The Rite

This one was really intense. You know with Anthony Hopkins you're going to get your money's worth. Exorcism themed movies have been more prevalent lately. Personally I can remember at least one every two years, for the past six years. Anyway, I would put this on your 'To see:' list.

Story:
Michael Kovak(Colin O'Donoghue) is the son of a mortician, and desperately wants to get out of it. His only choices are to continue with the life of meeting plenty of dead people, or to join the seminary to become a priest. Not excited with his current life, he goes on to be a priest.

Four years later, he's completed his class and is ordained a priest. That night, he composes a long email to his superior Father Matthew(Toby Jones). He explains of how he lacks the faith, and that he is resigning. Some time later, he is being chased down by the Father Matthew. In his haste to catch up with Michael, the father trips, causing a bicyclist to be knocked into traffic, and be hit strongly by a passing car.  With Father Matthew injured from his fall, and being the only other priest in the area, his first act as a priest is to give this woman her last rites.

After some time had passed, Father Matthew sits down with Michael. He tells Michael that he has refrained from sending the resignation letter. He explains that leaving now would be very costly. He wants him to stay, because he believes that he has potential. He tells Michael that in the past year, the Vatican has received over 500,000 reports of possessions. That the church wants an exorcist in every parish. He wants Michael to go and take the training. He accepts.

Later on, Michael must learn to overcome his lack of faith, and learn that just because you don't believe in the Devil, doesn't mean he isn't there.

Review:
Any story that has a battle of good versus evil involving Christian religions always has my interest. The exorcism movies are perfect examples. One thing that I like about it is that I think anyone could handle this movie. It's not grotesque to level where you want to puke, or anything like that.

What was freaky was I had no idea what to expect. When you get the right lightning on Anthony Hopkin's face, he can be a really, really creepy dude. Personally I wouldn't like to be in a chair when he's standing and yelling scripture at you. And I'll admit, there was a scene in a park where it made me yell "What the hell!?" really loud in the theater.

With movies like these though, they have that one recognizable phrase, "Inspired by true events".  In translation, "greatly exaggerated to try to scare you."  I believe that the whole movie was accurate, save a few of the happenings in the scenes of the exorcisms. Hollywood has to do that though, otherwise the movie would be boring. My point is, when you see that magic phrase, don't believe everything you see in the movie.

Cast:
Hands down Anthony Hopkins held this movie together. First time I've seen him play a good and and a bad guy in one movie. I understand his strength in characters is his villains, but my favorite roles from him have been the good guys(ex. Hearts in Atlantis).
Colin O'Donoghue's character I found kind of an idiot, but if Colin isn't an idiot then he's a really good actor.
You also know the woman at the end of  'I Am Legend'? Alice Braga? She's in this too. She plays a journalist who is taking the same course on exorcism as Michael. I haven't seen much of her before, but she's cool.


I highly recommend this one. It's messed up, not too gory, and you get too see a new priest make a lot of smartypants remarks.