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| Thursday, August 14, 2008
Film > The X Files : I Want To Believe directed by Chris Carter Suspension of Disbelief Writer : Jeffrey Lim xfiles.comFiction and sacred stories start their journeys at the same place. They both require the suspension of disbelief - a willingness to set aside your censor and to accept a story at face value. Ultimately though, the fiction reader can set aside the story and return to normal life. The reader of a sacred story, however, is transformed. Suspension of Disbelief evolves into an article of faith. In "X files: I Want To Believe", the film makers weave a story that ploughs through the landscape of conservative Christian politics and leaves the viewer pondering the necessity of faith. The story is essentially a whodunit where the pieces fall slowly (too slowly) into place. People go missing. Body parts turn up. All the while, a distasteful and tortured psychic supplies the clues like breadcrumbs while the heroes, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, fight their own battles with their doubt as they each seek to solve the case and save lives. There is a pedophile priest (the aforementioned psychic), there is a reference to radical medical procedures such as stem cell research, there are married gay characters, and there is even a passing reference over the right to die. In short, enough political issues referenced to give the film some sense of being politically in vogue. Artistically however, the story's incompetently driven - there simply isn't enough punch or pace, and revelations lack any real weight. The denouement reveals a premise which never ascends above the level of the penny dreadful and amusement park curiosity. This is personally disappointing since the episodes I enjoyed the most in the TV series tended to be the non-UFO stories. Thematically however, the story is ambitious. Those who followed the television series will know that Fox Mulder possesses no supernatural abilities, merely a willingness to place his faith in speculative or seemingly untrustworthy sources. Here, the untrustworthy source is the pedophile priest who claims his visions are from God. Dana Scully, a Christian (probably a Catholic) is revolted at the idea that God would speak through such a twisted and fallen person. Catholics, however, would (or should) instantly recall that the Church teaches that the Mass is not tainted by its delivery through a corrupt priest - God's grace is not prevented by the flaws of those who help administer it to the faithful. No, the fact that a corrupt pervert is administering the Eucharist simply means the believer needs to overcome his or her doubt, and continue to believe in the sacrament. This is of course, no mean feat, in these times of political cynicism and media manipulation. Yes, it is fashionable and current enough to hawk a perverted member of the Roman clergy as a key character. But look beyond the obvious cultural reference and you will see an attempt to engage us in a key question: can we overcome the cynicism our modern world demands, to persevere in our beliefs? I wouldn't say that this movie is well made one, but is a timely yarn. The world is feeling the effects of an incompetent American administration led by a President who abuses his faith as political capital, while aggrieved religious fanatics shame their creed by committing atrocities. In the meantime, a blindingly cynical book The God Delusion and the fantastically juvenile Da Vinci Code are among the decade's greatest bestsellers. Can a believer overcome the cynicism demanded by these events, and persevere in his or her faith? At the risk of a spoiler, it should be noted that the film ends on an upbeat note. We should, perhaps, be glad that there is no attempt to "pile it on" and be fashionably jaded. One should stick around through the closing credits - there is some small payoff if you do. Artistically though, one can't help but wish that the filmmakers made better choices in the construction of the story, in plotting and in scene development. Like other reviewers, I was surprised at how made-for-TV the movie looked when, ironically, their best TV episodes were good enough to hit the silver screen. For the Christian viewer, this film will probably make you think at least a little. But it is unlikely to inspire or transform. Then again, we have the Gospel for that. Jeffrey Lim is a fiction writer and a Roman Catholic. His interests include the use of fiction for both in secular and religious ends and considers Jesus to be one the great storytellers. His first short story collection,"Faith & Lies" was published in 1999 (Ethos), and he has further published stories "Criticism" in Beaumont Press' Don't Judge a Book By its Cover and "News Four" in Silverfish New Writing (2005). His second collection of short stories, "The Coffin That Wouldn't Bury" was recently released on August 15th 2008.
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