JOSHUA

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Rated:

The quiet little town of Auburn will never be the same. One cool summer evening a stranger walks into their midst carrying only a backpack and a gentle smile. This peaceful but divided town are several congregations mingled into a thriving metropolis... Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Charismatic. They live in harmony but never extend a hand to their neighbors. The jewel of this glittering existence is Father Tardone (F. Murray Abraham), a strict man of convictions and beliefs who keeps a tight reign on his associate priest, Father Pat (Kurt Fuller).

Joshua (Tony Goldwyn) moves into a dilapidated old barn outside town and begins to make changes. In addition to befriending a hurting widow, a troubled teenager, a stuttering would-be pastor, and a confused Priest, he begins to rebuild the burned-out Baptist church building... and slowly everyone becomes involved, from Catholics to Protestants and Jews. Father Tardone, learning Joshua is a master of wood carving, asks him to sculpt a statue of Saint Peter for the church but soon realizes this task has been shelved for what Joshua considers more important duties. He appears with Pat at a charismatic youth service in order to "broaden" the priest's horizons, teaches a hurting housewife how to cook, helps a teen learn electric guitar, and has a long, encouraging talk with a stuttering congregational member... all at the same time.

One day it comes to a head when Joshua comes across a "Revival" meeting involving the practice of healing by faith. When he walks into the tent, no miracles have yet been proven. But when he leaves, a blind girl has been given the gift of sight. It becomes a hot topic all over town, enthralling most of Joshua's friends and followers... and concerning Father Tardone. Is Joshua what he seems? The priest begins to reflect on the "miracles" happening all over town and is drawing a horrifying parallel. This stranger must be stopped before he destroys the faith of the parishioners, the town, and the church. This sounds familiar, right? A charismatic man people follow without question who heals broken hearts and can raise the dead. He also plays a mean game of pool and has a lot of wisdom to share, particularly the message that whatever you've done, God loves you anyway. "Tell them I love them," says Joshua at one point, when a religious man asks him what to tell the people. "Tell them I died for them."

Joshua is a deeply touching story with many venues for discussion. So much happens in the two hour timeframe, you almost regret leaving the theater. If I could have, I would have turned around and gone right back in the next showing. The film touches on many fronts... the Catholic church, a Baptist congregation, a charismatic service, even a rock-concert-turned-church service with guest stars Third Day. The basic message is one I support... it doesn't matter where you worship, or how, as long as you're praising the living Christ. The music rocks (with an original score by Michael W. Smith, it should), the storyline is good, and the acting starts out a bit shaky but improves with the full performances of Oscar-winner F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus), and Tony Goldwyn (Ghost).

From the little town of Auburn to the Vatican in Rome, Joshua proves whenever Jesus touches a life, it becomes dramatically altered. Town quibbles are put aside. A grieving widow learns she lived through the tragic event that killed her husband for a reason. A hurting housewife discovers wounds can be healed, and marriages restored. Father Pat and Tardone are each individually challenged to evaluate their faith and system of beliefs. In the meantime, there are humorous sidelines, memorable moments, and life-altering instances of compassion, belief, and miracles. This film proves you can more than just make a G-rated movie for adults; you can make a thought-provoking and enthralling film for any age. I saw children in the theater in addition to grandparents, teenagers, and young married couples. 

Many Christian reviewers have slammed Joshua, saying that the gospel message is nonexistent. This is complete bunk. It's there again, and again, and again. The writers chose not to spell it out, but to show it through the miracles he performs. Joshua takes a shattered existence and makes it beautiful. (Which is essentially the concept of God -- he takes a ruined, sinful person and makes them beautiful!) He takes a blind girl and gives her sight. He raises a man from death. And perhaps the most profound message of all: he begins the work... and others finish it. Jesus did not come here to do our work for us. We have a responsibility to see it done ourselves. This movie may not be perfect. It may not have the special effects or thrills of Spider-Man or the cinematic faces of Angelina Jolie or Tom Hanks. But it's a profoundly good movie with a knock-out message that any Christian... or any seeker... should see.