Although billed as "the Year of the Bible" in Hollywood, 2014 may leave religious moviegoers disappointed.
First, "Noah," which told the biblical flood story with an environmentalist slant, was met with mixed reviews. Then, "Exodus: Gods and Kings," another controversial take on a biblical tale, ignited debates over the importance of biblical accuracy, as Deseret News National reported.
And now, "Unbroken," the feature-length movie adaptation of Laura Hillenbrand's popular book by the same name, is experiencing a lukewarm reception, even from religious reviewers.
The film, directed by Angelina Jolie, illustrates the incredible accomplishments of Louis Zamperini, a war hero and man of faith. The trailer shows him winning an Olympic gold medal, fighting for his life on a raft while lost at sea and surviving severe torture in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.
And yet his midlife conversion to Christianity is nowhere to be seen, a fact Christianity Today film critic Alissa Wilkinson discussed at length in her "Unbroken" review. Instead, the events are relegated to a series of title cards at the end of the movie.
Crediting Religion News Service with posting an early piece about the potential for controversy because of the omission, Wilkinson shared her sense that the film suffers as a result of Jolie's choice to keep the conversion off-camera.
“ ‘Unbroken’ is being billed as an 'inspirational' film, but the most important scene — the image that's being used on movie posters — crystallizes what gets Zamperini through his ordeal. It isn't faith — that comes later. Rather, it's a sort of grit-your-teeth endurance borne out of hatred for your enemy," she wrote.
Wilkinson noted that this focus on hate undermines any attempt to display Zamperini's budding faith.
In an interview with Vulture, Jolie defended her choice to keep the conversion off-screen.
"Instead of seeing (his life) in chapters and thinking, 'At the end of the war, he went home and felt murderous … (but) came around to forgiveness' (after becoming a Christian) … we just bring the essence of it into the story earlier," she said.
The omission of Zamperini's conversion during a Billy Graham tent revival has not deterred efforts to market the film to a faith-based audience.
"Marketers are working overtime to encourage ministry leaders to buy blocks of tickets and to participate in the film by submitting their own stories of strength and resilience," Wilkinson wrote.
These submissions, tagged #IAmUnbroken on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the campaign website, vary widely, from tales of cancer survival to the stories of former and current soldiers. Many participants mention the role faith played in helping them overcome their own struggles.
"Unbroken" will be released nationwide on Christmas Day.
Email: kdallas@deseretnews.com Twitter: @kelsey_dallas