The Gospel puts a new twist on a biblical tale
By Meliqueica Meadows
Of the St. Louis American
As African Americans have always known, the church is full of drama. Now Rob Hardy’s film The Gospel, which opened last week, brings the drama of the inner workings of the black church to the big screen.
Centered behind the scenes of a fictitious Atlanta Church, The Gospel is the story of Bishop Taylor, a dedicated minister whose life work has been serving the congregation of his church. Bishop Taylor’s son, David, resents his father’s commitment to the church and leaves it all behind for a life as a successful R&B singer. When Bishop Taylor becomes ill, David realizes that more than his father’s health is in jeopardy. What follows is David’s struggle with himself, his faith and his father, all of which are intricately and inextricably intertwined.
The Gospel stars Boris Kodjoe as David Taylor. The former Soul Food television series actor leads an all-star cast including veteran actor Clifton Powell as Bishop Taylor, Omar Gooding, Idris Elba, Nona Gaye and Aloma Wright.
The script is beautifully accompanied by a veritable who’s who of contemporary gospel music. Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond and even American Idol contestant Tamyra Gray vocally show up and show out.
Written and directed by Rob Hardy, the man behind thrillers Trois, Pandora’s Box and Motives, The Gospel is his first foray into the faith-based genre. Based on one of the most beautiful, heart-warming Biblical stories, The Gospel is a modern-day version of the tale of the Prodigal Son, a lesson about forgiveness and reconciliation no matter the number or magnitude of transgressions.
The Prodigal Son story is that of a wealthy father of two sons whose youngest child is eager to take his inheritance and make his own way in the world. When his father consents, the son takes his money and wastes it in drunken revelry. When the son finally comes to his senses, he is mired in the muck of a hog pen, so hungry and destitute that he contemplates eating the pig slop.
At his lowest point, he remembers the wealth and abundance of his father’s house and decides to return home. Expecting scorn, the son is surprised to be greeted by the open arms of his father and is welcomed into the stability of his childhood home.
This is where The Gospel breaks from Biblical script. Unlike the Prodigal Son, David Taylor is a wildly successful R&B singer with a hit song topping the charts. At the time of his father’s illness, David is in the midst of the most lucrative tour of his career, which he has to interrupt in order to return home.
Upon his return David finds not stability, but complete chaos. His father is ailing, and the associate ministers are in an all-out power struggle for control of the church. Without David’s help, the church – his father’s life work and legacy – would be forever lost.
Despite limited release in less than 1,000 theaters nationwide, The Gospel still managed to pull in a respectable eight million in ticket sales on opening weekend, landing in fifth place overall at the box office.
The movie’s soundtrack may be as successful as the film with the release of the first single “Victory” performed by Yolanda Adams. The song is particularly special, given that both Snoop Dogg and rapper/producer Pharrell wanted the beat, but the producer who owed Adams a favor gave it to the urban gospel diva instead. The soundtrack also features contemporary gospel artists Deitrick Haddon, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker.
The early success of the film is not surprising. Since Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ stormed into theaters and grossed nearly a billion dollars worldwide, Hollywood has been eager to tap into the large churchgoing audience. After The Passion came Tyler Perry’s surprise success Diary of a Mad Black Woman which topped the box office its first week of release, bringing in $21 million in ticket sales. With predecessors like these films, the inspirational tale of The Gospel should be a success.
