Despite the Christian Right’s perpetual kerfuffle with Hollywood, Christians love finding God in film. If you’ve been to a big Evangelical church anytime in the last fifteen years, you’ve seen clips from The Lord of the Rings, Amistad, Contact, and even R-rated fare such as The Matrix. Hip pastors love wrangling popular movies into a sermon.
The list of movies that address spirituality with artistic aplomb is long; the list of movies that give God a starring role is short. I don’t fault Hollywood for this. Rendering the Lord of Hosts on the big screen must intimidate even the most pompous director. Nobody wants to find the Lord waiting at the Pearly Gates, saying, “Before you got anywhere, we’re having words about that big white beard and West London accent you gave me in your movie.”
The list below honors ten films that do right by God. Not being able to see God is part of the deal when you’re a person of faith, but movies that artfully portray God or his power give me a nice jolt.
10) Bruce Almighty (2003)
Not a great movie, but Morgan Freeman gives us God as many of us would like to imagine him: calm, wise, witty, patient, and black.
9) Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)
Though incorporeal in this flick, God is again patient and wise. He’s also inclusive, welcoming good folks from all religions into heaven. Satan also shows up and gets quite the tongue-lashing from our heroes once they discover he’s not as cool as Iron Maiden’s lyrics suggest. Oh, and they give the Grim Reaper a wedgie, too. Supernatural fun for the whole family.
8) Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
God must want to tear into us once in a while, just as Python’s bearded, crowned version of God does from the clouds. “Stop groveling!” he commands King Arthur, when he can’t get a word in edgewise through all the adoration and praise. When Arthur tells God that searching for the Holy Grail is a good idea, God snaps back, “Of course it’s a good idea!” I believe God has infinite patience, but I wouldn’t blame him if he just told us to shut up and do as we’re told once in a while.
7) Oh God! (1977)
George Burns gives God the same patience and wisdom as Morgan Freeman, but adds a no-nonsense spin. He expects John Denver’s character to have faith without testing him. He’s the kind of God who helps us grow, instead of fixing all our problems for us.
6) The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
God doesn’t show up in this movie until the end, and then does so only by implication, but this is one of my favorite renderings of Satan. The Devil isn’t a fire-breathing menace in this movie; he just makes it a little easier to get two things we all desire: power and pleasure. In this film, Al Pacino’s Satan doesn’t have to cajole human beings into evildoing—selfishness and fear do most of the work for him.
5) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
What exactly did the SS think was going to happen when they popped the lid on the Ark of the Covenant? If you’re a fascist Nazi butthole, expect Jehovah to melt your face when you try to swipe the Ten Commandments.
4) It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Most of us focus on happiness and success, but I think God looks at the role we play in the lives of other people. In this film, when God sends an angel to show George Bailey how different things would have been without him, George decides not to commit suicide. Most of us could use that kind of divine insight about our value.
3) Constantine (2005)
Most horror films glorify evil, but Constantine shows off God’s power. It may be a blood-and-guts popcorn movie, but there’s not an art flick on the planet that does a better job of illustrating God’s grace and love for human beings. Constantine’s giving Satan the finger is one of my Top Five Favorite Movie Moments of All Time. I know that sounds a bit lowbrow, but trust me: that scene will make you laugh and give you goose bumps at the same time.
