Customer Reviews

The List

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Adapting a novel is no simple task. Having read the book by Robert Whitlow I must say I am truly impressed. Is it exactly the same as the book? No, but it captures the heart of the book's message and I left the theater satisfied from a thrilling tale of good versus evil.

Perhaps even more impressive is the "production value" of the picture. Often low-budget films can really look cheap on screen only to be sent crashing and burning by even cheaper acting. Malcolm McDowell and Chuck Carrington lead the way for an ensemble cast of characters that truly captures the "Old-Money, Deep South" of Charleston. I was particularly impressed with scenes by Pat Hingle (of Gunsmoke fame, as well as Batman) and Will Patton which provided the most touching moments in the film.

I was always concerned that this movie would end up preaching to the audience (like most movies I have seen of this genre). The List is not that movie. A few of the characters talk about their faith and their belief in prayer but it is just a part of who those people are in the greater story of The List. It was nice to see someone on-screen portrayed as a selfless, compassionate human willing to sacrifice themselves for others WITHOUT TURNING TO VIOLENCE (a rare character in Hollywood).

So grab some popcorn and a coke--pull up a chair-- and enjoy this fantastic little Indie- flick!!

Based on the novel by Robert Whitlow, The List is a suspense story about a young lawyer named Renny and his involvement with a secretive investment brotherhood known as The Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd. As he tries to escape the financial and spiritual domination of this mysterious group, he falls in love with a young woman named Jo, and learns some lessons about the power of prayer along the way.

When I reviewed the novel (also a two-star effort IMO), my primary peeves were the fact that the story's middle was bogged down by Renny & Jo's romance, and that Renny's "conversion" to Christianity was a very weak presentation of the Gospel. I was curious to see if these flaws would be addressed with a more tightly-written screenplay. The answer is both yes and no.

The book-to-screen translation did eliminate the saggy middle of the novel, but I think they actually cut too much, boiling Renny and Jo's love story down to one or two brief scenes. The story as told here seems rushed; the slow parts of the book are tightened up, but everything else got curtailed too, even the good parts. Frankly, if I hadn't read the book I'm not sure how much of the story I would have grasped. Perhaps budgetary restraints made them keep the film short, but the resulting screenplay only hits the highlights of the book.

Though I hardly thought it possible, Renny's "conversion" is even weaker here than in the book. He just sits in a church, crying and staring at a statue of Jesus. There's no Gospel at all! There are some good spiritual lessons about the power of faith and prayer, but the choppy storytelling weakens the effectiveness of the message.

The production values are excellent, and the performances are good as well, especially the actress who plays Mama A. The overall casting was excellent, too. I did wish that the motivations of the villainous Desmond had been made clearer; sometimes he seems to want to help Renny, but then he turns around and stabs him in the back. Also, unlike the book, the movie ends with his fate unresolved! The source of his supernatural abilities is never made clear either -- he just seems like a bad guy with some kind of unexplained spooky power.

Bottom line, despite a good cast and production values, the sketchy storytelling make The List a movie to scratch from YOUR list.

My impression before seeing "The List" was that it's a thriller. It is, in fact a mix of Christian drama, occult/supernatural horror and romance. And the combination doesn't work. It doesn't work as a thriller because it completely lacks suspense.

The supernatural elements don't work because there's no understandable logic to them and they only appear towards the end of the movie, with no hint beforehand that there was anything supernatural about the secret society that Renny, the main character, has joined. And speaking of Renny, he's just not a very nice guy who spends most of his time whining about money. It's hard to identify with or care for him very much. And Chuck Carrington is not a very good leading man.

And while the movie tries to be an inspirational movie, there's almost no character development that feels convincing. Usually in such movies, we get to follow the character's change of heart. In "The List", Renny just suddenly appears to have become a Christian for no particular reason, and the same goes for the romance. We don't see Renny and Jo fall in love; they're just suddenly a couple.

All in all, the movie is much too boring. It's very slow and never made me interested. A weak two star rating thanks to the great performance of Malcolm McDowell and the other old men on "the list".

If you are looking for a good movie with a good message, this is the movie for you. It has a good, subtle Christian message. Our family really enjoyed this movie.

Not to be confused with THE BUCKET LIST, THE LIST is a movie about conviction and faith. At the same time, it's a thriller in the John Grisham mode that plays its cards straight through to the very end.

Young Renny Jacobson (Chuck Carrington) is a young lawyer with hopes for the future. While working, he receives news of his father's sudden death. Taking a few days off, he heads home to learn of his father's legacy. It's not at all what he expected.

Renny learns that his father has left his entire estate to charity, leaving little more than a mystery for Renny to filter through to find his true inheritance. A key to a small deposit box containing a tape and a book are just the beginning. Renny follows clues that lead him to a group of gentlemen who form what is called the Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd.

On his way there Renny encounters Jo Johnston (Hilarie Burton), a young lady on the way to the same meeting. With her car broken down, she catches a ride with Renny to the meeting of this organization.

They arrive to be greeted by Desmond Larochette (Malcolm McDowell), the head of the group who oozes with Southern grace. Treated royally, they are offered a chance to rest before the big meeting that night.

At dinner they discuss very little about the group as well as terms of joining. Once dinner finishes, they let Jo know that they had no idea she was a woman and that this is an all male club. Stripped of her mysterious inheritance and defended by Renny, Jo is asked to leave the meeting and Renny learns the truth about the group.

The gentlemen of Covenant List are all highly placed members of their communities. A member of each of the families represented has been a part of the Covenant since its inception 140 years earlier. And the secret behind "the List" is more about power than it is about mere wealth.

Power struggles between members manipulating Renny from the beginning do little more than strip him of what was potentially a vast fortune. Determined to claim what is his and to set things straight, Renny does little more than play into the hands of these southern gents, in the process placing himself and Jo in grave danger.

But the power offered here is not simply an earthly one. Metaphysical moments bring us to the fact that more than earthly solutions are powered by "the list". And in searching for answers, Renny finds more than his will tested. He discovers his faith not only tested but brought forth to give him more power than the list could ever have.

Does he confront the members of the Covenant? Does he straighten things out? Does he save Jo? All is revealed by the films end.

There is much to like about THE LIST. For one, the story involves more than simple good guy bad guy themes, instead focusing on the results of falling for temptation. The lire of power and wealth can be great, but they grant things only found here on earth and less on a spiritual plain. Renny's quest for answers results in more than wealth.

That being said, the film does offer a slower pace than most, at times causing the viewer to reach for the remote to find out just how much time is left of the film. The story may be good, the execution done well, but that doesn't increase the pace.

The acting is top notch, with McDowell offering one of his best performances. It's sad to see an actor of McDowell's stature reduced to the B-grade horror films he's done of late. This movie gives him a chance to shine once more, exuding a calm, cool and calculating bad guy.

Other supporting roles are well done by all involved. Perhaps the weakest link acting wise here is lead actor Carrington. His southern accent at times seems over the top and his subtleness is greatly lacking. But he does show potential. As for Burton, she's become somewhat of a star in her own right in the TV series ONE TREE HILL. Having never watched the show she was a new face to me in this film where she did a fine job.

All in all THE LIST is not the greatest movie to come along in a while. It does offer something that few films do these days which is a moral and a message based on faith that seems to be nearly non-existent in movies these days. Let's hope it garners enough interest that more films like these are made.

Absolutely abysmal. There are no less than three fades in the beginning of the movie--fades with no purpose, mind you. It feels like someone who flunked film school directed the movie. I became bored several times throughout the movie, and probably would have turned it off if I didn't have my laptop to occupy me. All in all, a complete waste of time. Felt like a bad made-for-TV movie.

We loved this movie! Kevin Downes has done a great job once again! Every aspect of the movie helped create suspence and the action flowed very well. The characters were well developed and support roles were very effective.

Watch this movie!

THIS STORY LINE IS NOT USUALLY MY TYPE OF MOVIE, I AM PLANNING TO SEND A COPY OF IT TO OUR PASTOR AND HIS WIFE,AND TO SHARE .IT HAS A GOOD MESSAGE ABOUT GOOD VERES EVIL DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT. I HAVE WATCHED IT 2 TIMES AND WILL WATCH IT AGAIN.

I really enjoyed this movie. The entire theme is about Generational curses that may be passed down through the family blood-line. It is Bible based without being preachie....as a matter of fact you are really into the movie before you realize this. It definitely shows greed and what men will do to perserve their precious dollar. It also showed how important prayer is to battle evil forces that are at work and the ending showed how to reak the family blood-line curse. It was a good story and one that is well worth watching.

"The List" is an interesting blend of southern charm, secret societies, sinister plotting, historical intrigue, corruption and betrayal. It is also predominantly a Christian morality tale about unchecked ambition, spiritual warfare, self-sacrifice, redemption and the power of prayer. These latter elements will be lost on many viewers, although from a Christian perspective it carries a refreshing if cautionary message. Even so, it tends to get a little smarmy toward the end.

As to the production itself, Chuck Carrington and Hilarie Burton were passable in the lead roles, with Malcolm McDowell doing yeoman's work as the devilishly charming pseudo-gentleman Desmond Larochette. Most of the supporting acting was so-so, with the Mrs. Stokes character seeming to me to be a bit caricatured. The storyline was at least engaging if not entirely credible, but one wonders why Jo never seemed to have anywhere else to be but by Renny's side. Overall, for Christian viewers this would probably rate a B or B-, whereas non-Christian viewers would probably give it a high D or low C. For my own part, it was enjoyable enough but it's not worth a second viewing.