Machine Gun Preacher
Encyclopedia
Machine Gun Preacher is a 2011 action biopic
film about Sam Childers
, a biking preacher-defender of Sudan
ese orphans. The movie was written by Jason Keller
, directed by Marc Forster and stars Scottish actor Gerard Butler
as Childers. It tells the story of Childers and his efforts to save the children of South Sudan in collaboration with the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) against the atrocities of the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA)
Filming commenced in June 2010 in Michigan
. The film had a limited release on September 23, 2011.
felt that Childers' life story is "enthusiastically adapted" where he is shown as "half saint, half psychopath", but complained of plot holes. Robbin Collin of The Daily Telegraph
felt that the film was "too much in awe" of Childers and failed to show his real character. David Sexton of the London Evening Standard felt that Butler is "plausible as a man of contained and uncontained violence" and praises the way the film shows the change in the man. However he felt that the film was a collection of unconnected set pieces.
John McCarthy of the Catholic News Service
feels that the film focused on action rather than Childers' spiritual journey. In the film Childers doesn't renounce violence, love his enemies or attempt to defuse a hostile atmosphere. The Catholic News Service classified the film as "morally offensive".
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
film about Sam Childers
Sam Childers
Sam Childers is a former gang biker who now dedicates his life and resources to rescue children in the war zone of South Sudan. Childers and his wife Lynn founded and operate Angels of East Africa, the Children's Village Orphanage in Nimule, Sudan, where they currently have more than 300 children...
, a biking preacher-defender of Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ese orphans. The movie was written by Jason Keller
Jason Keller (playwright)
Jason Keller is an American playwright and screenwriter.Keller attended Ball State University before receiving a writing scholarship to Regent's College in London, England where he studied film and theater...
, directed by Marc Forster and stars Scottish actor Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler
Gerard James Butler is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television. A trained lawyer, Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies , which he followed with steady work on television, most notably in...
as Childers. It tells the story of Childers and his efforts to save the children of South Sudan in collaboration with the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) against the atrocities of the Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
(LRA)
Filming commenced in June 2010 in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The film had a limited release on September 23, 2011.
Plot
The film is an adaptation of Childers' memoir Another Man's War. Childers was a an alcoholic drug-using biker from Minnesota. On his release from prison, his wife persuades him to go to church with her where he is eventually converted. Later, on a trip to Uganda to build homes for refugees, he moves north to build an orphanage. It is from here he leads armed raids to rescue children from the Lord’s Resistance Army.Cast
- Gerard ButlerGerard ButlerGerard James Butler is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television. A trained lawyer, Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies , which he followed with steady work on television, most notably in...
as Sam ChildersSam ChildersSam Childers is a former gang biker who now dedicates his life and resources to rescue children in the war zone of South Sudan. Childers and his wife Lynn founded and operate Angels of East Africa, the Children's Village Orphanage in Nimule, Sudan, where they currently have more than 300 children... - Michelle MonaghanMichelle MonaghanMichelle Lynn Monaghan is an American actress known for her roles in Mission: Impossible III, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Gone Baby Gone, Made of Honor, The Heartbreak Kid, Eagle Eye, and Source Code.-Early life:...
as Lynn Childers - Michael ShannonMichael Shannon (actor)Michael Corbett Shannon is an American stage, film, and television actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Revolutionary Road...
as Donnie - Madeline CarrollMadeline CarrollMadeline Carroll is an American actress who was first noticed for her role as Molly Johnson in 2008's Swing Vote. Carroll had many supporting roles in various films Comedy and Drama...
Paige #2 - Kathy BakerKathy BakerKatherine Whitton "Kathy" Baker is an American stage, film and television actress.-Career:Baker began her career at San Francisco's Magic Theatre, performing in several of Sam Shepard's plays before getting her break in an off-Broadway production of Fool for Love opposite Ed Harris...
as Daisy - Misty Mills as Biker Chick
- Nicole Michele Sobchack as Jessica
- Brett Wagner as Ben Hobbs
- Mandalynn Carlson as Paige's Friend
- Souléymane Sy SavanéSouléymane Sy SavanéSouléymane Sy Savané is an actor who starred in the 2008 film Goodbye Solo.Born in Côte d'Ivoire, Savané moved to Paris and also worked as a flight attendant for Air Afrique. Air Afrique secured him a visa for travel to the US, and in 2000 Savané settled in New York, where he studied acting before...
as Deng - Richard Goteri as Gun Shop Owner
- Peter Carey as Bill Wallace
- Rhema MarvanneRhema MarvanneRhema Marvanne is a gospel singer and actor from Carrollton, Texas, USA.She is the daughter of Teton and Wendi "Mercy" Marvanne Voraritskul. Teton's father, Chai Voraritskul was an immigrant from Thailand, while Wendi died of ovarian cancer on November 8, 2008 at the age of 36...
as Rik Oskam
Reception
The filmed received mostly negative critical reviews, with audience reviews being more mixed. Catherine Shoard of The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
felt that Childers' life story is "enthusiastically adapted" where he is shown as "half saint, half psychopath", but complained of plot holes. Robbin Collin of The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
felt that the film was "too much in awe" of Childers and failed to show his real character. David Sexton of the London Evening Standard felt that Butler is "plausible as a man of contained and uncontained violence" and praises the way the film shows the change in the man. However he felt that the film was a collection of unconnected set pieces.
John McCarthy of the Catholic News Service
Catholic News Service
Catholic News Service is an American news agency covering the Roman Catholic Church. CNS was established in 1920 and is a leading source of news for Catholic print and broadcast media throughout the world....
feels that the film focused on action rather than Childers' spiritual journey. In the film Childers doesn't renounce violence, love his enemies or attempt to defuse a hostile atmosphere. The Catholic News Service classified the film as "morally offensive".
External links
- Machine Gun Preacher at ComingSoon.net