Customer Reviews

Our Fathers

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For me there were two key scenes in "Our Fathers," the 2005 Showtime movie about the sexual abuse and scandal that rocked the Catholic Church in Boston. The first is when a group of hardhats makes a crude sexual remark to Olan Horne (Chris Beauer), one of the men who was abused when he was a boy. They all laugh and the victim gets in their face and tells them exactly what happened. You would think this would make these jerks shut up, but when he turns and leaves another one of them makes another remark. Which requires another victim (Daniel Baldwin) to get it that idiot's face. But clearly the chain will remain unbroken, because these are people who will never learn. Throughout the movie there are those who will refuse to accept the truth, which is part of the reason that it kept happening over and over again, just like the cruel jokes in this scene.

The second comes after Horne knocks on the door of Cardinal Bernard Law (Christopher Plummer) and is not only able to talk to head of the Boston archdiocese but actually convinces the Cardinal to go with him to a meeting of the victims. Such a meeting clearly constitutes too little too late, and I totally agree that Law had to resign, but I was moved by the idea that Law remembered what it was like to be a priest who looks out for his parishioners. That does not take away from the tragedy, but it does make Law human and underscore that if he or somebody else in authority had done the right thing the lives of countless young boys would not have been ruined (What would have been the right thing? Well, I would argue that along with forgiveness and treatment, expelling the priests should have been part of the deal [I would not expect the Church to turn priests over to temporal authorities any more than I expect it to do the same with its parishioners).

I hope that the screenplay by Thomas Michael Donnelly ("The Garden of Redemption"), based on the book by David France, was not taking too many liberties with regards to these scenes, especially the second one. I understand that having Cardinal Law watching Richard Barton being executed in Canterbury Cathedral in "Becket" when he reaches the decision to resign is poetic license rather than something that is historically documented (at least I assume it is). Then again, I also appreciate the irony, since after Law's resignation Pope John Paul II (Jan Rubes) gave the former Boston archbishop the title archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica, a largely ceremonial post often given to retired prelates. You see, the basilica houses not only the body of Pope St. Pius V, but also the brains, tunic, and at least part of the head of St. Thomas a Becket. It might be another unwarranted one, but I assume Donnelly knows this odd little fact.

"Our Fathers" is a bit sketchy at times, mainly because it tries to cover so much ground and so many characters. Lawyer Mitchell Garabedian (Ted Danson) is the character that has the privileged hero role in the narrative, but more because he is in the position to tie all of the threads together and not because what he does is any more heroic than the men who came forward to say what happened to them when there were boys. Father Dominic Spagnolia (Brian Dennehy) is another key but minor character because he shows that even as all of this was being brought into the light, the Church continued to knock down those whose sin was speaking the truth. A television movie can hardly be faulted for not really explaining why the church hierarchy did what it did. We know that Cardinal Law was scarcely the first prelate to cover up the sexual abuse of priests, and there was a point where the veil of secrecy became de facto policy rather than a conscious decision. But there was never a point in the past or in the present where any of this was right and part of the horror of it all is that it is unbelievable that the people who knew did not know any better when it came to cleaning God's house.

Most Catholics (I am now a former Catholic) of my era were naive. I was unaware of the child abuse crisis even while being a part time Catholic journalist during the middle 1970s. Alas, there was indeed a time when I spent numerous hours over alcoholic refreshments discussing the somewhat secretive business of the Church. I thought I was in the loop. The fact that a number of the clergy might molest children did not especially bother me. I knew about the arrest and conviction of the famous conservative priest Richard Ginder, editor of the widely read "Our Sunday Visitor." Sin is alive and well on planet Earth, and even priests are sinners. In my wildest imagination, however, I never considered it possible that a priest would essentially be allowed by the hierarchy to molest even more children. There is little doubt but that I would have accused someone of anti-Catholic bigotry if they even suggested something so vile. I might have even tried to punch them in the face.

I agree with those who point out that the makers of Our Fathers included too many characters in the script. Ellen Burstyn is in only one scene. We barely get to know something about her character---and she completely disappears. Nonetheless, this film is still well worth seeing. It is based on actual scandals of the Boston archdiocese. Archbishops like Cardinal Bernard Law (Christopher Plummer) cared little about the children. Protecting their fellow priests was perceived to be their primary responsibility. Our Fathers will enrage you. Lawyer Mitchell Garabedian (Ted Danson) is right on target: the Catholic Church would never address clerical child abuse unless it was severely hurt in the pocket book. He rightfully desired to collect as much money as possible for his clients. Should Our Fathers destroy your faith in God? No, but you will realize that a mature faith requires standing on your own two feet and not groveling before any Church's clerical establishment. God gave you a brain. Use it.

David Thomson

Flares into Darkness

I applaud the deft handling of this very painful subject matter. Every player in this was portrayed sympathetically and fairly, even Law himself. The acting was superb, the direction outstanding.

I have to single out Brian Dennehey's portrayal of Fr. Dominic Spagnalia, a priest who spoke out, loudly and publicly, against the crimes against the children and the coverup of his own superiors. Of course, the church couldn't let that go. First they had him accused of of the same (all falsely); his own parish knew better and supported him fervently. So then they had him removed when they found out that years ago, during a time when he had left the priesthood, he'd had a 5-year affair with a man. Doesn't matter that it was between two consenting adults, they were looking for dirt and the Catholic churc hatefully and vengefully condemned him for this. Such is "justice" and "compassion" in the church.

I highly recommend this movie as an eye-opener to the good ol' boys club known as the Catholic Church. If not for a few lawyers like Martin Garabedian, a few reporters like the Boston Globe task team, a few brave victims like the Birmingham Boys, this would still be happening behind the hypocritcal sachristy and secret sanctity known as the Catholic priesthood.

****

This movie is well-done and very moving. It is not light entertainment viewing for a fun Saturday night, but, that said, it is something that anyone interested in this subject should see.

The subject of Our Fathers is the Catholic Church scandals in how priest pedophiles we treated---how their crimes were covered up, how their victims were attempted to be silenced, how they were moved to different parishes to find more victims, and how little was understood at that time about the nature of pedophilia. It vividly shows the damage that was done to the American Catholic Church and to the many victims of pedophilic priests. The movie is balanced in that it doesn't demonize the Catholic Church, but shows Cardinal Bernard Law to be responsible for the cover-up...it also shows that the Catholic Church has since honored the Cardinal in several ways, which is truly amazing.

The film explores the issues of victimization, forgiveness, and trust. It also explores the issues of celibacy and homosexuality within the priesthood. It does not attempt to blame either celibacy or homosexuality for pedophilia, which in my opinion is an important distinction to make. It does all of this through the telling of the story not in a documentary format, but in a dramatic format, making it very impacting and effective.

The actors are wonderful, from Ted Danson to Ellen Burstyn (in a small role), to the excellent Christopher Plummer as Cardinal Law. This movie was made for Showtime; made me wish I had Showtime to be able to see quality productions like this.

Because of the mature themes, this would not be a good movie for children. Also, for viewers who enjoy action movies, this would probably not be something you'd enjoy. It will appeal to viewers who like to think, and who want to know more about this issue, to get inside the heads of the main characters involved and vividly imagine what they were feeling and thinking at the time, what they had to go through, and how they now go on---if this type of thing appeals to you, you'll love Our Fathers, as I did.

****

This movie presents a story based

on the crimes of pedophilia committed

by priests in the Archdiocese of Boston

circa 196? to 2002,

the bishops who facilitated it

and the subsequent cover-up

by Church authorities.

Not a pretty subject.

There is some tough stuff in this

film and though it was done well,

it is a brutal assault on the

sensibilities.

Be forewarned.

There are different ways to review

a film of historically true events.

The first is as a work art.

The film has quite a bit of

dramatic gravitas.

The screenplay and acting

are excellent and the locations

appeared authentic.

The film-makers did an excellent

job of capturing the look

and culture of the setting.

The cinematography was more

than adequate for a film of this

type.

The second is for accuracy

and objectivity.

The film scores big for an

accurate, seemingly agenda

free portrait of events.

There were a few inaccuracies,

but mostly due to omission.

The extent of the influence

of the Boston Globe newspaper

was greatly understated,

The newspaper was a major player

in the events surrounding the

scandal of the sexually abusive

priests and the cover-up.

The Boston Globe has an

agenda opposed to the Church,

not only injustices done by

churchmen, but the theological

and moral teachings of the Church

as well.

I think highlighting that aspect

of the culture surrounding

the story would have added more

depth and realism to the plot.

Another inaccuracy is the nature

of The Voice Of The Faithful

organization.

In addition to their activity

opposing Cardinal Law and the

manner in which the crimes were

facilitated and then covered up,

which was fully justified,

they were also opposed to some

Church teachings and at times

appeared to be using the scandal

as an opportunity to promote their

heterodoxy.

Again, that would have added depth

to the plot.

Another omission was that the

crime was not only the sexual

abuse of prepubescent boys,

but also the sexual abuse/harassment

of sexually mature boys/young men,

teenagers and seminarians,

by those in authority over them,

and the unjust treatment

of those who were opposed to it.

There is a large number of men who

had their seminary formation denied

to them or terminated due to their

refusal to give their ascent to

the sexual culture in the Church

at the time.

All of these injustices occurred

coincidentally.

The problem was much deeper than

the movie portrays.

One will appreciate this movie

as great story-telling, true or not.

It's that good.

If you like crime/lawyer/courtroom

dramas, you will like this movie.

For anyone who lived through those

times in Boston or wishes to get

a concise outline of those events,

this film delivers the goods.

All film-makers of historical fiction

should consider this a textbook example

of how to do it.

Highest recommendation.

Actually it's rather chaste in its depiction of the child sexual abuse committed by priests although this is discussed; it's just not really shown. Just as well, since it's already disturbing and heartbreaking.

Most of the actors are pretty decent here, and the story gives a fair shake to everyone involved, even Cardinal Law, who bore some culpability for the way he handled, or failed to handle, the cases presented to him.

For a companion piece, I suggest renting the documentary Deliver us from Evil, which gives more detail and personal stories involving cover-ups committed by Roger Mahoney and Ratzinger (yep, the current Pope) in California.

i applaude the persons who had the courage to come forward ,what a weight to hold on to for years.this makes watergate look like a petty crime.. this by far is in my list of top 5 movies. very realistic!I recomend you just buy this movie watch the film then always keep not one but both eyes on your children. It IS A SHAME HOWEVER THAT BY THE ACTIONS OF MAYBE 5%-10% MAKE YOU DISTRUST SO MANY.

YOU WILL NOT REGRET BYING THIS MOVIE!

This was a well performed, carefully researched movie about an event in our not too distant past in an area very close to where I live.

I have watched this film again and again. It is SO powerful! It is also heart-rending and deeply moving. Last year, I wrote to the Irish television network RTE asking them to screen it - they never replied. This film should be compulsory viewing for all priests and bishops.

DVD like new, arrived before anticipated date. One of the greatest DVD's of 2006.