The story behind the movie "Blue Like Jazz" is quite an incredible one. On September 16th, 2010, Donald Miller announced that after trying to raise money for a film adaptation of his best-selling book "Blue Like Jazz", he would put the project on hold due to a lack of interest. That week, two guys from Tennessee started the website SaveBlueLikeJazz.com in order to raise money to finish the film. A Kickstarter campaign was started to raise the bare minimum to keep the project going, $125,000. A grand total of $345,992 was raised, making it the largest crowd-sourced film in America. It was also recently released on DVD, Blu-Ray, and as an iTunes download! Read more on the film's site. www.BlueLikeJazzTheMovie.com
Even though the internet here in Kenya is pretty slow, I purchased the HD version from iTunes, let it run for a while, and then finally watched the film. Figured I'd give it a bit of a review and my thoughts about the film.
First of all, I have to say it's an incredible step forward for the film industry. To have a project of this magnitude and quality that received quite a bit of funding from people, like you and me, is nothing short of incredible. Films are normally backed by several large investors, not by over 4,000 fans. Add a great story, great cast, beautiful filming and editing, and filming on location in Portland OR, and Nashville, TN. All of these pieces put together allowed it to be an Official Selection of the SXSW (South by Southwest) Film Festival and allowed it to open in about 150 theaters from NY to LA.
First of all, I have to say it's an incredible step forward for the film industry. To have a project of this magnitude and quality that received quite a bit of funding from people, like you and me, is nothing short of incredible. Films are normally backed by several large investors, not by over 4,000 fans. Add a great story, great cast, beautiful filming and editing, and filming on location in Portland OR, and Nashville, TN. All of these pieces put together allowed it to be an Official Selection of the SXSW (South by Southwest) Film Festival and allowed it to open in about 150 theaters from NY to LA.
Before I explain about the film I want to make one thing clear. This is not your typical (Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, etc.) Christian movie. This is a movie that deals with the real world and acknowledges that fact. After all, it's pretty hard to make a film with this storyline family friendly. Hence its PG-13 rating.
The film is about Danny Miller, a young Southern Baptist living with his mother in Texas. He is an assistant to the youth pastor, heading off to bible college, and basically is what everyone would call "the perfect Christian". When Danny is betrayed by those whom he holds dearest, he turns his back on the world and in a spirit of rebellion heads off to 'the most godless campus in America'. Once there he realizes that in order to fit in he has to hide from his past and pretend to be what everyone wants him to be. As his father has told him many times, "Life is like Jazz, it never resolves." Throughout the film we find him time and time again trying to find out who he really is and what his purpose and meaning are.
The film is about Danny Miller, a young Southern Baptist living with his mother in Texas. He is an assistant to the youth pastor, heading off to bible college, and basically is what everyone would call "the perfect Christian". When Danny is betrayed by those whom he holds dearest, he turns his back on the world and in a spirit of rebellion heads off to 'the most godless campus in America'. Once there he realizes that in order to fit in he has to hide from his past and pretend to be what everyone wants him to be. As his father has told him many times, "Life is like Jazz, it never resolves." Throughout the film we find him time and time again trying to find out who he really is and what his purpose and meaning are.
Donny has many "friends" that are all trying to help him in one way or another. Whether it's the campus "Pope" who is quite a bit less than holy, the do-gooder, the lesbian, friends from back home, or anyone else. It seems like everyone is trying to influence him and he keeps pandering to their wishes. The roles were cast very well, even some surprises as I recognized a face or two from other shows and movies.
The storyline of the movie was one I hadn't seen before, at least in this light. Probably all of us have seen those generic "coming of age" movies where the main character looses who he is, and somehow fixes his whole life by the end of the movie. It might even have been through believing in Christ! But this movie is different. It shows the dark side of trying to please everyone, the sin that occurs on campus, the predicaments that Danny willingly flings himself into to try and get away from his family and church. It is definitely a new look for a "Christian film. Some have criticized it's lack of a clear Gospel message (eg. Jesus died and took away all our sins so we can be forgiven). Granted, it could have thrown a bit more in there, but that wasn't the point of the movie. This was a story about finding one's self and how without God, we fall away so quickly into sin. This is a film even a non-Christian could watch and probably enjoy, maybe even taking a bit of the Gospel message away.
Be sure and watch the trailer below! I definitely recommend this movie!
The storyline of the movie was one I hadn't seen before, at least in this light. Probably all of us have seen those generic "coming of age" movies where the main character looses who he is, and somehow fixes his whole life by the end of the movie. It might even have been through believing in Christ! But this movie is different. It shows the dark side of trying to please everyone, the sin that occurs on campus, the predicaments that Danny willingly flings himself into to try and get away from his family and church. It is definitely a new look for a "Christian film. Some have criticized it's lack of a clear Gospel message (eg. Jesus died and took away all our sins so we can be forgiven). Granted, it could have thrown a bit more in there, but that wasn't the point of the movie. This was a story about finding one's self and how without God, we fall away so quickly into sin. This is a film even a non-Christian could watch and probably enjoy, maybe even taking a bit of the Gospel message away.
Be sure and watch the trailer below! I definitely recommend this movie!
This movie hit a bit closer to home than most as I am filling out college applications now and heading off to college next year. I am definitely applying to Christian schools, but also to some secular ones as well. It serves as a great reminder to me that I need to hold fast to my beliefs and not give them up for popularity's sake.
In Christ,
Nick
In Christ,
Nick
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