Saved!

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Thanks mukooh - that review is great and very thorough. I am definitely wanting to check this one out :)
 
I think it's supposed to be in wide release sometime later this month. But I think it all really depends on how well this film does for the next couple of weeks.
 
No, its not. I just saw Mandy on Letterman where she said that the movie isnt mean-spirited or mocking Christian students in any way. She said that most people hear 'religion' and 'comedy' and think that its making fun, but its not..acording to her its actually more 'pro-faith.'
 
I love this movie I watched it twice yesterday and am going to watch it again today.Does anybody have any Saved avies?
 
from today's (5-28-04) chicago sun-times



out of a possible :star::star::star::star: review.....roger ebert gives 'saved'.......3 1/2 stars......review below.....


possible spoilers........you have been warned....




SAVED! / ***1/2 (PG-13)

May 28, 2004










Hilary Faye: Mandy Moore
Mary: Jena Malone
Roland: Macaulay Culkin
Patrick: Patrick Fugit
Pastor Skip: Martin Donovan
Lillian: Mary-Louise Parker
Cassandra: Eva Amurri
Dean: Chad Faust


United Artists presents a film directed by Brian Dannelly. Written by Brian Dannelly and Michael Urban. Running time: 92 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for strong thematic issues involving teens -- sexual content, pregnancy, smoking and language).









BY ROGER EBERT


'Saved!" is a satire aimed at narrow-minded Christians, using as its weapon the values of a more tolerant brand of Christianity. It is also a high school comedy, starring names from the top shelf of teenage movie



The film follows the traditional pattern of many other teenage comedies. There's a clique ruled by the snobbiest and most popular girl in school, and an opposition made up of outcasts, nonconformists and rebels. We saw this formula only a few weeks ago in "Mean Girls." What's different this time is that the teen queen, Hilary Faye, is the loudest Jesus praiser at American Eagle Christian High School, and is played by Moore, having a little fun with her own good-girl image.

Her opposition is a checklist of kids who do not meet with Hilary Faye's approval. That would include Dean (Chad Faust), who thinks he may be gay; Cassandra (Eva Amurri), the only Jew in school and an outspoken rebel, and Roland (Culkin), Hilary Faye's brother, who is in a wheelchair but rejects all forms of sympathy and horrifies his sister by becoming Cassandra's boyfriend. There's also Patrick (Fugit), member of a Christian skateboarding team and the son of Pastor Skip (Martin Donovan), the school's widowed principal. He's thoughtful and introspective and isn't sure he agrees with his father's complacent morality.

The heroine is Mary (Malone), whose mother Lillian (Parker) has recently been named the town's No. 1 Christian Interior Decorator. Mary's boyfriend is Dean (Faust, an interesting name in this context). One day they're playing a game that involves shouting out secrets to each other while underwater in the swimming pool, and Dean bubbles: "I think I'm gay!" Mary is shocked, bangs her head, thinks she sees Jesus (he's actually the pool maintenance guy) and realizes it is her mission to save Dean. That would involve having sex with him, she reasons, since only such a drastic act could bring him over to the hetero side. She believes that under the circumstances, Jesus will restore her virginity.

Jesus does not, alas, intervene, and Mary soon finds herself staring at the implacable blue line on her home pregnancy kit. Afraid to tell her mother, she visits Planned Parenthood, and is spotted by Cassandra and Roland.

Cassandra: "There's only one reason Christian girls come downtown to the Planned Parenthood!"

Roland: "She's planting a pipe bomb?"

You see what I mean. The first half of this movie is astonishing in the sharp-edged way it satirizes the knee-jerk values of Hilary Faye and her born-again friends. Another target is widower Pastor Skip, who is attracted to Mary's widowed mother; she likes him, too, but they flirt in such a cautious way we wonder if they even realize what they're doing.

At the time Mary sacrifices her virginity to conquer Dean's homosexuality, she's a member of Hilary Faye's singing trio, the Christian Jewels, and a high-ranking celebrity among the school's Jesus boosters. But the worldly Cassandra spots her pregnancy before anyone else does, and soon the unwed mother-to-be is hanging out with the gay, the Jew and the kid in the wheelchair. They're like a hall of fame of outsiders.

Dean's sexuality is discovered by his parents, and he's shipped off to Mercy House, which specializes in drug detox and "degayification." Once again the screenplay, by director Brian Dannelly and Michael Urban, is pointed: "Mercy House doesn't really exist for the people that go there, but for the people who send them," says Patrick, who is having his own rebellion against Pastor Skip, and casts his lot with the rebels.

Now if the film were all pitched on this one note, it would be tiresome and unfair. But having surprised us with its outspoken first act, it gets religion of its own sort in the second and third acts, arguing not against fundamentalism but against intolerance; it argues that Jesus would have embraced the cast-outs and the misfits, and might have leaned toward situational ethics instead of rigid morality. Doesn't Mary, after all, think she's doing the right thing when she sleeps with Dean? (What Dean thinks remains an enigma.)

"Saved!" is an important film as well as an entertaining one. At a time when the FCC is enforcing a censorious morality on a nation where 8.5 million listeners a day are manifestly not offended by Howard Stern, here is a movie with a political message: Jesus counseled more acceptance and tolerance than some of his followers think. By the end of the movie, mainstream Christian values have not been overthrown, but demonstrated and embraced. Those who think Christianity is just a matter of enforcing their rulebook have been, well, enlightened. And that all of this takes place in a sassy and smart teenage comedy is, well, a miracle. Oh, and mirabile dictu, some of the actors are allowed to have pimples.




Copyright
 
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I didn't even notice that! That is really cool. I saw it again last night and I was a little confused; at the end I wasn't sure if it was the end or if they were going to have a voice over or something. haha. Really though I like that you don't know if everything is going to be okay or not. That sense always urks me in teen movies but this one doesn't. Yay!

Last night when I saw the movie again we were the first ones there and I thought maybe the only ones but people kept piling in. I was really happy that so many came because I think it is a good movie that deserves some watching. :)

Cheerios, I really noticed Patrick Fugit's smile in this movie. I love him in Almost Famous and in White Oleander, but in this movie he seems like an amalgum of the two characters and I really like them.
Also, Pastor Skip annoyed me too so I'm glad he wasn't in the movie a lot. True his lines that said "gangsta" and "raise the roof" were kind of funny but I know people like him. Heck, my old pastor cheated on his wife at the church with some other lady at the church. I kind of have sympathy for the guy but at the same time he could have benefitted from not being so uptight.

Hilary Faye really tried. I know that Christianity meant a lot to her and she did her best to make it strong. I think she was a little confused about it though because she used it to give her power sometimes. But I love the scene where she's crying and praying in her room begging God to tell her what to do. I've been there before and I think Mandy played it out really realistically. So kudos to her.

Jena Malone as Mary was a brilliant choice. Not only does she look that age (complete with imperfect skin-finally!- thank you casting office!), she's a really good actress. I didn't even know she was in Life As A House until my sister told me and I said, "Wow!" I didn't even notice the resemblance. I love how she is obviously tormented throughout the movie; there is a lot of tension in the air when she finds out she's pregnant and then she has to talk to her mom. She's got some great lines in the movie, "Please let it be cancer!"

I think Cassandra was a very real character. I generally find that the girls who get into the most trouble or are looked down upon as reckless and immoral are usually the ones who care the most about their friends or other people in distress. She's funny and genuine; I love that she truly doesn't care what other people think. And she gets to have a great line in the movie, "The muffin shop is closed!" I love how they have her thong hanging out of her pants in that scene since SOOO many girls love to do that. Eva Amurri was fantastic in this movie.

I saw the Roswell High book. It is in the scene right after they put that picture of Hilary Faye on all of the computer scenes. She goes to the library I'm assuming to complain to Pastor Skip. It is blurry in a plastic case turned backward. You can make out that famous photo of the group at the top of it and it's blue. haha I'm a nerd.

[/b]

I would have to disagree with you there. I have a friend who is gay and I never guessed it. He's always been quiet and shy and although he's had lots of girls who liked him he never really dated. Now I know why but I never would have known. I have this other friend who everyone claims is gay; he doesn't get crushes, he's totally consumed with school, and he talks really properly. He's the epitome of what you'd expect a gay guy to be. But the thing is, he's a really big homophobe. My mom claims he uses that a guise but I'm not sure. Sometimes I wonder; the point is that you never really know.

I agree, I really love the use of Chantal Kreviazuk's song In This Life where Mary comes out of the clinic knowing she's pregnant. It's such a sad song but at the same time accepting of the badness in life. She goes up to the church and says, "Sh*t. F*ck. God damn." It's such a great scene not only for the humor involved but because she feels like God let her down in two ways. Dean is still gay and Mary is pregnant.

Ahh I can't tell you how much I love this movie. Anyone who hasn't seen it should.
 
Dean: I'm the father.
Patrick: I'm the boyfriend.
(forget name): (points to Dean) I'm his boyfriend.

Best part of the movie.
 
I found you! HA! :P

Oh yeah, and Saved!, definitely a great movie. Oddly enough at work one of my coworkers was talking about being good friends with Jenna Malone.
 
Saved! opened up at more theatres in Chicago so I went to go see it a second time because this theatre was pretty close to my house. My parents really wanted to see it so I went with them this time and they thought it was hilarious. My dad's been getting into religion lately but he wasn't offended by this movie. I think I liked it a little more the second time around. And whoever mentioned that Roswell book thing, I noticed it this time. I'm definitely going to buy it when it comes out on DVD.

Eva Amurri was amazing. She was my absolute favorite in the movie. My mom said something about Mandy Moore's squeaky clean image being gone after this movie. I'm kind of sure that was the point. ;) I'm a huge fan of Mandy's and seeing her do an edgier, independent project (besides All I Want... that was crap. :( ) instead of the mainstream, girl gets guy romantic comedy. I can't wait for Romance and Cigarettes, either. Macauley Culkin, Patrick Fugit and Heather Matarazzo were great as well. I loved Patrick's shirt that said Jesus with the AC/DC logo. :lol:
 
I heard about this movie way before I even saw the preview, but I' mad it is only playing in select theaters. I'm someone who lives in an unselected city. So I'll have to wait for it to come out in the theater.
 
:lol:

I loved this movie. Such funny lines, great characters. I have to say Cassandra was my favourite.

Hilary Faye: You know, secondhand smoke kills.
Cassandra: I'm counting on it.


Hilary Faye: Hey Cass! How do you feel?
Cassandra: Oh, I'm a whole new girl Hay-Faye.
Hilary Faye: I TOLD YOU! How great is Jesus?
Cassandra: Yeah, um, about that... I've decided to devote my life to Satan instead. Thanks though!


Veronica: Roland is so blessed to have such a thoughtful sister. You know, in countries like China, Hilary Faye would probably have been killed at birth.
Hilary Faye: And then where would you be, Roland?
Roland: China.


Pastor Skip: Let's get our Christ on, let's kick it Jesus-style!

lol. Yeah. Love this movie. :nod:
 
Hi! I haven't seen the movie yet but I really want to. It looks like a great satire, and really funny. Hopefully I can see it soon!
 
'saved' looks like it might be in a very limited release.....the only time i've ever seen the trailer for this film was in an "art house" theater........after checking with fandango.com the only place on friday 'saved' (in orange county, california-movie capital of the world) is opening is at edwards southcoast village.....(across the street from the south coast plaza).....other films opening at that theater on friday are 'the mother' and 'coffee and cigarettes'........
 
I think that's normal, though. The movie was mocking an extreme. So they went to the extreme end of that extreme. I sure hope there are no real-life Hillary Fayes out there! :lol: That would be scary.
 
Macualay Culkin was on Conan, it was pretty funny, they showed a clip from it, it was funny and looked good.... He said they researched their roles, and went to a few Christian concerts to see what it was like.... I like the cast members like Jena Malone great actress. I'm also interested to see how Patrick Fugit is in the movie, the only movie I have seen him in was Almost Famous, which he was great in, but interested to see him in some other roles.... Even interest to see how Macualay does in the movie....
 
Is anyone as psyched about this movie as I am?
I just saw the trailer on Yahoo, and it seems to be a religious satire about Christian kids. Mandy Moore, Jena Malone, and Macualay Culkin star.

When I saw the trailer, it seemed like the kind of movie that's going to spark overreaction. Do you think we can handle this kind of movie about questioning God or faith, now especially?
 
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