| Book Review - How Movies Helped
Save My Soul |
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By Gareth Higgins
Publisher: RELEVANT Books
Review by Tom Gilbert
 I’d
like to write a book like this. However, I am no more than an
amateur movie critic. Still, my love of cinema runs deep and
I enjoy discussing films, especially their spiritual impact.
Fortunately for me, and you, Gareth Higgins
has written a book rich in discourse on the movies that have
in some fashion influenced his spiritual growth. How
Movies Helped Save My Soul ( RELEVANT books)
is an audacious title, but much like Higgins writing style,
the title is somewhat tongue-in-cheek.
Somewhat. The author doesn’t claim he’s been saved
by cinema, but his faith has been challenged, broadened, stretched
and deepened from his theater experiences.
Today there is a significant amount of discussion in the media
about Hollywood’s fascination with religion and spiritual
matters. Actually, it’s nothing new. Spirituality is part
of our makeup and the universality of God will make its presence
known, even in film, and has for some time now.
A lot of ground is covered in this book, but the writing is
light-hearted where it needs to be, and serious when the subject
matter demands it. It’s heavily influenced by Higgins
personal tastes. He did, after all, name the book “How
Movies Helped Save My Soul”
(emphasis added). I found that there were several films written
about that have influenced me (“Fearless”, “Field
of Dreams”, “American Beauty”), but there
were many I didn’t relate to as well (“Bringing
Out the Dead”, “Glengarry Glen Ross”, “The
Royal Tenenbaums”- all three had their moments, and may
be redemptive, but they didn’t satisfy my anticipation.
I admit that’s more my problem than yours). And several
I’ve yet to see that piqued my curiosity.
Plus, I was delighted to find mention of some gems I’ve
seen recently that the rest of the world doesn’t seem
to have awakened to (i.e. “Changing Lanes”).
The book is arranged to reflect films that touch upon various
soul-stirring categories like conspiracy, justice, fear, love,
quest, power, death, anti-heroes and brokenness (my favorite).
And there’s a whole chapter devoted to "The Matrix"
(who hasn’t rehashed the spiritual themes in this movie?).
Rather than make pointed references to the spiritual insights
of the films Higgins writes about I’d rather direct you
to the pages for your own personal “screening”.
He expresses himself well; in fact, better the further I read…or
maybe I finally put my own critic’s voice to sleep long
enough to absorb his observations. When you finish the book
be sure to head to the video store, or better yet, local cinema,
and catch up on your viewing.
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