United 93

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Airplanes)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

I usually like to start my reviews with some fun play on words, but that seemed entirely inappropriate for UNITED 93. It’s just too sobering, too serious, too important and too tragic a movie to inject any humor into the situation. Many people aren’t ready to see a depiction of what happened on 9/11/01. One critic said, “it’s the best movie this year that nobody will want to see.� I attended a 4:00pm Friday showing in a fairly small town and the theater was over half full. Perhaps that critic is wrong. Perhaps people do want to see what happened.

I wanted to see UNITED 93 for several reasons. One, I like the work of director Paul Greengrass and was impressed by his last effort, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY. Two, I attended college with both UNITED 93 victim Todd Beamer, and his wife, Lisa Beamer, author of the popular and poignant Let’s Roll. While I can’t say we were good friends, I remember both their cheerful faces around campus, and I wanted to see how they depicted a fellow Wheaton alum and brother in Christ. Third, I wanted to remember what happen. I wanted to not forget.

Director Mel Gibson said a big reason why he created THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST was that he wanted people to remember and not forget what Christ endured for you and me. Indeed, whoever sees that movie will have images indelibly etched on their memory. Watching UNITED 93 was a little like watching THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. It’s all horror, all the time – and it’s real. It happened. It’s not a pleasant experience, and it invites you, along with the panicked passengers, to feel their pain. You ride right along side them and slowly realize that this situation isn’t going to get any better, only worse. It’s sickening really, but it was very, very profound.

We meet the passengers, crew, terrorists and air traffic controllers as the events of the morning of 9/11 slowly unfold. Greengrass constantly keeps the camera in motion, achieving a newsreel, cinema verté look that strongly complements the action on screen. We take a look inside the cabin and see the last phone calls to family and friends. We see the frustration of the air traffic controllers and the military as they feel confused and unsure of how to interpret the unthinkable events they see. We witness the take-over plan the passengers come to agree on, once they know the plane is on a suicide mission. And, we see their final retaliation on the terrorists, which has them storm inside the cockpit, but as history records, only too late. UNITED 93 is a window to what could have been, a plausible, but slightly flawed depiction of that doomed flight.

Unfortunately, two aspects of the depiction of my classmate Todd Beamer saddened me. First, his character swears a lot on the plane. Believe me, I’m no prude and if I was getting hijacked by terrorists who wanted to kill me, I’d probably swear a lot too, but we saw many other characters on the plane who didn’t swear much if at all. And knowing Todd’s great Christian character, I think he’d leave the lion’s share of swearing to someone else. Secondly, his wife took great pains to write in her book that it was her husband Todd who said the words “Let’s roll� on the plane, and Greengrass puts these words in another actor’s mouth – another young man actor who looks somewhat like Todd but isn’t the Todd Beamer character. Anyway, I may nitpick, but I wonder what Lisa Beamer thinks about these things.

Some conservative and Christian film critics are unhappy that the film isn’t more patriotic. I think they are wrong. First, at the start of the movie, Greengrass shows a billboard that reads “God bless America� as if to say from the get-go, this movie is for our side, our home turf. Secondly, he lets the facts speak for themselves. We see Muslim terrorists pray. We see Christians recite the Lord’s Prayer. We see a cross section of America in the cross hairs of evil and nobody wins. We, if we see it in a movie theater, get to sit amongst fellow Americans and collectively share our grief. The movie does honor the dead, and so it honors America. Afterwards (and during the movie), I cried, but I also felt like giving a fellow movie watcher (i.e. American) a hug because we lived through a very profound and life altering event together – this 9/11. Heck, I’d hug a non-American too if one was nearby and he’d let me because we’re all human and we all know pain.

I have a slight fear that this movie may stir up anti-Islamic feelings amongst its viewers but those who thought THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST would stir up anti-Semitism were wrong. After all, sin is no respecter of race or nationality. We’re all on this planet together, and we are all made in the image of God. And, those who follow Christ are called to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. I pray this movie compels all who watch it to love more, hate less, pray more, curse less, and look for opportunities to reach out to others, especially those who are still reeling from the pain of 9/11.

— Overview

A BOY AND A BOAT - Update

The next time Jesus taught beside Lake Galilee, a big crowd gathered. It was so large that he had to sit in a boat out on the lake, while the people stood on the shore. He used stories to teach them many things…
Mark 4:1-2 Contemporary English Version

A few weeks ago, I asked you for your prayers for A BOY AND A BOAT. Again, this is a 30 minute redemptive film I wrote about a boy who makes a toy tall ship, loses it and buys it back, costing him everything he has. The hope of producers, Glen Petersen, Rich Brauer, and I, is that this movie would encourage the faithful and prompt spiritual discussion among all who would watch it. Thank you very much for your prayers. God is hearing your prayers. Now more than ever, I believe God is giving his blessing to the project.

First, a partnership with non-profit organization Good News Media, Inc. seems imminent. Such a partnership is crucial if we are to solicit tax-deductible donations. Such a partnership also lends us credibility because it mean “others� believe in us and will stand with us to see the project come to completion. Check out these words from Good News Media, Inc. board member, “I see no problem developing for GNMI to do what you need. When I spoke to Brian (GNMI board member), I did encourage the partnership and I can only assume at this point that it will go through.� Prayer Point: Please continue to pray that that all the formalities of this partnership will go through and that it will happen in a smooth, expeditious manner.

Second, top level executives at an international distributor recently expressed interest in distributing A BOY AND A BOAT! And they only read the script! This distributor is an award winning international distributor with a long and credible track record of releasing and promoting quality productions. Prayer Point: Please pray that God would continue to be with us to make the best possible production and pray that God would prepare the hearts of the decision makers at this distributor that they may look favorably on A BOY AND A BOAT. Pray that God would open a different door if we are not to go with that distributor.

Third and lastly, pledges are already coming in! A local small business owner has already made a significant financial pledge towards the production of A BOY AND A BOAT. A producer for nationally televised documentaries also gave me his pledge for even a bigger gift. People are responding to the story already. Buzz is being generated about A BOY AND A BOAT. People want to see this movie made. Prayer point: Please pray that God would raise up a team of contributors that would say, “Yes. Matt. I want to help you launch A BOAT AND A BOAT.�

I’ll let you all know as soon as I know when we seal an agreement with a non-profit corporation to be our fiduciary conduit. Our plan is to collect/raise funds in May, June and July and then do a five day principle photography shoot in August.

Thanks again, and remember, prayer is what we need most.

THE BENCHWARMERS

—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (David Spade)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads

The windup and the pitch! The crack of the bat! The roar of the crowd! Popcorn, peanuts and crackerjack. Spring and baseball have returned. It’s also time to roll out another baseball-themed movie. Sometimes they are dramatic like EIGHT MEN OUT or THE NATURAL. Sometimes they are fantastic like FIELD OF DREAMS or ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD. But most of the time, they are comedic like MR. BASEBALL, MAJOR LEAGE, and BULL DURHAM. The latest baseball comedy is a tale for all 99-pound weaklings, losers and anybody picked last, and it’s called THE BENCHWARMERS.

I wanted to see THE BENCHWARMERS because, though I love baseball, I too was a benchwarmer. I was the player you put in right field because there wasn’t too much action out there. I was the guy who always struck out (except the time my Dad walked me when he umpired.) I was the little guy, who was laughed at continually. I was the nerd. In fact THE BENCHWARMERS could be called REVENGE OF THE NERDS baseball style.

Here’s the story: Californians Gus (Rob Schnieder) and his two wimpy friends, video store clerk, Richie (David Spade), and paperboy Clark (Jon Heder) form a three man baseball team called “The Benchwarmers�, and challenge bully little league teams to a baseball tournament. The champion team earns the right to call a newly constructed ultra-cool, little league park their home field. As Gus, Richie and Clark crush the bullies and improve their skills, Gus apologies to a midget whom he persecuted in grade school, and children everywhere learn a lesson in love, acceptance, forgiveness, an d fair play. As opposing teams begin to understand that “The Benchwarmers� have heart, their cold hearts soften. They realize winning at all costs doesn’t foster good sportsmanship.

THE BENCHWARMERS is a tale of two teams, a winning team with a winning message and a slacker, writer and director team whose not afraid to go for the cheap laugh with vomit, spit and flatulence emitting generously.

The story and gags have too many errors to count. Why let a three adult man team, play child teams in a legitimate little league tournament? Would Rob Schnieder really avoid his husband responsibilities with a stunning wife played by Molly Sims? Jonathan Heder is in his young 20s compared to the 40-something Schneider and Spade. How can they be childhood friends? Will Hollywood never stop exploiting and making fun of dwarfs and midgets? Does anyone really care to raise or answer these questions? THE BENCHWARMERS was not screened for critics because the producers knew the critics would slam it out of the park of good taste.

THE BENCHWARMERS wins the game of positive message, but loses the tournament of acceptable entertainment. It’s like trying to find a “needle of good� at the bottom of a trash bin. Is it worth digging around through all the garbage to find it? I say “No.� There is no joy in movie-ville, THE “un-mighty� BENCHWARMERS has struck out, (but not before making a tidy profit in its first week, and that’s the reason these movies keep getting made.)

— Overview

A BOY AND A BOAT - A Call for Prayer

You might have read an earlier post I wrote reviewing a short Academy Award nominated film called MOST. I love this film, and it inspired me greatly. So, pursuing my true passion, I decided to write a screenplay based on another sermon illustration called A BOY AND A BOAT. It’s a redemptive tale about a boy who makes a toy tall ship, loses it down some rapids, discovers it later for sale at a toy store, and then buys it back, costing him everything he has. Two area rival film and video producers, read the script, fell in love with it and decided to help me produce it. Their names are Rich Brauer and Glen Pedersen. (Great guys and great Christians too. Rich recently directed FROZEN STUPID starring Ernest Borgnine and Glen has won tons of awards for commercial advertising.) They have never worked on a project before, but they are willing to put aside their differences, to see this film become a reality.

As you know, film productions cost money. Rather than seek investors and start a LLC corporation, Rich, Glen and I thought we should, instead, seek donations to fund the project.

On Wednesday, April 12th, a local, Christian, non-profit organization will review my script/proposal and decide if I may partner with them in this production. With such a partnership, donors to the project can send this non-profit a check and receive a tax deduction, while the non-profit organization can participate in creating a cool film with little effort on their part except facilitate the incoming funds. It’s a win-win situation.

I think every big venture should be bathed in prayer, so I’m asking you dear readers to pray for the production of A BOY AND A BOAT. Here are specific things for which you can pray:

• That God would be Glorified – that everything would be done in a Christ honoring way
• Logistics – that God would put the all the pieces together, from crew, to cast, to locations, etc. We want the production of this film to be as enriching for all involved as the end product is for the viewer.
• Financing – our budget is $30,000 – not large if you think about it.
• Distribution – we have lots of contacts with both distributors and film festivals. We’re hoping to launch this movie into the film festival circuit, and have it play as much to the secular film community as the Christian community.

Thank you for your prayers. I’ll keep you posted on developments as they arise. God is good, and He will be praised. Let A BOY AND A BOAT launch!