Review of Blue Like Jazz (2012) by Jonathan B — 04 Sep 2012

What's this? A Christian film that isn't embarrassingly horrible? While the filmmakers of Blue Like Jazz may claim it isn't a Christian film, and with the terrible track record of Christian films who can blame them, it certainly isn't afraid to probe into the portrayal of mainstream Christianity and tackle some of life's big questions.

It is also edgy and more open-ended than films of this nature traditionally are, which some might find frustrating but I think helps in making it feel more believable. One of the biggest complaints against Christian films is the poor acting and writing, and while Blue Like Jazz certainly has weak parts in those areas, it never detracts to the point of taking you out of the proceedings.

Instead, what we're given is a fairly stock coming-of-age tale set against a college student's spiritual/existential crisis. It's easily relatable, with both fun and serious moments, and commendable for something funded through Kickstarter.

It's not the greatest or most enlightening thing you'll ever see, but it is a step in the right direction. Heck, maybe it will even spark a real discussion or two afterwards.