To what lengths will a woman go when her heart has been touched by the plight of a sick little girl without a mother? What mountains will a father climb, what storms will he brave, to save the life of his precious daughter?
Ordinary Angels, based on a true story, is a gem of a film that celebrates the virtues and complexities of family, faith, fatherhood and motherhood in a way rarely depicted in feature films these days. It is a must see movie if you’re tired of cartoonish plots dished out by Hollywood and could use a serving of compelling human drama.
The film does a masterful job of storytelling. The audience is immediately drawn in to the plight of a father, Ed Schmitt played by Alan Ritchson, who must deal with hardships rivaling the Book of Job. Ritchson captures the essence of a man we can all recognize. He is a working class guy, a roofer, the strong quiet type who asks no favors and prides himself on self-reliance. But he is willing to make an exception when the life of his daughter is stake.
Enter Hilary Swank as Sharon Stevens, an alcoholic channeling her addictive behavior into something positive and perhaps gaining redemption for her own shortcomings as a mom. Other than looking a little too glam for a middle aged alcoholic, Swank proves herself equal to this challenging sinner/saint role. Her performance is reminiscent of a rough around the edges Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich, but with more depth of character.
One of the pleasant surprises of Ordinary Angels is its willingness to grapple with complexity. Faith is questioned and put to the test. Motives are not so clear cut. Are extraordinary acts of charity done for the benefit of the recipient? Or to assuage the guilty conscience of the do-gooder? Or perhaps to garner accolades and attention? Ordinary Angels grapples with these issues without allowing them to become obstacles in the narrative flow. They add to the meaning and depth of the film.
The characters are multi-dimensional. Instead of the stereotypical hapless father who needs a charitable woman to swoop in and save his family, we get a real man in Ed Schmitt who steps up to assert his authority when boundaries are crossed, who takes the wheel in the middle of the storm. He needs the intervention of an angel, but he’s no weakling. The portrayal of this manly man and his tender relationship with his young daughters is a refreshing thing to see on the big screen.
Sharon’s character is a patently flawed but brilliantly effective heroine. She has her own demons to wrestle with and some slip-ups, but she is a determined and resourceful warrior in her pursuit of saving Ed’s daughter Michelle. She reminds us of Abraham Lincoln’s observation, “It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” Or perhaps Lincoln’s reaction to reports of Ulysses Grant’s alcohol consumption: Send the rest of my generals a barrel of whatever whisky he’s drinking!
Ordinary Angels is as close to a sure thing as you’re going to get if you want to spend a few of your hard earned dollars on a night out at the movies. It will have you alternating between reaching for a handkerchief and moving to the edge of your seat in a race against the clock finish. It is not surprising that the film has garnered a 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a surprisingly high (for a “faith-based film”) 86% critic score. And Cinemascore has it topping all recent releases with an audience rating of A+.
This movie has some difficult scenes around death and illness, so it would not be suitable for young children. But it is a powerful film that just might renew your belief in the human potential for goodness in dark times, something we could all use these days.
I hadn’t heard of this movie before. Now I am looking forward to seeing it. Thanks for your insight Matt!