John Cusack Movie:

Conflict Reviews:
Depressing, But Interesting
2009-03-26 -
This is a depressing, but still interesting movie that explores some of the results of Vatican II. Whether you are totally behind Vatican II and feel that the mass should be done in English, or you belong to that break off church that refused to acknowledge Vatican II, and does the mass in Latin (and facing away from the people) to this day, you should find the movie interesting.

Amongst other things, we see that changes and progressions are inevitable, but we also wonder if they should tear people from their foundations and traumatize them. Trevor Howard puts it quite well when he says: "Yesterday's orthodoxy is today's heresy."

Basically, Martin Sheen is a priest sent from Rome to convince an Irish church that stubbornly holds onto the Latin Mass to 'get with today's program.' It is also interesting that while Martin Sheen is a priest, he carries the aura of an FBI agent. (If I may be permitted a personal remark, I almost expected him to pull out an FBI badge.)

Trevor Howard is the leader of the Pre Vatican II stronghold. And he defends his position with careful elegance. Though we do get the impression that he is hiding something. Michael Gambon and Cyril Cusack (in their small roles) offer interesting defenses for their stronghold.

I don't want to ruin the movie for those of you who haven't seen it, but while one turnout of the movie is predictable, there are interesting surprises that unfold.

One word of warning: If you are having struggles with your faith, you should probably avoid this movie.

Interesting, but I really don't get it.
2007-08-16 - Perhaps I'd understand it better with an additional viewing, but I don't find this movie important enough to motivate me to that action. There are enough real dramas and battles in the real, present-day Church to keep one's attention for 100 years. However, I would very much like to one day discover the intent of this curious movie.

After a fictional "Vatican IV" further revolutionizes the Church, Martin Sheen (playing an ultra-modern, Marxist-type priest) is sent to remotest Ireland to bring a group of Traditionalist monks into line with the new de-Catholicized Catholic church. The monks are understandably resistant, and there are some interesting exchanges between the revolutionary and the traditionalists, but the Abbot, who privately admits to a lack of faith, eventually orders them to submit to Rome, rather than defy the abomination of desolation. What exactly is the point of this movie? Is it a modernist message, that the Church must acquiesce to the zeitgeist in order to survive and be relevant? Is it a traditionalist message, that the true Faith would thrive were it not undermined by its leaders? Or is there any message at all? Beats me.

The future of the Church of today?
2006-02-22 - This film is set in a fictional future that takes place after at least two more ecumenical Council's, Vatican IV. A movie that may have been ahead of its time is so relevant today. It shows the difference in thought between the prevalent belief after the above councils of those who believe the Church should be used for social revolution and ecumenism instead of saving souls.

A group of traditional Catholics in a remote monastery perform the Pre-Vatican II Latin Mass. And because it becomes world famous, it becomes a problem to Rome. This is the setting when the movie starts. Martin Sheen plays the Modern Neo-Catholic Priest whose job it is to censer the Mass. And Trevor Howard plays the abbot who has lost his faith but is obedient.

Cyril Cusak plays his role with ardor and believability. I think he does the best acting job in this film and his performance is thought provoking. And places the conflict within the church in plain understandable words. A must see for any Catholic.


Maybe passe for Roman Catholics, but Prophetic for Episcopalians
2006-01-29 - Excellent movie that tackles the purpose of the church - social justice versus saving souls; the Eucharist being merely symbolic rather than a sacrament; and the struggle between the emptying social revolutionary church and the resurgence of orthodoxy drawing people in. I don't think the writers and producers of this film could have had any idea of how prophetic this film would be.

I bought this film for at a dollar store next door to a Chinese buffet where my family ate lunch today. Unbelievable movie; must see for any Episcopalian, Roman Catholic, or other Christian in today's church.

Great actors too: Trevor Howard plays a traditionalist monk/abbot who has lost his faith (might as well have been Bishop Spong), Martin Sheen who plays the with it social revolutionary priest sent to suppress the latin mass and the priest and people facing east being performed by the Irish monks, and Cyril Cusak who plays a priest of firm conviction in Jesus Christ and the mass.

What truly struck me is the conflict between the vows of obedience given to hierarchical churches, from laity to bishops, and conscience and faith. What also struck me is that all these supposed innovations in our church that were supposed to draw people in, for some reason, empty the churches, and that orthodox resurgence tends to attract quite a following. We see this now in the Episcopal Church as well as others.

Prophetic!!
2005-10-10 - This is a film for the traditionalist Catholic. It was as if the writers of this film (I believe it was a play originally) had been reading the "Ottaviani Intervention" and the warnings of ArchBishop Lefebvre.

Several coincidences between this film and our present state of decay in the Catholic Church.

1. Transubstantiation is being denied by many Catholics.
2. Yoga and Eastern rituals have infiltrated the faith.
3. Social Revolution has been the perogative of Dioceses worldwide.
4. The priesthood is completely horizontal with the laity.
5. The priesthood no longer wears vestments worthy of their Office.
6. Ecumenism has taken priority over salvation of souls.
7. Faithlessness in Christ and the Church is rampant among the clergy, theologians and teachers, to the point where some speculate there is no hell, it might be empty and Christ might not have resurrected or even existed.
8. Obedience is insisted to the point of papalotry.
9. Heresy is non-existant as nonCatholics are merely imperfectly united with Catholics.
10. The only groups that don't deserve respect according to most conservative Catholics are Traditionalists!
11. As prophecised the Lord has been taken out of the Holy of Holies and one has to look and try to find him.
12. The Tridentine Mass is suppressed!!! Yes, it was at the Diocesan level for decades, until the Commission under Cardinal Stickler proved the Mass of Ages was not banned, only to be allowed under special permission from the local Bishop!!! This permission is still denied across Dioceses across the nation, and even when given, does not include all the Sacraments!

This last is what this movie is about. It is a shock to the senses to watch this movie and contrast it with today.

I give it 4 stars because of the technical flaws with the film, however it is so inexpensive, it is worth buying!! It is an eye opener.