Please help brainstorm a movie selection for a special event...

Mike Frezon · 01-29-2008, 10:45 PM

My church (First Presbyterian) is celebrating a bicentennial next year and I've been selected to help plan the various events for the year-long celebration. The church is located in rural upstate New York.

I've had an idea to host a "movie night" in the church's worship center...which features three big screens and a wonderful audio system with two huge sub-woofers.

The question is: what movie should be projected?

Obviously we would want to pick a title with enough appeal to draw as many people as possible. We also would want a film which is in keeping with the values of the congregation and the space.

A few years ago the church had a showing of It's a Wonderful Life which was fairly well-received.

The church was founded in 1809...the year Lincoln was born. I had the thought of John Ford's Young Mr. Lincoln...but I'm not sure that would interest enough people. It would also be nice (but certainly not necessary) to find some find which told a tale connected to that period of American history.

Another thought I had was the recent release Amazing Grace which tells the tale of William Wilberforce and John Newton (composer of the famous hymn). But, while the subject matter seems fine, I'm not sure that it would generate enough interest.

So...any ideas?

Thanks for any help!

Rod J · 01-29-2008, 11:06 PM

First Question: Are you looking for something you can show for free or will you pay public performance fees?

Jon_Are · 01-29-2008, 11:08 PM

Dave,

My suggestion is David Lynch's "The Straight Story". It's a very entertaining and moving G-rated film about determination, reconciliation, and American spirit. The synopsis may sound boring but the film is anything but. It's based on a true story. Folks will walk out thanking you for introducing them to such a treasure.

Jon

Here's the summary from allmovie.com:

David Lynch offers an uncharacteristically straightforward and warmly sentimental approach to his material in this film, based on a true story, about an elderly man's journey to reconcile with his brother. Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) is an ailing widower in his early 70's who lives in Laurens, Iowa with his daughter, Rose (Sissy Spacek), who is mildly retarded and has a speech defect. Alvin doesn't trust doctors, despite suffering from emphysema and a bad hip. Alvin learns that his brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton) has suffered a stroke and may not have long to live. Alvin and Lyle haven't spoken in 10 years, which Alvin says is mainly a matter of pride and alcohol; Alvin wants to clear his slate with his brother before it's too late. However, Lyle lives in Wisconsin, and Alvin has little money, no car, and no driver's license. He does, however, have a riding lawn mower, and so Alvin hops on board and heads northeast to Wisconsin, hoping to make it while there's still time. Along the way, Alvin makes new friends and refuses to give up on his journey, despite frequent mechanical breakdowns. Richard Farnsworth's performance as Alvin earned him an Academy Award nomination as Best Actor; it would prove to be his final screen appearance, as he died a year after the film's release.

Chris_Morris · 01-30-2008, 08:14 AM

Just some ideas off the top of my head:

Second Chance: stars Michael W. Smith

The Ultimate Gift: cheap budget but still good story about a spoiled heir who gets more than he bargined for from his grandfather's will

Left Behind and Tribulation Force: Even though they don't stick very close to the books, they are still good. Kirk Cameron gives a great performance. I would stay away from the abomination known as World at War though.

God Grew Tired of Us: Documentary about the "Lost Boys" of Africa and their journey to America.

The Gospel: Prodigal son type story, starring everyone and anyone big in gospel music.

Of course depending on the time of year, there are the staples:
The Passion
The Nativity Story
The 10 Commandments

Mike Frezon · 01-30-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod J

First Question: Are you looking for something you can show for free or will you pay public performance fees?

Free. There will be no admission nor request for donations.

Some excellent suggestions already. Thanks!

The Straight Story is one the pastor has excerpted for sermons (and my wife suggested it, too!). (...and I love David Lynch!). The Ten Commandments could be a substantial draw. I bet there are a lot of people who haven't sat down to watch it in a long time.

And The Passion might be a good idea, too...depending on the timing.

Personally, I didn't think much of The Ultimate Gift. I thought the performances were wooden and it was pretty predictable. But, that's just me.

And, I haven't seen the Nativity Story yet. Maybe I should do a few different nights (if they are well-received). Maybe the Alastair Sim A Christmas Carol!

**HTF Ads**

andrew markworthy · 01-30-2008, 02:57 PM

A few ideas, in no particular order:

(1) Christian groups in the UK have often used Chariots of Fire for its Christian themes (Eric Lidell wouldn't run on a Sunday, you may recall, and he was motivated in his running by wishing to spread God's word). There was also a craze for using ET (which certainly is riddled with Christian symbolism but I'm not sure I'd recommend it as a devotional work, much as I love the movie!).

(2) Not sure how wise this would be for a 200th anniversary, but my local church [Church of England - i.e. Anglican, but part of a scheme where we regularly had services led by Methodists and United Reformed Church ministers, so probably not that far removed from Presbyterian in many respects] a few years ago did a series of controversial movies dealing with Christian themes with a discussion group afterwards - Life of Brian, The Last Temptation, etc. The screenings were well attended and generated a lot of good discussion. BUT: I think this very much depends upon the composition of the specific parish. I can think of other churches where this would have been an invitation to riot. Something to be thought of carefully, I think, but it can prove fruitful in the right circumstances.

(3) As an alternative to explicitly Christian films, why not celebrate the 200 years of a community of faith by showing a series of good movies set in different periods over the last 200 years?

Mike Frezon · 01-30-2008, 03:25 PM

Andrew: You've done it, too! Chariots of Fire is another movie my pastor has excerpted for a sermon.

And, Idea #3 may be a solid plan, too.

Greg_S_H · 01-30-2008, 03:55 PM

If you're doing that, you could show something like Drums Along the Mohawk. It's set about 85 miles from where you are, but it's set a little before your church came into being.

Blu · 01-30-2008, 05:57 PM

Ben Hur!
With three screens this is an epic movie for an epic set up!