Imagine if you were part of a snake-handling sect (no offense intended if you are). Now imagine that you were watching a documentary about your sect that was made by people that are not part of it – with footage from one of your services and interviews with current, happy sect members as well as with disgruntled former members. You pretty much know that you’d be made to look like a freak, right? This is part of the “risk” in having an outsider come in and make a documentary of a movement (which happens to be our movement). I think it’s a wonderful and insightful thing to see ourselves from another’s point of view. Much to their credit, the production/direction team of Vickie Hunter and Heather Whinna (self-professed non-Christians) don’t edit the interview footage in such a way as to make us all look like freaks. Instead they let the interview subjects just talk. It’s amazing how freakish and fraught with problems this movement is; but, just like the church, it is a beautiful scene just the same. One of the most insightful comments comes from famed producer (and boyfriend of one of the producer/directors) Steve Albini, who asks, “They’ve got a great message to sell (salvation from eternal torment), so why sell all this other (bleep) along with it?” Good point, but not an un-answerable question. The Director’s commentary is as insightful (if not more so) than even the film itself. Great footage of tons of bands from Cornerstone Fest (Zao, Pedro).
[BLANK STARE] DV
03 : Obscenities
00 : Scenes of Gore
00 : Nudity / Sexuality
100% : Spiritual Relevancy
This DVD review was originally published in the March/April Issue (#118) of HM Magazine. Order the Print Version now, before your tv blows up or Bam wrecks your living room (or loads H.I.M. on your iPod).
©2006 HM Magazine - All Rights Reserved
Wasn't it Larry Norman who originally said, "Why should the devil have all the good music?" So I assume the movie title is quoting him.
Martin Luther, the 16th century German reformer, is quoted as saying:
I would gladly see all arts, especially music, in the service of Him who has given and created them. Why should the devil have all the good music?
.gif&contenttype=gif)
