Courageous

I’ll admit to a thus far grudging respect for Kendrick’s efficient, if meat-and-potatoes film-making style, and what seems to be a sincerity in his faith and intentions – I can’t say I subscribe to his world-view, but he fits a purpose, and does it with a fair degree of style. Unfortunately he loses me here, ladling on some ham-bone theatrics in his performances and plotting, and starting to touch on some of that “Old Testament” brutality that I find a bit slimy and repellent (especially the “God’s plan” rationalisation’s for some catastrophic and cruel life events). Kendrick misses the mark here, playing too much to the cheap seats, and denting some of his accrued good will.