| 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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1 JOHN 2:10
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"Whoever loves his brother
lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him
stumble"
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(NIV)
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Reading
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