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'The Gospel' fresh, powerful
BY L. KENT WOLGAMOTT / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Oct 06, 2005 - 11:51:36 pm CDT

Set in an African-American church in Atlanta with a story that parallels the Biblical tale of the prodigal son and filled with great contemporary gospel music, “The Gospel” is a movie that is fresh in a formula-driven era and has a powerful message that goes beyond its setting to apply to all churches.

Written and directed by Rob Hardy, “The Gospel” is an intertwined story of family and church.

Pastor Fred Taylor (Clifton Powell) has dedicated his life to building his congregation. His son David appears to be poised to follow in his footsteps. But when Taylor’s wife unexpectedly dies when David is a teenager, the young man rebels, leaving the church and Atlanta.

Years later, David (Boris Kodjoe) is an R&B star, singing of undressing women and doing plenty of it himself. When he gets word that his father is ill, David returns home and finds a congregation in turmoil. The church needs cash to build a new building and stay open and, and as the pastor’s condition worsens, there’s competition regarding his successor.

Longtime financial expert Terrance Hunter (gospel singer Donnie McClurkin) thinks he should get the job. But Taylor has anointed Rev. Charles Frank (Idris Elba) to take the position. David’s best friend before the split, Charles now keeps David at arm’s length, trying to prevent him from becoming involved in church affairs and spoiling his own ego-driven plans to take the church in a new, splashier direction.

Torn between his career and his father, David finds himself becoming ever more involved in the church, first singing with the choir, then setting up a benefit concert. Those two elements provide the opportunity for “The Gospel” to become a showcase for contemporary gospel music, with new songs written for the movie by Grammy-winner Kirk Franklin and featuring top gospel artists including Yolanda Adams, Dolores “Mom” Winans and Hezekiah Walker, who plays choir director Gordon.

The other primary singer in the movie is Tamyra Gray, a former “American Idol” contestant who plays a single mom who David starts to date as he gets back into the church family.

The joy in the music is unmistakable, and that uplift provides a contrasting mood to the drama that plays out between David, his father, Minister Hunter, Charles and Charles’ wife Charlene (Nona Gaye).

There are some spots in “The Gospel” where the acting is a little shaky and the film almost loses its narrative drive in a couple of places. But the combination of the story and music are compelling enough to keep it on track. And when the movie reaches its conclusion, the actions of each of the characters seem believable and the message of the movie is clear.

Not to make too much of this, but “The Gospel” gives the lie to those who say that Hollywood doesn’t make movies aimed at the Christian community. This film is rated PG, and there is nothing objectionable on screen. So there should be no content-based reason for avoiding the movie.

Those who want to see more similar films should make their way to the theater to catch “The Gospel.” That, not whining, is the best way to send a message to the studios about the Christian movie audience.

Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.