Product: Keeping the Faith (2000)
Rating: 4.0
Where was I when this played in theaters?
Kudos to Edward Norton -- both because this was his first out as a director, and because his story pays due (and funny) respect to organized religion (and individual faith.) How long has it been since we've seen a film focusing on believing/involved people of faith that wasn't either preachy and sanctimonious, or cynical and paranoid? Let's see -- maybe Steve Martin's "Leap of Faith", or Denzel Washington's remake of Cary Grant's "The Preacher's Wife." Maybe a couple more -- but not many.It's nice to see a film celebrate active belief without turning into "Father O'Malley and the Dirty Faced Street Urchins of New York" or "Father O'Malley and the Dirty Alter Boys of Cell Block 8."And yes -- it's cute, funny, & light-hearted; AND seriously about friendship, tradition, matters of faith vs. matters of religion -- and people living in this century.