Huge Expectations in Latin America Over 'For Greater Glory' Opening

Catholic Press · #1 Jun 1, '12, 12:30 pm

Latin Americans are greatly anticipating the release of “For Greater Glory” on June 1 in the U.S., as weekend box office numbers could determine its distribution in Central and South America.

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**Dale_M** · #2 Jun 1, '12, 2:54 pm

According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, the movie grossed a bit over $3 million in Mexico.

Generally speaking, a film needs to gross in the theaters about 50% more than it cost to make. With a production budget of $12 million, For Greater Glory will require gross revenues in the area of $18 million in order to break even. The bulk of that money will need to come from the US, since Americans have the deep pockets.

Ion · #3 Jun 3, '12, 1:31 am

On my to watch list...

caritas2008 · #4 Jun 3, '12, 6:42 am

I've watched it two times already. First was a sneak preview, then I went on opening night. I plan on going again today.

The liberal media critics are panning this movie. But audience response is just the opposite. Please spread the word so that this movie can be distributed everywhere...

**Dale_M** · #5 Jun 3, '12, 3:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by caritas2008

The liberal media critics are panning this movie. But audience response is just the opposite. Please spread the word so that this movie can be distributed everywhere...

The criticism isn't just from liberal critics. Steven Greydanus, who writes film reviews for the National Catholic Register and appears on the radio show Catholic Answers Live, also faulted the film for being too black and white..

Quote:

Like many faith-based productions, For Greater Glory could have benefitted from a less heavy hand and more subtlety: less exposition, less intrusive scoring, more nuanced characters and more complexity all around. Take a scene in which Gorostieta introduces young José to his magnificent Arabian horse. It’s a nice character moment with an implicit father-son subtext — but then the filmmakers have to go and make it explicit: “I never had a son,” Gorostieta tells José, “but if I did, I’d want him to be just like you.”

For the most part, everyone does and says exactly what one would expect of a character like them. Every priest is devout, and every executed priest and layman dies with edifying grace, and not a single federale troop involved in executing even priests and children shows the slightest hesitation or conflict.

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news...-greater-glory

I suspect this lack of nuance was a deliberate attempt to target a specific audience. Like most "message" movies, the film wants to make sure its message is driven home. Its not an approach that critics enjoy, who often have a more intellectual approach than most persons in the audience.