Review: To Save A Life

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Title: To Save A Life
Distributor: New Song Pictures (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Director: Brian Baugh
Writer(s): Jim Britts (written by)
Staring: Randy Wayne, Deja Kreutzberg, Joshua Weigel, Steven Crowder, Sean Michael, Bubba Lewis, Kim Hidalgo
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements involving teen suicide, teen drinking, some drug content, disturbing images and sexuality.
Running Time:
Synopsis: After a childhood friend's death, Jake Taylor, an all-star athlete must change his life - and sacrifice his dreams to save the lives of others.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: NA
Michael Phillips: NA
EW: NA

Other Sites:

At The Movies: NA
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 27% (Rotten), Top Critics: 20% (Rotten), RT Community: 88% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 17 out of 100, Users: 8.1 out of 10
MRQE Metric: NA
Yahoo Movies: Critics: NA Users: A

My Review

Source Material: Written by Jim Britts

Acting and Dialogue: B-: Randy Wayne who portrays the protagonist Jake Taylor in the film is puts up a good performance, probably the best out the entire cast. A close second would have to be the guy who played the youth-pastor, Joshua Weigel. Not only did he reminded me of my youth-pastor but he created a believable charismatic youth leader that young people will be willing to follow and trust. The character that was the most unbelievable was Jake's girlfriend, Amy. The actress who play her, Deja Kreutzberg, but way to much melodramatic acting into her role.

Art Direction: C: Shot from a teenagers perspective so alto of hallways and house backdrops, and church since this was a Christian based film. But nothing to get excited about.

Cinematography: B-: The cinematography was fairly decent. it had some shot and light that were interesting and cool but over all just like the art direction not to exciting.

Direction: B-: This film does have a "after school special" feel, and that it's main weakness, well besides the fact that the general audience will call it "too preachy" because of it Christian based storyline. Besides these negatives I think the new comer director, Brian Baugh did a decent job, yeah it may have been slow in parts to some people, but that to be expected.

Screenplay: C+: The main criticism of this film is the fact that it is a Christian base story. I don't know why people get so offended by Christian movies but don't care about another movie with another religion. If we were to replace the Christian message and undertone in this film with another religion's message and undertones would the story be good? I am going to say yes because this film highlights some pretty heavy stuff that happens in teenage life today. That's the positive things about the story, were as the negative thing shine a way different light. The bad supporting characters, acting wise, and the "after school special" feel overshadowed the positive things in this film.

Sound and Music: C+: Hmm, there was some inspirational music from the sound track, but that common for a movie with Christian undertones.

VFX: C: Dramatically driven, little to no visual effects.

Overall: C+: If I was a youth-pastor I would take my youth-group because the film brings out some very valid points that teenager need to hear. I challenge all teens to see this film just on the fact that it dose highlight things that are very possible in their life's, especially in today's society. As an over film it going to do horrible cinematically, as I highlight above but do decent at the box office especially in small "Christian" based towns. Film is subjective.