The Man Who Sued God

Plot synopsis:
Advocate Steve Myers (Billy Connolly) is a disillusioned lawyer who becomes fed-up with the perceived corruption within the judicial system. He quits the law business and buys a small fishing boat and takes up fishing for a living. His fishing boat is struck by lightning and explodes into pieces, burns and sinks. He informs his insurance company, which reviews and then subsequently declines his claim on the grounds that it is not liable as his fishing boat was destroyed due to an "Act of God".
Frustrated that his claim is repeatedly declined, Steve files a claim against God, naming church officials as representatives of God and thereby the respondents. The church leaders, their respective lawyers and their insurance company get together to find a way to settle this dilemma, which catches the fancy of the media. It is in Court that God's representatives will have to admit that the destruction of Steve's fishing boat was actually God's Act, accept and compensate him, or deny it altogether thereby denying God's existence, leaving the onus on Steve to prove his claim.
Myers's battle brings media attention leading to a meeting with journalist Anna Redmond (Judy Davis) who helps to raise his public profile, enlisting the support of others who had fallen victim to insurance companies' "Acts of God" clause. He also faces heavy criticism and protests from religious groups as his profile grows, and he backs the church into a disadvantageous position.
However, the attention takes its toll on Myers' family, who are exploited by the media, his ex-wife already crippled by debt as the guarantor of the boat. Steve faces a reality check as his family considers moving to Perth, on the other side of the country. Meanwhile, Anna Redmond comes under fire for a history of disputes and attacks on insurance companies, drawing criticism that the case is little more than a publicity stunt. Facing a drawn out legal battle and the impact it would have on those around him, Steve decides he has won a moral victory, and withdraws from the case but not before convincing the judge that insurance companies' use of the term "Acts of God" is a misleading term.

Tags: satire, philosophical

Review:
When a freak of lightning wipes out his small fishing boat and the insurance companies refuse to pay (as it's an act of God') he takes up law again to take on the system, the legal fiction, the churches and the big insurance companies.
Although it's title and trailer maybe suggest a mindless slapstick (and it contains a fair amount of this), the film actually delivers something more mentally challenging and is successfully entertaining by dint of hard work on an initial premises rather than any series of fast jokes.
Billy Connolly is excellent, his wit and charm is on display throughout the film and it is very, very, funny, most of the time.Unfortunately it is slightly too long and there are a few bits that could have been quite easily cut without harming the story.
Colin Friels is also pretty good as Connolly's brother and Wendy Hughes is nice as the prickly but understanding ex-wife.I can't imagine many Jews would be too pleased with the portrayal of the Rabbi "So, we just prove there is no God, ...who cares!" seems to be his attitude, but generally the film is pretty amusing with an interesting premise.As I say there is at lease one totally shoddy scene and some unnecessary wandering that could have been fixed by a decent editor but still, if not a classic, still a genuinely funny film and well worth seeing.By the way Connolly gives a fantastic (and quite different) acting performance as an ex-con artist in the Debt Collecter (1999).
Aside from it's flaws i did enjoy this movie a great deal, the story builds nicely and Billy Connolly holds together the plot despite the delicacy of the premise and the flaws in the script.As a comedy it is well worth watching, it's crammed with subtle humour throughout; it's also enjoyable as a romance, again it's subtle, but it's steady and quite heartwarming, despite the clichés.The story itself is very intriguing, it successfully provokes your thoughts and captures your imagination with interesting questions; but it fails to draw sufficient conclusion at the finale, and it did feel like a bit of a let down.6/10 It's still worth watching..
The story of retired lawyer Steve Myers (Billy Connolly), whose boat is struck by lightning and, well, he wouldn't beat the insurance companies, so theres gotta be _someone_ to sue, is...
Connolly and Judy Davis are great, Billy in particular being roaringly funny at some points.
Although for all its funniness the film raises some interesting questions as well, like: can the churches sue insurance companies for "breach of copyright" on the phrase "Acts of God"?
Any genre can be elevated to the level of genius, if it's done this well.Starting with a brilliant premise - challenging the stupid 'act of God' terminology used by the insurance industry - this film explores the philosophical ramifications.
At the same time, the film follows an eccentric but extremely likable character, played by the inimitable Billy Connolly, as he seeks his own form of redemption.
Instead of a heavy-handed Hollywood resolution, we get something more delicate and subtle, but also far more satisfying.The Man Who Sued God manages a difficult feat - being both hilariously funny and deeply thought-provoking.
And especially when it's an event that causes a loss' where that loss was covered by insurance.That sort of loss befell our man, played with insight, verve and delicacy by Billy Connolly, in 'The Man Who Sued God'.
It's well written, played with truth and energy by the entire cast, and shot vividly, both for the exterior scenes of 'beautiful OZ', and the interiors, where so much of the action takes place.He's just had his fishing boat blown out of the water by a direct hit from lightening, and it's all covered by insurance.
Until the small print comes into play, and the company refuses to pay, saying that the lightning strike was an act of God.
It's a drama with comedic moments and a romantic element, in a warm and compact package, which is a good thing.All in all, a feel-good movie without the smarminess -you can feel good about liking this one..
Scottish stand up comedian Billy Connolly (recently featured in The Last Samurai) plays divorced and disillusioned ex-lawyer Steve Myers, who now whiles away his time on a fishing boat in New South Wales, Australia.
On crutches he approaches his insurance company who refuse to pay as the incident is deemed an 'Act of God'.
It eventually gets to the point where it looks like the only way the church are going to win their case is to prove that God doesn't exist.
It's no coincidence that Connolly's character is a fisherman, or even a fisher of men, and that his beef is with the corrupt insurance companies representing an apparently corrupt church.
Never mind, he could play that role too (nobody seems to worry about accents in movies anyway) and in fact he almost pleads to the court on behalf of his co-plaintiffs 'Let my people go', or rather 'Give my people their money you bastards', but with a smile and a twinkle in the eye that only Connolly can get away with  well, him and Sean Connery.
There are many storms brewing toward the end of the film; Religious zealots surround the courthouse hurling abuse at the blasphemer Myers; Myers can't afford to lose the case; the lawyers can't afford to either, nor can the church, and there's also a mighty wind storm approaching the town bringing forest fires and floods (and no doubt frogs, plague and locusts) with it.
Needless to say it's a happy ending, the lawyers and the church get their knuckles rapped, the image of God remains untarnished (of course), Myers gets the girl and the zealots go home sulking and dragging their large wooden cross with them in another Christ reference.
Connolly (Water, Mrs. Brown, Muppet Treasure Island, Boondock Saints, Timeline), undoubtedly a talented actor and comedian, is obviously cast for distribution purposes (Myers isn't a particularly Scottish name after all) and seems a little out of place in the Australian backdrop, but his rants are very funny.
If you only watch one 'alternative' film this year,  see this one.This is a lovely hard warming, but gentle story about a guy who's boat and livelihood is destroyed by lightning.
When the insurance company refuse to pay up, blaming it on an 'act of god', he decides to try to gain compensation from someone.This is a delightful film that's a relaxing, humorous and gentle tale of one little mans fight against the global conglomerates who are using God as a way of getting out of their contracts.It's a great film, and one which I would recommend you go see before it disappears.
The phrase "Act of God" universally used in insurance policies gets a severe thrashing in the film and in the process leaves one doubled up in uncontrollable laughter.
Steve (Billy Connolly)is seeking replacement of his fishing boat which has been destroyed in an unexpected lightning storm, but his insurance company refuses to pay a cent on the grounds that the catastrophe was an "Act of God".
I think that this movie, beyond that is a Drama-Comdedy film , has a great philosophical point.
Renegade lawyer takes on an insurance company by suing God. Very funny and a tad surreal..
Steve (Billy Connolly) sees his boat blown up by lightening and the insurance company won't pay up, citing the Act Of God defense against the claim.Steve, a runaway lawyer, decides to sue God, and his/her representatives, the Churches for the money.
It would seem that the Churches could well have to argue against the existence of God to defend the case.Now no doubt there are good legal reasons why the above couldn't happen although it's usual that whenever theology gets bantered about the arguments never seem to make much real sense.
But in the hands of director Mark Joffe (Cosi, Spotswood), writers John Clark, a.k.a. Fred Dagg (The Gilles Report,) and Don Watson (The Gilles Report, Passion), as well as a terrific cast headed by the wild and wooly Billy Connolly we are given plenty of fun moments.A lot of the humour is visual  a dog flung above a jetty, Judy Davis as Anna falling into the sea, Anna and Steve's first meeting in a restaurant.
Then there's Connolly who has an nicely mad, every man, quality exuding from him that manages to grab humour out of even a hideously pierced foot.Then there's the photography, the look of the film.
There's an early storm scene which is a little disquieting as all really good storms should be and from then on we see cloud scenes that are entrancing.Judy Davis lends her trademark intensity to her work in a film where nearly everyone seems to gel, even if Wendy Hughes as Jules seems forced in her performance.
The ideas are lively if confused and there's a lovely surrealistic touch or two that gives this movie a depth far beyond comedy.And if you crave a good belly laugh or two The Man Who Sued God delivers.4 Lively Flys.
In many aspects, this is certainly very little in this film that deviates from the standard formula.It all revolves around good old Billy...
so much so that toward the end when they are trying to fill the film out to 90 minutes, he spends a lot of time just loitering unwholesomely in Churches...I suppose that in some ways the idea behind this is wholly novel, really it never escapes the fact it wants to be a schmaltzy romance and a legal drama.
the dialogue was witty, intelligent and thoroughly enjoyable - all actors were excellent and Billy Connelly was his usual larger than life character.
A fisherman see his boat get hit by lightning, but the insurance company won't pay up as they call it an "Act Of God", so he decides to sue God - well the leaders of the churches, anyway.I wish Billy Connolly would play less roles where he's called upon to be Billy Connolly, where there's no at all the swearing and being Scottish - he can be a really good actor, and he sort of is in this.
Judy Davis, however, isn't convincing, but I'm sure that's the fault of the role or the writing, rather than Ms Davis herself.At first thought, the ending seems to be very Hollywood, but in the time since I saw the film, it would appear that perhaps it was the best possible conclusion.
The two other possible endings - one would have been even more Hollywood and the other one would have been a disappointment.(And on a minor point, I think this was the first time I've ever seen a movie or TV show set in Sydney that didn't go for the stock cliche of shots of the Harbour Bridge and/or the Opera House - kudos to the writers for not being formulaic in that respect)..
I always enjoy Judy Davis' performances and it was great seeing Wendy Hughes again.I'd highly recommend this film for fun, irreverence and spirit..
The scruffy dog Arthur gets the biggest laughs.I expected the movie to play in a witty way with the notion of "act of god" and the lies churches and insurance companies perpetuate, but the banter was wooden and irrational.
Connolly's charisma carries a so-so film that does little with the potential in the concept.
When his boat is destroyed by lightening he and his extended family are faced with ruin when the insurance company refuses to pay out citing "act of God".
With journalist Anna chasing an "important" story giving him the publicity that helps give his case weight, Steve starts the battle.In the opening fifteen minutes or so this film moves quickly to set up the plot and does the absolute basics to establish character and relationships (by a blurred collection of overlapping short scenes).
As it goes though the concept well enough and is engaging but it is never that funny, that clever or that interesting.Connolly is good in the lead thanks to his natural charm.
Beyond him the cast is OK at best and it does fall to Connolly to carry everything  which, although he is OK he cannot do the whole time.Overall then a so-so film that distracts but doesn't really offer much more than that.
STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All CostsHaving been held back for two years,Billy Connelly's 'latest' is a high concept comedy,although not entirely believable in execution.As neither,sadly,for the most part,are the contrieved gags,as see through as tracing paper and as a result,not particularly funny.The pace is a problem too,often slumberous and sleep inducing and the movie certainly feels overlong.The film actually ends up working better as a drama than a comedy,and what's on offer is certainly rather enthralling.It's just,we payed for laughs.***.
Man Who Sued God was entertaining and a good movie to see with a good friend.
Movie Review: The Man Who Sued GodDirected By: Mark JoffeWritten By: Don Watson and John ClarkeStarring: Billy Connolly, Judy Davis, Colin Friels, Wendy Hughes and Bille Brown.The very concept of the movie and the bold title alone would seem to be enough to trigger off a political and religious minefield.
Connolly is careful to point out that he is not suing God himself, but rather the very idea of an Act of God as an insurance get-out clause.
Connolly, after being told by the insurance company that lightning striking his boat was an act of God, takes the logical course and attempts to sue God.This, at its core, is a very simple romantic-comedy/family-movie with very simple laughs.
Ultimately, this is something of a love-story by the numbers, but the very idea of a man suing God gives the old story and plot something new.
Also the political and theological hot-bed it opens up with leave you with something to think about and discuss long after the movie has ended.STORY: 8/10 DIRECTION: 5/10 PERFORMANCE: 8/10 OVERALL: 7/10RECOMMENDED TO: Mothers, aunties and people who like Connolly.
I already had a lot of respect for the writer(s) who came up with the idea for the film and specially came up with the title: 'The Man Who Sued God' tickled my curiosity.
Of course this is because of the absurd idea of suing God, but mainly because of the energetic and stimulating performance of Billy Connolly.
Although the film is very standard executed, the original subject and Billy Connolly make it interesting and as said, very refreshing!.
And what happens if you sue the churches, as God's representatives, when the insurance company refuses to pay?
Not a bad Aussie effort if you can get around main star Billy Connolly's broad Scottish accent and liberal use of swear words.
He plays a chap who by an act of nature, has his fishing boat struck by lightning and the insurance company refuses to pay.
Warning: Billy Connelly swears a whole bunch so perhaps not a good movie for the whole family...
I went to see this film with high expectations, Billy is usually so funny with his observational humour!
The worst was yet to come.(SPOILERS)Just when the film was getting juicy (when the church could only win by proving God DOESN'T exist) Connelly falls for (in matters of the heart and into bed with) the annoying reporter that oh-so-sweetly accepts the fact that he cost her her job!Basically the end turns out so that he drops his case because God's "fury" turned him to the new love of his life and they live happily ever after, yada yada yada, then he sponges off the media and makes a few Australian bucks!Good start to the story and very controversial in its own right, bad ending and even worse acting on the reporters part, i can't even remember her name!.
Actually the first half hour is watchable though full of clichés, but Billy Connolly makes it work.
There was a nice bit of friendship chemistry between the two leads but I don't think there's any element of the film that hinted at them falling in love until they start snogging.
I think the film would have been stronger if they'd remained friends with a strong respect for each other.Cop out ending: It seems that the writers wrote themselves into a bit of a corner and by the beginning of the third act you start to wonder how their going to get themselves out of it.
I think we all know Billy's opinion on the Catholic church in which he was raised, but he chooses in this film to leave a little bit there for those who like to still hold on to the mysteries.
And I couldn't quite figure out the plot twist that had two Scots sons following their father into the old established family law business but happening to be doing so in Sydney???It isn't destined to ever be regarded as a great movie classic, but as a low budget piece of irreverent (!) Aussie fun and a great vehicle for Billy's comic talents and the terrific acting of Judy Davis, it was pretty much right on the money.
I wanted to like this more than I did.Using the comedy/drama form, this moderately engaging little movie poses some interesting question, and then fails to address them - or, more exactly, decides to opt out of presenting the audience with any conclusion.
Steve Myers (Connolly)is a lawyer turned fisherman who, after his boat is blown up by lightning, decides to sue God after the insurance company doesn't pay up.
He finds a very good loophole in the legal system that states that a company cannot deny the existence of an employer or employee, therefore, the church cannot deny the existence of God. Connolly and Judy Davis' performances are above par.