The Grace Card 2010

     Police officer Mac McDonald has never recovered from losing his son in a tragic accident eighteen years ago.  He has spent these years in rage and hostility and his relationships both with his family and on the force are crumbling.  Mac is passed over for promotion because of his attitude.  He begins to boil over when he is partnered with an officer who has been promoted.  Sam Wright is a part-time pastor and he is also a loving family man.  These two men have many differences.  Sam starts out with the idea that every day we have the opportunity to build relationships and heal deep wounds.  We are able to do that by asking for and receiving grace.

     A little bit soap opera and predictable but this is still interesting.  Relationships are not easy at home or work for Mac but eighteen years of bitterness and anger is a large obstacle to overcome.  Finally, Mac realizes he could lose the one son he has left.  He needs to decide to remain angry or to ask for help?  There is some humor in this film but there are also battles with racist behavior.  3* (This movie is OK)

101 min, Drama directed by David Evans and written by Howard Klausner with with Louis Gossett, Jr., Michael Joiner, Michael Higgenbottom, Joy Parmer Moore, Dawntoya Thomason, Rob Erickson, Kiana McDaniel, Taylor Ollins, Cindy Hodge, Chris Thomas.

Note:  Imdb 6.4 out of 10, 33% with 27 critics 82% audience with 3,963 views on Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic 43 out of 100 with 14 critics (4 positive 6 mixed 4 negative) 7.2 out of 10 (2 positive 3 negative) , dove.org 2* language 2* violence 1* drugs, 2* racism.

Special Note:  This is the first film role for Rob Erickson as Blake McDonald.  Michael Joiner as Bill 'Mac' McDonald lived and studied in Los Angeles for ten years.  He went on three hundred and fifty auditions and he landed forty roles.  He moved back to Kansas City, Missouri and two months later, he got the call to play the lead role in this movie without an audition.  This is a small-budget film made by the Memphis’ Calvary Church.  It was inspired by and modeled after a film released by Sherwood Baptist Church in Georgia titled Fireproof, Facing the Giants.  David Evans has been a non-profit director for many years.  He directed several successful Passion plays for his home church.  This is his first job as a film director.