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"Somebody Call 911" |
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Directed by Damien Chapa
- Written by Damien
Chapa
Starring Damien Chapa,
Faye Dunaway, Robert
Wagner, Jill St. John
Distributed by Sabeva -
2002 - 120mins - Rated
NR |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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D+ |
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His hands healed. His heart questioned. |
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"The Calling," (also
available under the name "Man of Faith") is inspired by the true story
of Rev. Leroy Jenkins, a controversial faith-healing evangelist who
inspires strong reactions from both supporters and detractors alike.
Jenkins was abandoned as a child by his Cherokee mother, and raised by
a poor South Carolina family. Plagued by unexplained supernatural
occurrences throughout his young life, he experienced a tragic
accident that nearly led to the loss of his arm at the age of 22. When
he was miraculously healed during attendance at an Atlanta tent
revival, Jenkins began a life in ministry that grew to astronomical
proportions.
Jenkins blossomed as a minister, but quickly took the route of the
stereotypical "televangelist" by possessing enormous wealth, large
homes, expensive cars and allegedly an ego to match it all. After
serving several years in prison when he is finally betrayed, Jenkins
comes face to face with faith, his belief in God and his "calling."
As a minister myself, it is always a challenge to review films such as
"The Calling." If I overly praise the film, I am accused of being
blinded by my own faith and lacking in critical evaluation skills. On
the other hand, if I am too harsh on the film many openly question my
faith, my ministry and/or feel I am simply being too harsh on a film
about faith.
I suppose the truth is somewhere in the middle. As written and
directed by Damien Chapa, "The Calling" has remarkable potential but
can't seem to decide what it wants to accomplish as a film. It is not
mine to judge a minister, regardless of the number of well-publicized
events, mistakes and happenings that would only serve to make one
skeptical of his ministry. The reality is I've never attended a
Jenkins' revival and doubt I ever will. While Jenkins has received
considerable publicity, it is the inevitable challenge of a high
profile minister that there will be supporters and doubters along the
way. Even the greatest minister is a human being, and the result of
being human is that poor choices will be made, mistakes will occur,
and yes, sins will be committed.
As is the case with nearly every script, I do not buy into all the
positives or all the negatives. I do not judge the man, because I am
not a judge. I am, however, a film critic and I am very comfortable in
saying that as a film "The Calling" is a major disappointment.
Along with writing and directing, Damien Chapa chooses to carry the
lead role of Jenkins. Chapa has woefully miscast himself, and he is
simply never convincing as a man of God or a man who cons. I never for
a moment bought into the very basic tenet necessary...that Jenkins was
a man of faith. Chapa's performance was simply too ridiculously timid
and surface to be convincing.
On the other hand, as B.B. Gallen, the evangelist at the Atlanta tent
revival that Jenkins attends, Brad Dourif has a field day and seems
clearly in touch with both the modest degree of sincerity AND even
moreso Gallen's sense of showmanship and mastery of the "art" of
evangelizing.
Chapa has acquired quite the supporting cast, however, they are across
the board disappointing. Faye Dunaway makes an appearance as Mae West
and Robert Wagner is here along with Jill St. John.
While "The Calling" is generally a disappointment, the potential is
here for a powerful film about ministry, calling, surrender, falling
and re-surrendering oneself to serving God. It becomes painfully clear
that the filmmaker never quite surrendered the material to God. Of
course, the reason for this becomes rather clear when reading the
film's credits. Jenkins himself is the film's executive
producer...thus, one can't help but wonder if this isn't simply
another tool used to provide a "testimony" that will fill the pews and
the offerings.
I don't like being cynical. It's not my natural state, and yet as I
sat there watching "The Calling" I kept feeling like even the most
negative material and personal revelations of his own failures were
being painted in such a light that the audience would never forget he
was still a man of God. When you have to work that hard to get your
message across, then something's just not right.
"The Calling" is, in the end, a film that tries too hard and simply
accomplishes too little. In trying so hard to convince the viewer that
Leroy Jenkins is on a lifelong spiritual path, "The Calling"
sugarcoats the failures, mistakes, shortcomings and character defects
that have followed a man that is both mesmerizing and mystifying.
Plagued by a weak performance by Chapa and tremendously underdeveloped
supporting characters, "The Calling" ends up feeling like nothing more
than a Sunday morning television testimonial where the preacher cries
out "Look at all I've been through and I still believe in God." In
fact, out of curiosity I visited Jenkins' website (leroyjenkins.com)
and had to chuckle when I saw the advertisement for "God's Miracle
Drink."
I find myself intrigued by Rev. Jenkins, and I'm half hoping he'll
find his way to this review. If so, Rev. Jenkins, I hereby invite you
to e-mail me and I'd love to interview you for a column. I think we'd
have a marvelous conversation. Whether you are a true man of God or
the con that many believe you to be, you deserved a better film than
"The Calling." |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
Email Me! |
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How We Rated This Film
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TC Candler -
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| Richard Propes
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D+ |
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Jacob Hall
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TC Candler's Comment
n/a
Jacob Hall's
Comment
n/a
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