Saving God Blu-ray features poor video and mediocre audio in this still enjoyable Blu-ray release
Ving Rhames ('Mission Impossible') and Dean McDermott ('So NoTORIous') star in “Saving
God”, a heart-felt tale of the eternal struggle between good and evil. Reverend Armstrong
Cane (Rhames) served 15 years in prison for manslaughter. He returns back to his
neighborhood a changed man looking to serve God as the Pastor of his father's old
community church. As he works to rebuild the community he left behind, the ex con meets
Norris (Dwain Murphy) and recognizes a young man headed down the wrong path. Lured
into the depths of drugs and violence by local dealer Blaze (McDermott), the troubled teen
is pulled in opposite directions. While battling to keep on the right path, Cane fights to save
Norris from a life of drugs and violence, but the ultimate question remains: Can people
really change, or will the demons of their past overcome them? All the while, Armstrong
must deal with his past history of violence and make sure he doesn't fall again.
Ricardo Chavira and Genelle Willams co-star along with 2008 Double Juno Award Nominee
and R&B sensation Jully Black. Black’s soulful musical voice will also be featured in 'Saving
God.'
Saving God is fine cinema, not in the sense of a summer blockbuster or an Oscar-caliber
drama, but in a deeper, more meaningful sense, the film espousing a series of positive messages
about the power of faith, righteousness, and salvation. The film settles into a dramatic theme with
elements of action, but it deals with real issues, emotions, and problems that face not only those
who live in inner-city areas or deal with personal problems, pressures, or situations from which they
cannot escape. Saving God takes its story and presents it in such a way so as to allow
audiences to look inside themselves, to connect with the characters, those on both sides of the law
and on both sides in the battle for a man's soul. One need not be intimately familiar with the
lifestyles, problems, and conflicts presented in Saving God to understand, appreciate, and
most importantly, be moved by this powerful film. It features a Christian message of hope,
compassion, understanding, and redemption. While Saving God may not have the
production values of bigger, mainstream cinema, it easily tops most other movies in heart, in
meaning, and importance.
Norris learns of the power of prayer.
Armstrong Cane (Ving Rhames, Dawn of the Dead)
grew up in the church, his father a preacher and his mother a believer and active in the
church. Despite his Christian upbringing, Cane's short fuse and famous temper landed him 15
years in prison. His parents now deceased and Cane released from prison a changed man, he
begins work to re-open the First Community Church of God, a deteriorating church in a
neighborhood overrun by drug dealers and spiritual decay. Cane confronts a young man by the
name of Norris (Dwain Murphy), himself a drug dealer and deep in a culture of emotional and
spiritual corruption. Cane and Norris become friends, Cane doing all he can to lead Norris from
the troubled world in which he lives and guide him towards peace through a relationship with
Jesus Christ. However, Norris cannot escape the realities of the world, including a pregnant
girlfriend named Ashley (Genelle Williams) whom he cannot commit to and a drug boss known as
"Blaze" (Dean McDermott) who refuses to let him begin a new life. Meanwhile, Cane must deal
with the unscrupulous Reverend Christopher (Ricardo Chavira) who has his sights set on
purchasing First Community. Christopher preaches at a large
competing church and is more interested in money and cars than the thousands who attend his
services and trust in him to guide their spiritual lives.
Ving Rhames turns in the performance of his career in Saving God. Every word he
speaks, every action he undertakes, every look he gives sells the character he portrays and
reinforces his unbreakable spiritual bond with God. Nevertheless, he remains grounded,
remembering his past, and building on the lessons learned over the years as he reconciles a
Christian upbringing with his crime that sent him to jail for 15 years. Rhames captures the heart
and soul of a man determined to do God's work, even in the face of a troubled past, amongst the
pressures of a crime-infested neighborhood, and even while at odds with a fellow preacher who
sees only the green of money rather than the love of God. So connected is Rhames with the
Armstrong Cane character that he could have practically conveyed every word and emotion
through his face alone, a face that shows the wear-and-tear of a tough life but the burgeoning
hope of a new beginning not only for himself, but for those who turn to him and to God for help
in spite of long odds and adversaries who cannot see past their own inner demons. Rhames'
opening monologue is powerful to say the least, a moving introduction to the character and the
film, his performance so genuine and inspiring that audiences cannot help but experience a wave
of emotion as he delivers a stirring, honest, emotional soliloquy at his parents' grave. His mere
presence in nearly every scene, for that matter, creates an emotional
response, not only due to his imposing yet impressive physical appearance, but because of the
raw emotion and unbreakable faith he espouses and emotes in every frame. Rhames has
captured the essence of the character perfectly and flawlessly, his strong personal faith shining
through, the role tailor made to both his physical and spiritual strengths as an actor and a human
being.
Rhames alone does not make the movie. His supporting cast, not to mention the crew, have
created a fine, moving picture that works thanks to the contributions of each cast and crew
member. Actors obviously care about each of the major and minor characters they portray in the
film; there is no doubt they each understand the material and their role. Even if audiences
cannot connect with a
character on any external level, having never lived in an inner-city, for example, they will find
themselves drawn to this cast as each deals with emotional and spiritual crises that,
in some way, shape, or form, effect everyone during the course of a lifetime. For example, even
though Norris is a troubled youth, dealing in drugs, uncommitted to a pregnant girlfriend, and
spiritually lost, his search for answers, for a friend, for the calling of a higher power makes him a
sympathetic character whose plight is well-portrayed. His lifestyle is depicted as gritty and
disturbing but not shown as excessively violent so as to make the film unwatchable for younger
audiences. His friendship with Cane, his burgeoning relationship with God, and his growth as a
human being on several fronts make him a character equally endearing as that of Armstrong
Cane. The film is also smartly written from a Christian perspective by first-time scriptwriter
Michael Jackson without becoming preachy; audiences will not feel as if they are attending a
Sunday
service, though the film's message is just as powerful. Director Duane Crichton is never overly
flashy or stylistic; he understands, and his direction reflects, that the content of the film, its
characters, and its message come
first. It's workmanlike, and in a film like this, that's all that is to be
expected, and is an effective technique in its own right.
Saving God comes to Blu-ray with an MPEG-2, 1080i, 1.78:1-framed transfer that never
wows audiences with slick high definition imagery, but the transfer on display is certainly
adequate nevertheless. The scenes outside the church early in the film when Cane first meets
Norris look nice; the cold chill of the winter's day is palpable and conveyed through the overcast
sky and snow-covered turf. The image sports nice depth, fine textures on the houses and
brick-laden church, and showcases fairly impressive detail all around. Take a look at a foot bridge
Norris escapes to in chapter nine. The wooden floorboards exhibit some subtle detail and vitality
while the background featuring several houses, even under the overcast sky, look fairly realistic
with that "you are there" sense to the image. The transfer can be a bit dark, but there is a
rather agreeable film-like look to much of the presentation. Grain is present over the image,
sometimes
more
noticeable here rather than there, but never in excess. Black levels are alright, but there is some
crushing
throughout. There is a red push to some scenes, and flesh tones sometimes appear fairly red,
particularly in moderately-to-poorly-lit interiors. There is also some flickering in the image where
it lightens and darkens considerably in the same scene, noticeable, for example, during and after
Norris' first prayer in Cane's living room in chapter 10. Compression artifacts are also visible here
and there. Saving God is not the kind of
Blu-ray one chooses for its visual flair and impressive Blu-ray transfer, and what is presented here
is certainly adequate for a 1080i presentation.
Saving God debuts on Blu-ray with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Not one to set the
home theater system ablaze, the track nevertheless conveys the dialogue, drama, and spiritual
message of the film well enough. There are some scenes taking place in the street where a cold
breeze, the sound of moderately heavy city traffic, or the thumping of bass from passing cars add up
to create a realistic city environment. The music spreads nicely through the front and is particularly
pleasant to hear, and the final hymn sung at the end of the film (and also featured over the main
menu) sounds just fine. There is little rear channel activity, certainly no discrete effects and minor,
if any, ambience. Dialogue is generally solid. Rhames' bass voice comes through loud and clear via
the center channel with no distortions or volume issues. Saving God presents
listeners with an adequate sound experience.
Saving God offers viewers a few supplemental features. First up are four featurettes.
One Story at a Time (480p, 5:28) looks at the origins of the film, including how writer
Michael Jackson, an employee at Pittsburgh International Airport, approached a passing Ving
Rhames and pitched the project to him, and how the film compares to The Cross and the
Switchblade. Also included is Ving Rhames and members of the cast crew discussing the
content
and meaning of the film. One Production at a Time (480p, 9:02) looks at the difficult
process of making a feature-length film, the chemistry of the cast, and assembling the team that
worked on the film (please note that this feature ends rather abruptly in the middle of a thought).
One Soul at a Time (480p, 5:38) examines the Christian roots of the film and uplifting
message it offers. One Icicle at a Time (480p, 2:19) is a humorous piece that
showcases the cast and crew discussing the chilly temperatures on the set. Also included is a series
of outtakes (480p, 3:25) and three deleted scenes (480p, 6:18).
Films like Saving God are not made to make mounds of cash, to win awards, or even to
entertain. While Saving God is entertaining in its own right, as it combines positive
messages with a strong story and characters the audience easily connects with, no matter their
background, place in the world, or even spiritual realization, it also unequivocally accomplishes its
goal, which is to emphasize the importance of faith, trust, and redemption, even in a world filled
with hurt, suffering, and plenty of wayward souls. Ving Rhames turns in a powerful, emotional
performance as Pastor Armstrong Cane, one that will likely be overlooked by history but deserving of
admiration nevertheless for the heartfelt honesty and integrity he brings to the memorable
character he portrays. Despite Rhames' incredible performance, he never overshadows his excellent
fellow actors, thanks to their strong performances, great scriptwriting, and fine direction that keeps
the film honest and powerful. Although this Blu-ray
release of Saving God is not as technically sound or feature-packed as an average
blockbuster come to Blu-ray, its picture and sound quality suffice, and should be no reason to
eschew this release. Saving God comes recommended for those in search of spiritual
awakening, rekindling, or enlightenment.
Echo Bridge Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring the Ving Rhames film 'Saving God' to Blu-ray on October 14th, day-and-date with the DVD release. No technical specs have been announced at this time, but previous Echo Bridge releases featured 1080i ...
