"Machine Gun Preacher" is an action/drama biopic telling the story of Sam Childers (played by Gerard Butler). Sam gets out of prison to find that his wife Lynn (Michelle Monaghan) has "found Jesus" while he goes back to his wild ways. A harrowing experience gets Sam to attend church with his wife and daughter and he is converted. As Sam begins a successful contracting business he hears a missionary speak about his work in Uganda. Sam decides to go to Uganda and work on a mission project but while there he visits the war zone in southern Sudan and is shocked at the need there particularly the orphaned children. Back at home Sam and his family build and start a new church and then build an orphanage in Sudan. As Sam builds and supports the orphanage he faces struggles both external and internal.
This is a film that hasn't gotten as much buzz as a typical Gerard Butler film. I think that this film is average but not great and Butler does his best with the script. He is especially believable during the first portion of the film when Sam is first out of prison and back to his wild ways. I felt that at times the script got a bit long and tired. The direction at times was a bit awkward as well. It's a gritty film and there is a good bit of violence - Sam's wild ways plus the violence against children in many cases in Sudan.
There is some controversy surrounding this film due to the connection to the "Kony2012" movement. Sam Childers works with the Sudan People's Liberation Army to protect and save children from Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army. Personally I didn't find the film to be a full-fledged propaganda film for "Kony2012." In fact I thought it was interesting that the female doctor in the film challenges Sam several times about his intentions and methods, specifically using violence, and even compares him to Kony.
This film was okay but not great for me. I thought at times Butler was really good but at times the film really lagged and the violence got tough to watch. C+.
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