Ordinary Angels Reviews (original) (raw)

Directed by Jon Gunn with no frills but a lot of suspense that comes out of the story naturally, without the need for any manufactured Hollywood thrills, and co-written by actor Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig, this is one of those rare emotional sagas “based on a true story” that begs to make it to the screen but seems preposterous when it gets there.

Even if you don’t know the true story behind the heartwarming and uplifting “Ordinary Angels,” I can’t think of a single plot development that will surprise you and sometimes that’s OK. Sometimes it’s enough to sit back and settle in for a Comfort Viewing Movie that reminds us that even in these dark and stressful times, there are a lot of true and decent people out there who are capable of doing miraculous things.

Ordinary Angels is a heartwarming and simultaneously heart wrenching tale that really is undersung. I say that in having not seen much hype about it to date after watching it upon release. The movie has Hilary Swank in a role unlike any other I've ever seen her in and it's refreshing because it shows the range of acting skill she has evolved to possess over her veteran years in service to the film industry. This movie is complemented by a struggling single father with a heart of gold facing incredible odds and also somewhat having a distorted perception of Hilary Swank's lead character and her intentions. It becomes clear in time, however, that this woman feels compelled to do at least one good thing in her life and that for some reason that has become the little girl played by Skywalker and who quickly steals hearts in this spectacular movie that showcases the beauty of what humanity can do together when they put aside differences and focus on what really matters most. I would recommend it to anyone looking to have their faith restored in there still being people with hearts that care more about themselves during these trying times when so many people seemed to have allowed their hearts to wax cold. I feel this is one of the films Hilary Swank should hang her hat on as she played the hell out of this role and though it didn't seem to reach the heights of some of her other heart-stealing movies like Freedom Writers - it should have because it is one that will deliver a message so profound it's bound to save countless and inspire equally innumerable lives.A MUST SEE OF 2024!

IN A NUTSHELL: The true story is about a hairdresser who single-handedly rallies an entire community to help a widowed father save the life of his critically-ill, young daughter. The lovely film was directed by Jon Gunn who also served as Executive Producer. Writing credits go to Kelly Fremon Craig and Meg Tilly. THINGS I LIKED: Who doesn’t adore Academy Award winner (twice) Hilary Swank? Nobody. That’s who. She elevates the film and gives the story the attention it deserves. Alan Ritchson first flew onto my radar when I saw him in the role of the TV show “Reacher” based on the popular movie character played by Tom Cruise. He’s a beast in that show! Did you know he was a U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant? He’s also a Christian, so I imagine he enjoyed telling this story about faith. At an event with the cast of the film, he encouraged Christian movies when he said, “If that’s where the pulpit is for people who wouldn’t normally step foot in a church, then that’s still a great way to have that conversation. It matters that these films get supported.” The darling little girls in the movie are played by Emily Mitchell and Skywalker Hughes. Their grandmother is played by Nancy Travis. I love the title. We all wish angels would rescue us from our troubles, yet we forget that WE can be angels in each other’s lives. Spencer W. Kimball once said, “God does notice us, and He watches over us. But it is usually through another person that He meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve one another.” I’ve never forgotten that quote since the first time I heard it. The film takes place in Louisville, Kentucky with plenty of Southern accents and feel-good vibes. My nephew just moved to Kentucky, so I’m planning on making my first trip out there soon! I’ve never been there! One of the daughters reads the inspirational story about the man who tossed stranded starfish back into the ocean. Someone mocked him for doing so, saying he wasn’t going to make a difference when there were so many starfish needing to be saved. He wisely said, “I made a difference to this one.” I’ve always loved that story. It’s so heartwarming to see the community all work together to save a little girl’s life. Even after so many miracles were seen, there were people who said “It couldn’t be done” or they asked “How?” This movie is a reminder that we need to have faith and to simply do our part. Keep watching during the rolling credits to see photos and video clips of the real people involved in all of the events pictured in the movie. On the screen, we read “Every year, thousands of lives are saved by organ donations. Learn how to become an organ donor at **** THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE: The movie definitely pulls at your heartstrings in predictable, manipulative ways, but I didn’t mind it one bit. What’s amazing about this story is that it depicts true events that really happened! TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids may be bored watching all of the adult problems Smoking Alcohol and drunkenness A mother dies A woman struggles with alcoholism

It’s feel-good at its best, and in this day and age, is anything more even necessary?

Ordinary Angels, an uplifting drama inspired by the effort to get a sick girl to a transplant hospital amid a massive 1994 Kentucky snowstorm, poses a challenge to cynics: Even if you could resist another spunky, heartstring-tugging Hilary Swank performance in this overstuffed true tale, who among us can deny the sublime beauty of Jack Reacher’s tears?

Gunn adeptly exercises a necessary modicum of visual dexterity to emphasize character drive.

Maybe Ordinary Angels is so accessible to godless critics and church-going civilians alike because it focuses on a circle of hell that everyone in this country has to enter at some point, no matter what they might believe in: the American healthcare system.

The film refuses to linger in these quieter, well-acted Ritchson scenes, often in favor of a scene with Sharon. Swank is not necessarily bad in the role, but the film works too hard, and to minimal avail, to manipulate us into sympathy for her overbearing personality.

The film could be seen as Christian propaganda full of good feelings, but it's actually the drama of a family in a country whose healthcare system is incapable of looking after the health of its population, forcing them to go broke. It's a system designed for the rich, but not for ordinary people.Fortunately, there are still people willing to help. And whatever their motivations, not always as charitable as they may seem at first sight, people like that are needed all over the world. And sometimes, all it takes is a little nudge for everyone to pull together and help those who really need it.

Enjoyed this. Felt quite emotional at times. Hilary Swank did well in her role.

As far as feel-good movies are concerned, this one was pretty good. The critics are miserable slugs with few redeeming qualities. The acting was good, the story was good, the pace was good, the tears were good, and the ending was lovely. We're rate this: "make some popcorn and get some tissues because you'll see a good movie."

Filme mamão com açúcar, feito sob medida para emocionar, com a talentosíssima Sank sempre um tom acima. Dá pra ver que o filme, baseado em fatos, está mais para conto de fadas: a cena verdadeira do helicóptero claramente aconteceu durante o dia e com pouca neve. Ou seja, um filme manipulativo, ainda assim, funciona dentro de suas limitações. Agora um questionamento sincero: já não cansaram de usar "Losing my religion" e "Sweet child o' mine", não?

(Mauro Lanari) Labeled as a "faith-based drama film", I was prepared to list the criticalities of thaumaturgy. Nothing of the sort: the feature length by Gunn, an author I discovered with the previous "Jesus Revolution" last year, tells of a very human faith, trust in social solidarity. Both among the 110 films with an A+ rating on CinemaScore, it's fortunate that "Ordinary Angels" has little to do with religion, as a huge mistake like claiming that Michelle means "gift of God" is pure ignorance. And it is no less to call a "miracle" the media publicization of a single case, even worse when it concerns a woman who, in the movie but not in the real story, despite suffering from biliary atresia for which she will die, nevertheless decides to have a 2nd daughter to whom she transmits the disease and who waits to heal with a liver transplant from the probable death of another person (government website: ****). Alan Ritchson better than Hilary Swank, score almost in line with Metacritic (5.7).