Machine Gun Preacher (2011):

Starring:

Gerard Butler - Sam Childers

Michelle Monaghan - Lynn Childers

Kathy Baker - Daisy

Michael Shannon - Donnie

Madeline Caroll - Paige

Souleymane Sy Savane - Deng

Grant R. Krause - Billy

Reavis Graham - Pastor Krause

Peter Carey - Bill Wallace

Director:

Marc Foster (Quantum Of Solace; Stranger Than Fiction; Monster's Ball)

Synopsis:

When ex-biker-gang member Sam Childers makes the life-changing decision to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war, he is outraged by the unspeakable horrors faced by the region's vulnerable populace, especially the children. Ignoring the warnings of more experienced aide workers, Sam breaks ground for an orphanage where it's most needed-in the middle of territory controlled by the brutal Lord's Resistance Army, a renegade militia that forces youngsters to become soldiers before they even reach their teens. Determined to save as many as possible, he leads armed missions deep into enemy territory to retrieve kidnapped children, restoring peace to their lives-and eventually his own.

Review:

I understand that the main title is "Machine Gun PREACHER" but holy shit is this thing every preachy. Like over the top preachy. Based on a true story doesn't mean you have to make this as far from a Hollywood film as you can. The story was good if you can get past all the church & christian pandering. Butler is really hit or miss in this film. Sometimes he is very intense & over powering really showing a tremendous amount of emotion towards the cause his character is trying to fight. But the fact that he was boring in Scotland & is attempting to do a, as he self describes himself in the film "Pennsylvanian hillbilly" accent is WAY over the top & sounds silly. He uses words out of context & that no one actually says. You can also at times hear the slightest hint of Scotish accent sneak out. The second half of the movie does get a whole lot better though. It really picks up & his performance gets slightly better. Positive message gets lost in one directional story development & up & down acting by Butler. The action scenes are good but nothing special. They look very similar to every other Africa based war criminal movies. The film got a limited theatrical release when the producers tried to cash in on the "KONY 2012" internet sensation/scam whatever you want to call it.

Budget: $30,000,000

Box Office: $2,874,510

Profit: -$27,125,490

Rotten Tomatoes: 29%

Flixster: 62%

62%

Lead Acting: 7/15

Supporting Cast: 8/15

Plot: 8/10

Compared To The Genre: 8/10

Cinematography: 13/20

Intrigue: 11/20

Extra: 7/10