Based on the bestselling novel by Francine Rivers, this tale is a powerful story of relentless love and perseverance as a young couple's, Angel (Abigail Cowen) and Micheal Hosea (Tom Lewis) relationship clashes with the harsh realities of the California Gold Rush of 1850. It is a life-changing story of the power of unconditional and all-consuming love that shows there is no brokenness that love can't heal. Interestingly, this is also inspired by the Old Testament biblical story of Hosea, a prophet, who married Gomer, an unfaithful woman. As Michael becomes more determined to win Angel's love, she fines it more unbelievable that anyone would want her since she comes from a life of prostitution. She has the wrong people in her life, Duchess (Famke Janssen), Magowan (Brandon Auret) and Duke (Eric Dane), whereas Michael is a loner, however the community reveres him as an upright man. Can Michael win Angel over, or is she just that self-loathing and self-destructive?
Others to round out the cast are Logan Marshall-Green as Paul, Nina Dobrev as Mae, Livi Birch as Sarah Stafford, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell as Lucky, Josh Taylor as Alex Stafford, Willie Watson as John Altman, Tanya van Graan as Sally, Ke-Xi Wu as Mai Ling, Tayah Ronen Abels as Ruthie Altman, Clyde Berning as Rab and Sean Coltman Dr. Smith.
This was passionately and grittily directed by D. J. Caruso ("Cyclops, Baby" '97, "Black Cut Run" (TV movie) '98, "Mind Prey" (TV movie) '99, "The Salton Sea" '02, "Taking Lives" '04, "Two for the Money" '05, "Disturbia" '07, "Eagle Eye" '08, "I Am Number Four" '11, "Standing Up" '13, "Tin Man" (TV movie) '14, "The Disappointments Room" '16, "xXx: Return of Xander Cage" '17) plus TV and a short. The chemistry between Michael and Angel is probably the most important ingredient of this story, and Caruso simply was able to pull it off in that even though these two characters were truly as opposing as water and oil, he was still able to find that connection to adhere these two amidst all of the trials that were happening. This is an incredible balancing act that this filmmaker pulled off in spades. It was creatively written by Francine Rivers ("The Last Sin Eater" (novel) '07) and D.J. Caruso ("Standing Up" '13, "The Disappointments Room" '16) plus TV and a short, based on the book by Francine Rivers. This was a heart-wrenching story of what Angel went through, but also Michael as well since, to Michael, it was love at first sight toward Angel for him. Between trying to rely on God and being as patient with Angel as he knew he had to be, her issues were simply tearing him apart, and this was conveyed with such aplomb by these writers. I suspect that Rivers received first on the credits even though Caruso has the lion's share of the writing because it was based on her novel. These writers definitely were pushing a severely important message of human traffiking and how it is so abhorrent in our society--so much so that there is an email to help with that cause at the end of the credits. Really, other than a couple of places of slowness and some inconsistencies as Angel is remembering her dark past and then it goes back to present, this was a story that is so important and these writers certainly conveyed that well. As mentioned in the preface, this film is about forgiveness, hope and redemption and the endurance of the human spirit.
If you like westerns, you'll appreciate this, however, as I've said prior, this is so much more than a western. It could've be placed in present day and carried the same intensity and importance, but since this is based on a book, it was left intact. It's an inspiring story about the healing of this troubled woman, but being healed by the patience, compassion and love that only God could've given this man, Michael. It's a great family film, because there's something we all can learn from this story, if one is open to it.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 134mins.
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