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2001 Talk About Movies
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Contents © 2001
by Jim Holman.
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BLESS THE CHILD
Directed by Chuck Russell. Starring Kim Basinger, Jimmy Smits, Hollister Coleman, Rufus Sewell. USA, English, Color, 107 minutes. Available at Blockbuster Video.Matthew: Any time you have Satanists, you tend towards making a B movie. A person is less interesting when he says, "I am a servant of Satan," than when he says, "I am my own God" -- when he thinks he's serving no one but himself.
Ernie: But since that was the story being told, I think they did a pretty good job. There was a subtlety to Satan's agent; I liked the way he whispered in the bum's ear and got him to pour gasoline all over himself. He was in the position of being the tempter, the reserved Satan of the mind.
Matthew: They showed restraint in the scene of the temptation -- the girl finds a clever way out. And when she goes to save the bum, she doesn't use her "powers," but performs a simple loving act.
Ernie: I liked that Maggie had visions of devils when diabolical things were going on, while the angels who appeared here and there did so in the guise of people.
Matthew: They did things people could have done. The side of good remained hidden. I wish they hadn't shown them at the end.
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Ernie: A sacramental -- the rosary -- played its part.
Matthew: And not in a talismanic way.