Must See Movie...

good back-story, and good acting

Excellent but underrated film

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

One of my favorite Christian based movies. A couple of different stories: one with troublesome father and high school angry son, not getting along with each other because the father has some guilt issues, involving his younger son and the angry son, failing at a private school because he's hanging out with some bad kids (outside of school). The dad is a cop and gets a new partner; a negro police officer. The negro police officer gets the promotion that the white cop wanted so he's angry about that, too. In addition, the white cop has some racist issues. I liked the mother's (cop's wife) role, she does her best as being a good wife and mother. A twist at the end. We loved the ending. Surprising to see actor Louis Gossett Jr. he has a part in this movie. We are fans of Louis Gossett Jr from way back.

This movie was excellent. It was not over the top preachy as the one reviewer said. It actually had a realistic transformation scene in the end. While the acting was not maybe as good as some Hollywood big names it was still very well done. If you enjoyed any of the Sherwood Pictures films such as Facing the Giants and Fireproof, you will enjoy The Grace Card. It is just as well done and will be a film that the whole family will enjoy. Excellent family film and a film that you can use as outreach as well. Great film to make a part of your family or church library.This would also be a great film to show to your unsaved family and friends. The ending was full awesome and showed the great grace of God and how it can impact families and change individuals.

I finally watched this film today after trying to find time over the past two weeks. Here is the review I wrote for http://ChristianDocumentaries.Wordpress.com (strangely enough I haven't had time to review a documentary for the site.I've been meaning to see this film for the past two weeks and finally made it out today. One reason I wanted to see it was because I heard the trailer for Courageous (http://courageousmovie.com/). A movie I really can't wait to see in September.I saw this movie at 4:30 in the afternoon (it is a lot cheaper then) and I was the only one in the theater except for an older black lady who came in right as it started. That seemed appropriate considering the nature of the film.The Good:The film had some really great points about it. Most of the acting was was great. I love Louis Gosset Jr. though I must admit he was a bit more rotund than I'm used to seeing him, but he always pulls off his roll well. It was also nice to Stephen Dervan in a minor role. You'll probably remember him as one of the comic relief firefighter's in Fireproof.I think my favorite actor in this film was Dawntoya Thomason who played the role of Debra, Sam Wright's wife. I don't know if she was really the best actress, but there was something about her on the screen that really just shone through.The variations in lighting as though showed the two different families really popped out as well. I don't normally notice this too much, but since studying more about film areas like this stick out. I also must say I enjoyed the soundtrack for The Grace Card. Much like the Sherwood films much of the music was contemporary Christian (most sounded similar to Third Day or MercyMe). I'm not usually a fan of CCM but this was all well done with no "poppy" high vocals.One other great point in this film was the wonderful portrayal of a pastor (in character traits). It was really nice to see a positive impact from a man behind the pulpit. That seems to be neglected in many Christian films.The Bad:Like most Christian films it had a few week spots in some the minor characters acting. Most notably I found the Police Chiefs (I think that was his role at least) played by Bob Childers to be a bit unbelievable on the screen. I'm not trying to tear him down, but I just don't think he was right for this role.The script also had a few challenges as well. It was well done over all, but like most of the new writers (I believe the writer is actually full time in the medical field) he tried to have the characters say too much without just showing it. More than anything it came across when trying to show Mac's racism.My last two points for this section are more theologically or philosophically based. I want to be clear than many dear saints may disagree with this assessment.First, while I like the portrayal of the pastor I really was taken back by the fact that neither of the times he is shown preaching does he actually read or quote the Word of God. He talks about experience and says some fine things but unless it comes from the Scriptures it isn't preaching it is just motivational speaking. I realize time is precious in a film as well as flow, but I personally think that would have made those scenes much more powerful.Second, my biggest fault with this film was the lack of God-centered grace. The theme of the entire film was grace, but the whole time they speak of grace to fellow man and never grace from God. The only reason we can give grace to one another is because it has so freely been given to us on the cross. It is a fundamental point that I felt this movie just lacked. They mentioned Jesus plenty of times, but never explained the gospel and while that is not something necessary in Christian film I just don't get how you have a movie about grace and never show that.The Recommendation:I think this movie is really worth seeing and supporting. While the last two points above really concern me I'm hoping this film does well enough that the writer will create more films and have the opportunity to correct those errors (or at least errors in my view). If you have the chance I'd take the time and money to go out and see The Grace Card.

I thought Director David Evans first foray into directing was well done. While he necessarily had to tip toe around some of the thematic elements in order to maintain an acceptable rating for his target audience, he avoided some of the pitfalls of other Christian movies that tended to sanitize the movie by showing the characters offer up a simple prayer of salvation,or a need to God and magically life came together for them. David Evans, allows us to wittiness the inner turmoil of the characters, and their struggles to make sense of the issues they face.-Mack struggling with the loss of His son, and the turmoil and degradation of his family that is the result of his own unresolved anger which has turned to bitterness and borders on hatred for all of humanity. Simultaneously we see Pastor Sam as he struggles with loving his neighbor(Mac) whom is a racist. These are complex issues that certainly could have been explored more in depth with a larger budget, professional actors, and an R rating, but given the circumstances, and purpose of this film, I think the movie does an excellent job of allowing the audience to make the connections to the deeper issues at play. I wish all Christian based movies had the courage to tackle such while doing an equally good job of resisting the urge to put God in a box and relegate him to a fairy God mother sitting around waiting for His followers to offer up a prayer request that he can snap His fingers and answer in a 2 hour time frame. I give it 8 stars, but rate it 10 above to off set the lack of grace that many professional critics will use when rating this film.