the Blue Like Jazz [review]

I went to the screening of Blue Like Jazz the movie in Grand Rapids tonight.
I got to tell Don Miller about how I didn't want to read Blue Like Jazz because everyone kept telling me that I should, but also how that book ended up being really important to me this summer in India... which was kind of fun.
My overall consensus of the film was that it captured the taste and ideas of the book pretty accurately, succeeding in incorporating those themes into a fictional plot. I would say bravo to the writers for accomplishing such a difficult achievement. Aesthetically, it was very pleasing; well done artistically. Most of the characters were believable despite the occasional moment with Penny (that may have been an acting thing though... I hesitate to blame that on the character).
I appreciated the realistic approach to analyzing God and faith. I think that this film will be a venue for many people to explore their relationship with God. I don't agree with the critic who thinks that there should have been a "gospel presentation" within the film. I think we should probably start working down on breaking down the idea that the gospel is something we should pour our vigorous efforts of presentation in something like a film. The gospel is something that reaches people by being lived out. I think that Blue Like Jazz will bring about great conversations and inspire that kind of living, but its primary purpose was not to be a "how to become a Christian" instructional step-by-step. True to the spirit of the book, it gets people thinking honestly and truly about the conflicts that arise within us as we live day to day at a constant war in knowing who God is, who the world says God is, and what we ourselves are saying about who God is.

Though I don't think there should have been a "gospel presentation" per se, I did feel like I missed Jesus a little bit. I felt like I left the movie thinking a whole lot about who Jesus was not, and not a whole lot about who He was. I would not ask any sort of attempt for the film-makers to outright define Christ, but even by somehow incorporating the illustration Don includes in his book about the soldier who takes off his helmet and sits with the hostages before they believe he has come to save them--I think it would contribute to the film immensely. I think that would have connected the heart of the confusion we feel when we "look into the abyss and know there is no one coming to save us," to the heart of Jesus for this world.
But perhaps that would have been extending beyond the purposes of the film. Maybe this was just to stir up some feelings inside of people that recognize that we are the problem--that whether we deny even the existence of God or live a life that appears to be serving Him, we all are deprived. And I guess the end of the film really did stop there--with the first step--with "I'm sorry."