Machine Gun Preacher Review

• 14th Mar 2012

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Marc Forster bounces back after is James Bond mis-step with something a little more comfortable for the director’s sensibilities – albeit less comfortable for an easy going audience.

This tale is an adaptation of a true life character Sam Childers, an ex-con who finds purpose in life after he is converted by his born again Christian wife. Off he sets to help out the unfortunate in Sudan as a missionary. And well, after encounters with the less than friendly locals who are brutalising the unfortunate, he soon becomes the titular vengeance seeker.

Sounds like a comic book come to life – but the fact that it is based on real life makes it all the more eyebrow raising. But to be honest it’s a character that we all wish existed a little bit more in people trapped in tough situations like this. It probably does take an ex-con biker with a sense of god to go about it.

Gerard Butler can’t keep away from those hard man roles, and proves himself quite the fallible, rugged accent bearing charmer in this action/drama. Butler isn’t afraid to really alienate his audience before the path to redemption begins; and we see him indulge in various acts that will test audience’s patience. Michelle Monaghan and Michael Shannon lend always credibility to their roles and here is no different.

Despite the films messages, the film is unlikely to appeal to fans of hard drama. This is thanks mainly to the overpowering use of music and montage (trying to make the film appeal more to the action crowd). It may however find a comfy home with those who like a bit of cult-ultra violence dealt with within the context of a dramatic and gritty world.

Steven Hurst