King's Faith (FILM REVIEW)
King's
Faith
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Headline:
Reformed Gangsta Seeks Redemption in Modern Morality Play
Brendan King (Crawford Wilson), a
kid raised in the foster care system, was sent away at the age of 15 after
being caught dealing drugs and running guns as a member of a notorious gang
known as Avenue D. Upon parole a few years later, the juvenile offender was released
to the custody of Vanessa (Lynn
Whitfield) and Mike Stubbs (James McDaniel), a couple still struggling with the
loss of their police officer son in a senseless act of violence while he was on
duty.
The emotionally-wounded foster
parents see taking Brendan in as an opportunity to not only help rehabilitate
an at-risk youth but to perhaps restore their faith in humanity, too. Because
the boy became Born Again behind bars, the prospects for his future are very
bright indeed, despite a checkered past marked by 18 different foster home placements,
9 felony and 11 misdemeanor arrests, and 4 convictions.
After all, he’s now settling into a
new school, Northside High, and living in a relatively-upscale suburban enclave
located a safe distance from the bad influences rampant around the ‘hood. Furthermore,
to keep Brendan on the straight and narrow, the Stubbs give him a curfew, find
him a part-time job, and even encourage him to join The Seekers, a Christian
community service group for teenagers.
Everything goes well until the
fateful day he rescues a classmate from a car wreck. Natalie (Kayla Compton), a
girl most likely-type, happens to be president of the school’s student council.
However, she ends up in trouble when the police find drugs in the car at the
scene of the accident.
But Brendan’s role as the hero lands
him in the limelight, which has the unfortunate side effect of notifying his
former partners in crime of his present whereabouts. Soon, they show up looking
for the fruit of the valuable contraband he’d hidden before being sent up the
river, and they threaten to put a hurtin’ on him if he doesn’t deliver or
rejoin their ranks.
Will Brendan revert to his old outlaw
ways? Or will the convert put his trust in the Lord and avoid temptation this
time around? Thus unfolds King’s Faith, a very relevant morality play written
and directed by Nicholas DiBella.
Carefully crafted with Evangelicals
in mind, this modern parable will certainly resonate with the faith-based
demographic as well as secular individuals interested in an entertaining,
wholesome family flick with a sobering message. The cinematic equivalent of a thought-provoking
Bible study likely to ignite further discussion about a variety of real-life
challenges folks face today.
Very Good
(3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for violence, drug use and mature themes
Running time: 107 minutes
Distributor: Faith Street Film
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