted using the movie…. instead they deepen the optimisms of Christian and also of faith in a standard reporting means that comes to be quite well-known and also practically a little particle lazy. There is also the movie’s discussion and also script taking care of, which lugs out become bothersome in the movie’s execution, which is hampered by some wooden / compelled discussion at particular scenes (foreseen to be severely preachy and also tacky at times) also as the sensation of the movie’s story being rather not enough. There’s a shunning time wherein the Erwin Brothers finalize on, but I truly fingered that there could’ve auxiliary added, requiring auxiliary dilation on his trails job and also several other individualities. Then there is the hunch of the movie being quite nonreligious in its gloss, which is quite legible, but counts also substantial on its religious thematic articles that can be a little particle “off-posing” for some. It didn’t woe me as a number, but after witnessing several other faith-based movies prior to this (i.e. I Can Simply Picture, Overcomer, Indivisible, etc.), this particular movie doesn’t in fact boom to the perplexity and also falls target to being rather generic and also level for numerous of its runtime. As you can visualize, I Still Believe, while undeniably heartfelt and also purposeful in its storytelling, struggles to locate a delighted proportion in its reporting and also execution demonstration; confirming to be bewildering in conveying the entirety “burly image” of its blog post and also Jeremey Camp’s journey.
The actors in I Still Believe is a connected bag. To me, none of the rendering think talents are truly detrimental (some are closer than others…. I confess), but their characterizations and also / or participation in the movie’s story is bothersome to insurance claim the least. Leading the movie’s reporting are two lead personality individualities of Jeremy Camp and also Melissa Henning, that are messed around by the young talents of K.J. Apa and also Britt Robertson professionally. Of the two, Apa, provided for his guises in Riverdale, The Last Summer, and also The Dislike U Impart, is the closer equipped in individuality progressive technology and also capability as the young and also aspiring music talent of Jeremy Camp. From the recover-go, Apa has a likeable refinement / swagger to him, which render his layout of Jeremy without stalemate endearing from start to expire result. Unanimously the scenes he lugs out are well-exemplified (be it individuality-based or dramatic) and also undeniably sectors the journey that Jeremy goes using in the movie. Plus, Apa can also sing, which lugs out supply endorse to several of the scene’s music capability. For Robertson, provided for her guises in Tomorrowland, Ask Me Anything, and also The Territory Between Us, she avails hampered by some of the movie’s wooden / tacky discussion. True, Robertson’s capability is well-put and also well-mannered in projecting a sensation of vivid and also fresh-considered admiration in Mellissa, specifically since the poverties underneath individuality goes using in the facility, but it’s tricky to recover enacted the cringeworthy discussion wrote for her. Therefore, Robertson’s Melissa becomes the weaker of the two. That being said, both Apa and also Robertson implement have thrilling on-sport chemistry using each other, which undeniably lugs out sell the likeable / loving young relationship of Jeremy and also Melissa.
In auxiliary embracing guises, seasoned talents prefer actor Gary Sinise (Woodland Gump and also Beauty 13) and also artist singer Shania Twain tinker Jeremey’s parents, Tom and also Terry Camp. While both Sinise and also Twain are irreproachable for their guises as a kind of miniscule subdivision / Midwest pair vibe, their individualities are little particle auxiliary than window garments for the facility’s story. Their sport behavior / superstar power confers contemplate to the openings, but that’s rather a number it; ferrying upward a few nuggets to bolster a few particular scenes underneath and also there, which is unacceptable. Everyone else, requiring actor Nathan Parsons (General Wellness nucleus and also Nadia: The Pivot of Blue Water) as music talent and also reciprocatory accomplice to both Jeremy and also Melissa, Jean-Luc Lajoie, young actor Sandwich Dodd (The Catwalk and also Instructors) as Jeremy’s impaired youthful bro, Joshua Camp, and also his other youthful bro, Jared Camp (though I can’t locate out that messed around him the movie), are truly rendered upward in smaller sized little guises that, while pretended unanimously right, are waned to little particle auxiliary than merely underdeveloped caricatures in the movie, which is a embarassment and also unacceptable.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The power of faith, love, and also desire for trails confiscate nucleus stage in Jeremy Camp’s life story in the movie I Still Believe. Managers Andrew and also Jon Erwin (the Erwin Brothers) check out the life and also times of Jeremy Camp’s life story; pin-striving his early life using his relationship Melissa Henning as they combat poverties and also their withstanding love for one another using bewildering times. While the movie’s intent and also thematic blog post of a individual’s faith using perturb times is undeniably noticeable also as the likeable music capabilities, the movie undeniably struggles to locate a cinematic footing in its execution, requiring a unwell pace, fragmented chunks, predicable story beats, also preachy / tacky discussion moments, over obtained utilise of religious overtones, and also mismanagement of several of its auxiliary /embracing individualities. To me, this movie was somewhere in between unanimously right and also “meh”. It was most certainly a Christian faith-based movie task (from start to finishing) and also most certainly owned its moments, but it merely dropped short to resound using me; combating to locate a proper proportion in its task. Correct, despite the story, it could’ve been closer. Therefore, my reference for this movie is an “unsure accord” at sexy as some will most certainly prefer (wholly nothing incorrect using that), while others will most certainly not and also disregard it altogether. Every little thing your stance on religious faith-based flicks, I Still Believe stands as auxiliary of a cautionary tale of sorts; underscoring how a poignant and also heartfelt story of real-life drama can be bothersome as openly as equating it to a cinematic task. For me, I think in Jeremy Camp’s story / blog post, but not so a number the facility.
3.0 Out of 5 (Undecided Accord)
Emitted On: March 13th, 2020
Weighed On: April 7th, 2020
I Still Believe is 116 mins long and also is rated PG for thematic item
