Review of Machine Gun Preacher (2011) by Lauren W — 08 Oct 2013

How have I not heard of this movie? Probably because of these cynical critics. This is a great movie.

In summary, the movie is about the redemption of a broken man, but then it takes a much deeper perspective of what a "good guy" is. You witness a junkie become a saint only to see that saint stare evil in the face in a way reminiscent of Conrad's literary staple,"Heart of Darkness.".

(SPOILERS AHEAD) Forster doesn't posture his own sense of right and wrong. Instead this movie makes you think about how far you are willing to push your morality for the greater good. Much like Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds" has you cheering the death of Nazi's at the end of the film, Foster has you cheering the death of the LRA. But what happens when many of the LRA soldiers are children exactly like the one's Childer (the protagonist) is trying to save. Is it okay for a few of them to die? Is it okay to pick and choose which kid's can be rescued?

Many of these questions are unanswered which is especially evident with the curious quote from the real Sam Chidler in the credits, "If your family member was abducted today [...] and if I said to you 'I could bring your child home' does it matter how?" I think that quote makes a good case that Childer did not become the moral absolutist that the last scene tried to paint.

With that little nugget, Foster makes you decide whether this man is a saint - a man of God - or does he exhibit similar traits to Kony himself, whom is also said to be a man of God by his followers.

Yes, there are some emotional cliches. Yes, the movie does lose a bit of steam somewhere near the end as other critics have mentioned, but nevertheless this is a good film. It's a shame it didn't get a proper release.