There have been plethora of football movies. There have even been Christian football films like The Kerwin Brother's "Facing The Giants" and "When the Game Stands Tall." It is evident that Christian filmmakers can make a great sports film with spirituality. One can even recall the classic "Rudy" where the title character appeals to Christ through Catholic prayer to get into Norte Dame and consults a priest who says the memorable line, "In all my religious studies over the years, I have only come to two irrefutable facts, there is a God and I am not him." It seems 'providential' (which is a pun since one of the distributers of Woodlawn is Providential films) that Sean Astin who played Rudy would be principle character in another football epic.
Woodlawn surprised me. Going into the film you expect a clone of "Facing the Giants" with little bit of "Rudy" mixed in. While football is part of the film, it really is not the subject matter. It is the stage and arena upon which the main themes play out; football is really the prop, not the focus. Woodland could have be renamed, The Jesus Revolution, in that it documents for the first time in cinema the revival that sparked in the 1970's and lasted twenty years. Woodlawn shows how in Birmingham, Alabama how the Almighty can change the hearts of young men bent on segregation and hate; to that of love in Christ Jesus. The film is not shy, Hank, played by Sean Astin, proclaims the Gospel and says, "Chose Jesus!" In fact, the speech to the Woodlawn football team in the bleachers moves you, the Holy Spirit's presence is made manifest.
The film from cinematic and cinematography point of view is revolutionary. For the first time on the field of a football game, I felt I was in the game! The angles, the movements of the teams, and the sound effects were incredible! In one game it rains and when plays collide you hear lightning, but this effect is not overused or used again in subsequent games. The cast has chemistry, something I found lacking in both "90 Minutes in Heaven" and "Do You Believe?" Tony Nathan, A.K.A. Touchdown Tony, is the protagonist who realizes that his calling is to give hope in a time of hate by serving Christ with his athletic gift. The message of the Lord bequeathing us with certain gifts to honor him, not that we must fit into an ecclesiastic position to serve Christ is refreshing.
The entire film is very strong, no dull moments, no cheese (which tends to plague Christian film), and so much chemistry that you are convinced Woodlawn is a major motion picture! For myself, there were moments that moved me. I found Hank's one on one conversation with Tony deeply insightful. Hank (Sean Astin) says when explaining why his foot is gone and he can never play football again that "Sometimes God has to take away your old dreams to give you new ones." Then later in the film the Pastor of Tony's Church gets up and give a sermon. He says, "We are called to love our enemies. Because if you only love those who love you back, what kind of love is that?" This line is a paraphrase of Christ's words, "If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much." (Matthew 5:46). A third moment that blessed me is when Tony is going to play at the Championship game, his father meets with him and says, "I am your father, and I will love you wither you win or lose. Nothing can change my love for you." This echoes what our Heavenly Father feels for us; "For God so loved us, that he gave his only begotten son, and whoever believes in his son, shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).
Woodlawn is really about The Jesus Revolution and the power of God to change the hearts of men. It shows how a bitter town like Birmingham can change when they "beat their swords into plowshares," (Isaiah 2:4) and embrace the "Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6). The film also shows how men like the head of the Woodlawn school motivated by an antichrist spirit can try to shut down the Wave of the Spirit and that those who serve Jesus must be willing to risk their livelihood to serve the Lord. Woodlawn is proof that Christian Cinema can be classy, not cheesy, and Christ centered. It is evangelistic in nature, which is much needed in this godless society.
At the end of the film we see Billy Graham and a call to continue work of Jesus Movement, to begin the next great revival in Texas, 2016. The United States of America needs an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Bible says there will be one last revival in the "Coastlands," before Jesus returns. We need to participate. We need to pray for revival in America, in the World (which is already blazing, France, Iran, and China are experiencing revival). You need to see Woodlawn and consider being apart of the 2016 move for revival. Ask the Lord and He shall direct you. Until you hear, head out to your local theater and see Woodlawn. It will encourage and edify you, and even possibly inspire you to act.
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