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Film review

'The Gospel' makes a joyful noise

Foot-tapping and heart-thumping musical performances highlight this new entry from two Florida A&M grads.

By STEVE PERSALL
Published October 6, 2005

	[Photo: Screen Gems]
	Clifton Powell, left, and Donnie McClurkin show their faith in The Gospel.
	LET’S CHAT Check out Times film critic Steve Persall’s blog.

The Gospel joins Woman, Thou Art Loosed and Diary of a Mad Black Woman to form a trinity of movies aimed at African-American churchgoers. Not as downbeat as the former or as contradictory as the latter, The Gospel is soap opera spirituality that won't have any problem pleasing the faithful.

As in many churches, Rob Hardy's movie gets the sermon across through the power of song. Without a stopwatch, I'd guess nearly half the running time is devoted to rafter-shaking, R&B-tinged gospel performances that, coupled with a slightly grainy appearance, recall the superb 1982 documentary Say Amen, Somebody. There are some mighty joyful noises in this movie.

It's the quieter scenes that some viewers will find stilted or predictable. But one thing Mel Gibson taught everyone is that many people going to theaters for faith-based entertainment don't usually go to see secular films. They may not recognize the setups or see where the plot's heading. For them, The Gospel will be emotional and just edgy enough to feel special. Boris Kodjoe (TV's Soul Food) is camera-friendly as David "D.T." Taylor, the son of a preacher man (Clifton Powell) whose devotion often made him absent, even when David's mother died. David left home to become a pop star singing about seduction rather than salvation. Thirteen years later, the prodigal son returns when his father falls ill.

David's former best friend, Charles Frank (Idris Elba), is now a minister waiting to assume the bishop's position. The most interesting dramatic parts of The Gospel are the politics behind the pulpit, the collection plate theology and a couple of ignored deadly sins. They are also the times when the film editing makes this gentle story look frantic; I counted five splices during a single kiss.

The Gospel is the latest production from Rainforest Films, created by Hardy and his producer, former St. Petersburg resident Will Packer. The former Florida A&M fraternity brothers made a minor splash in 2000 when they created and independently distributed Trois, a sexy thriller that grossed $1-million faster than any other independently distributed black-themed movie. Two sequels and a Sony distribution deal later, Packer and Hardy have found religion onscreen. It might be good timing.

Steve Persall can be reached at 727 893-8365 or persall@sptimes.com His blog is at www.sptimes.com/blogs/film

Grade: B-

Director: Rob Hardy

Cast: Boris Kodjoe, Idris Elba, Nona Gaye, Clifton Powell, Omar Gooding, Tamyra Gray, Aloma Wright, Leland L. Jones

Screenplay: Rob Hardy

Rating: PG; brief sensuality, mature themes, brief language

Running time: 100 min.

[Last modified October 5, 2005, 10:24:08]