{"id":10735,"date":"2022-05-20T09:03:12","date_gmt":"2022-05-20T09:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/?p=10735"},"modified":"2022-06-10T11:42:33","modified_gmt":"2022-06-10T11:42:33","slug":"a-film-thats-got-it-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/a-film-thats-got-it-all\/","title":{"rendered":"A film that\u2019s got it all"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4 style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Sorted<\/em> film critic, Andy Godfrey, reviews <em>Father Stu<\/em> \u2013 starring Mark Whalberg and Mel Gibson \u2013 a true story about the compelling life of Stuart Long.<\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9723\" src=\"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2021\/12\/ANDY-Godfrey.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"840\" height=\"173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2021\/12\/ANDY-Godfrey.png 840w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2021\/12\/ANDY-Godfrey-300x62.png 300w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2021\/12\/ANDY-Godfrey-768x158.png 768w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2021\/12\/ANDY-Godfrey-600x124.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><em>Father Stu<\/em> is a remarkable film that tells an incredible story. It\u2019s a true account of an atheist ex-boxer, an alcoholic and would-be actor who ended up becoming a priest and firm believer in God and in Jesus \u2013 before facing a traumatic life-and-death battle with a muscle-wasting disease.<\/h2>\n<p>Stuart Long went to Hollywood to make his fortune. Instead, he met a woman called Carmen and fell in love. The trouble with that is Carmen is a devoted catholic. To stand any chance of winning her heart, Stu has to become one as well!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10746\" src=\"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-005.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"840\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-005.jpg 840w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-005-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-005-768x366.jpg 768w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-005-600x286.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><strong> LIFE'S TOUGH: the early part of the film records Stuart Long's fortunes in the boxing ring.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So unfolds a gripping story.<\/p>\n<p>Initially acting and pretending to be a believer (which even includes getting baptised), cinemagoers watch on as Stu becomes a genuine convert after he is involved in a motorcycling accident, which leaves him in a coma.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10742\" src=\"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-001-Real.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"840\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-001-Real.jpg 840w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-001-Real-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-001-Real-768x366.jpg 768w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-001-Real-600x286.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><strong> A LIFE TRANSFORMED: the real Stuart Long, when he was in training to become a priest.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>He is a changed man when he awakens.<\/p>\n<p>While out cold, he claims to have met the virgin Mary and, on reawakening, he commits his life to God and sets about training for the priesthood.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10744\" src=\"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-003.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"840\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-003.jpeg 840w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-003-300x143.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-003-768x366.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-003-600x286.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/> <strong>MAKING HIS MARK: Hollywood A-lister Whalberg plays the title role in <em>Father Stu.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hollywood A-lister, Mark Whalberg, is excellent as Long, the film\u2019s central character who is the initially cynical sceptic. He is ably supported by an excellent cast including Mel Gibson, who plays his father.<\/p>\n<p>While this may be a niche film, it is most definitely worth seeing and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Rarely have I seen something that so clearly and simply explains the Christian faith. It\u2019s a wonderful tale that tells Stuart Long\u2019s life story extremely faithfully.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10745\" src=\"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-004-MelGibson.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"840\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-004-MelGibson.jpeg 840w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-004-MelGibson-300x143.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-004-MelGibson-768x366.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-004-MelGibson-600x286.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/> <strong>SUPPORTING ROLE: Oscar-winner, Mel Gibson, plays Stuart Long's father.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Accompanying the strong acting and script is a great rockabilly soundtrack, which follows Stu throughout his journey. So, go see it \u2013 and don\u2019t forget to read our exclusive interview with Mark Whalberg in the latest edition of <em>Sorted<\/em> magazine.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Andy Godfrey is a founding member of the Mark Kermode Appreciation Society<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sorted film critic, Andy Godfrey, reviews Father Stu \u2013 starring Mark Whalberg and Mel Gibson \u2013 a true story about the compelling life of Stuart Long. Father Stu is a remarkable film that tells an incredible story. It\u2019s a true account of an atheist ex-boxer, an alcoholic and would-be actor who ended up becoming a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":692,"featured_media":10743,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,1546,1790],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-free-content","category-homepage","category-film"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2022\/05\/FatherStu-002.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/692"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10735"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10751,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10735\/revisions\/10751"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/runyourownwebsite.uk\/sorted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}