Review of Machine Gun Preacher (2011) by The D — 09 Apr 2012

The title suggests a follow up to Hobo with a shotgun but this film is far from that.

In the wake of the Stop Kony viral video nonsense this is a good place to look to get a small glimpse at what is really going on in East Africa telling the true story of Sam Childers who is still out there today.

Butler plays the reformed criminal & born again christian who having his eyes opened to the horrors in The Sudan travels there to try to help. Intially this starts with his construction skills but the more brutallity he witnesses the more involved he becomes. He descends into his old criminal ways but applies the approach to fighting back against the LRA.

My only real problem with this film is the speed of his journey from criminal to christian & back again but with the film running at 2 hours that's probably were the film had to make cuts so as not to make it an overblown mini series.

Having said that it tells the tale well showing the horrors without ever being overly graphic. Butler is effective and although there isn't much call for support it is still well provided particuarlyfrom Monaghan as Lynn, Childers wife. It's saddening yet lifting to see someone have such belief they can make a difference against such a tyrant.

One of the much better true story tales.