Amused

The Wager (2007)


Director: Judson Pearce Morgan

Rating: PG

Michael Steele (Randy Travis) is ten days from the biggest night of his life - He has been nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. Achieving the height of career success, Michael is cast in the role of a lifetime as the lead character in a struggle between good and evil. When rumors about his morality and faith run rampant will he buckle to temptation or fight to walk the path of purity?

This is a film based on the concept of Job in a modern sense about a man trying to live up to the principles of Sermon on the Mount. He has everything, but loses just about all trying to get to grips with reality. Great in concept, but wanting in execution. It is obvious that the movie is well intended, but it can be a bit hard to follow at times with the motivation of the characters often absent. The Wager would have benefited from a couple of more script overhauls as the story is dragging its feet for action, and coming to resolution unproportionally quick. The actors do well throughout, and the editing is quite decent. Cinematography could need a boost for sure. But not bad, I could see what they wanted to achieve with the picture. I will likely see it again, and God bless the filmmakers for trying to accomplish an A-list drama in Hollywood about Hollywood. We need more Christian movies with ambition!

Knudegaard Rating:
6 out of 10