This being the Easter season, or as I like to call it Resurrection day, the inspirational films start hitting the multiplex. As with past seasons, inspirational or Christian films are getting more and more popular by Christians and non alike. However considering how our society is in a breakdown mode, it is no surprise why these films are being embraced. "I Can Only Imagine" is one of these films that not only is informational, but is heart-wrenching and inspiring as the film builds momentum.
This true story follows the life of Bart Millard (J. Michael Finley), lead singer of the Christian band MercyMe, who eventually loses his father, Arthur (Dennis Quaid) to pancreatic cancer which in turn inspires him to write the mega-hit song, "I Can Only Imagine".
The story starts with Bart giving his story to a local DJ and as the flashback unfolds, it shows how this musician endured his father's physical and emotional abuse and his mother, Adele's (Tanya Clarke) disappearance of herself and having to leave Bart because of the abuse. As a preteen at a summer camp, he meets his future girlfriend, Shannon (Taegen Burns) as her young, (Madeline Carroll) as an adult, and a good friend, Kent (Alexander Dominguez) as an adult which ended up becoming one of the members of MercyMe. As his music turns from pop to Christian, Bart starts realizing that God is moving him in a direction he's unsure of. Eventually, a manager, Scott Brickell (Trace Atkins) agrees to manage his band and through the roller coaster ride MercyMe goes on, the Lord starts convicting Arthur's heart so as time and pain between the two, he and his son, Bart, Arthur slowly goes from the man Bart hated to the man he wanted to become. "I Can Only Imagine" comes from Bart's heart-wrenching journey to forgive his father and subsequently the song was for his father.
Others to round out the cast are Brody Rose as Young Bart, Jason Burkey as Mike, Mark Furze as Nathan, Cloris Leachman as Memaw and Nicole DuPort as Amy Grant.
This was delicately and movingly directed by Andrew Erwin ("The Cross and the Towers" (Documentary) '06, "Alumni" (TV movie) '09, "October Baby" '11, "Mom's Night Out" '14, "Woodlawn" '15) plus TV and videos, and Jon Erwin (Same as above and "Fully Alive" '12, Steve McQueen: American Icon" (Documentary, co-dir.) '17) plus TV. The emotional impact these directors were able to extract out of these actors, specifically from Finley and Quaid was amazingly real and unapologetic in their conveyance of how they were to cope with their respective situations. It was touchingly written by Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle based on a story by Jon Erwin, McCorkle and Alex Cramer which is based on the life story of Bart Millard. This biopic centered on the most famous Christian song in decades and was an amazingly delineated script in that it captured the true pain and talent of this musician and how he was able to transcend from a broken man to one that God was able to enable him to forgive and find redemption in others. There were a couple of very small areas of choppiness, but nothing to distract from this incredible story. In the story he was quoted as saying it took him only ten minutes to write this song, but then the one he was speaking shot back saying that it didn't take ten minutes, but rather it took a lifetime considering how moving it was and what this man went through to write it. The idea behind this storyline rang valid and painstakingly realistic. Gone are the days of mediocre, poorly written Christian or inspirational screenplays considering how many of the masses out there need hope and something to believe in to fill that void in their hearts.
With inspirational films such as "Fireproof", "Soul Surfer", "Courageous", "War Room", "Facing the Giants", "God's Not Dead" ,"Woodlawn" the upcoming "The Miracle Season" and the like, it's no doubt a film like "I Can Only Imagine" continue to be an integral part of filmmaking as they are a vital avenue for all to be inspired by.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG 110mins.
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