Machine Gun Preacher (2011)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: There's a complex man at the center of Machine Gun Preacher but the movie is too shapeless and emotionally vacant to bring his story to life.
Machine Gun Preacher Videos & Photos
Movie Info
When ex-biker-gang member Sam Childers (Butler) makes the life-changing decision to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war, he is outraged by the unspeakable horrors faced by the region's vulnerable populace, especially the children. Ignoring the warnings of more experienced aide workers, Sam breaks ground for an orphanage where it's most needed-in the middle of territory controlled by the brutal Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a renegade militia that forces youngsters to … More
| Rating: | R (for violent content including disturbing images, language, some drug use and a scene of sexuality) |
| Genre: | Drama, Action & Adventure |
| Directed By: | Sebastian Roche, Marc Forster |
| Written By: | Jason Keller |
| In Theaters: | Sep 23, 2011 Limited |
| On DVD: | Jun 5, 2012 |
| Box Office: | $0.5M |
| Runtime: |
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Cast
as Sam Childers
as Lynn Childers
as Daisy
as Donnie
as Page #1
as Paige #2
as Deng
as Billy/Contractor
as Pastor Krause
as Bill Wallace
as Shannon Wallace
as Biker Chick
as Bartender
as Shaved Head
as Drifter
as Employment Woman
as Mechanic
as Mrs. Shields
as Paul Relling
as Bank Manager
as Ben Hobbes/Biker
as Hobbes Daughter
as Crackhead
as Paige's Friend
as Paige's Friend
as Customs Officer
as Mover
as Pawn Shop Owner
as Sue/Volunteer
as Biker
as Newscaster
as Child Singer
as Child Singer
as Church Pianist
as Prison Clerk
as Nineteen
as AJ
as Marco
as John Carang
as William
as Agnete Closson
as Betty
as Rose
as Betty's Helper
as SPLA Soldier #1
as SPLA Soldier #2
as SPLA Soldier #3
as SPLA Dinka Soldier
as SPLA Dinka Soldier
as Matak
as Cleo
as Poppy
as William's Mother
as William's Father
as Christopher (12 Year...
as LRA Walking Soldier ...
as LRA Commander
as Village Man #1
as Dan
as Administrator
as Adult Rebel #1
as Lipless Woman
as SPLA Soldier #1
as Doctor #1
as Doctor #2
as Male Refugee "Acholi...
as LRA Commander
as LRA Walking Soldier
as LRA Soldier
as LRA Leader at Bridge
as Child Rebel #1 at Br...
as Child Rebel #2 at Br...
as Agnete's Driver
as LRA Soldier at Camp
as Sniper
as Riverbed Child #1
as Riverbed Child #1
as Riverbed Child #2
as Green Shorts Boy
as Green Shorts Sister
as Boy with Soccer Ball...
as Boy With Soccer Ball...
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LoginCritic Reviews for Machine Gun Preacher
All Critics (112) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (32) | Rotten (79) | DVD (3)
it can be a bit... preachy, if you pardon the pun
With an exploitation-friendly title like Machine Gun Preacher you'd think this movie would be the soul brother of Hobo With A Shotgun. Unfortunately, that is not so.
Despite a competent performance from Butler, Machine Gun Preacher tackles way too much material to present a cohesive onscreen telling of the Sam Childers story.
It's an uncomfortable marriage of sentimental genre conventions and real-life tragedy shown with graphic detail. It does bring you inside the main character's internal struggle, but doesn't seem focused enough as it sways into action film territory.
We're given surprisingly little food for thought when it comes to the question of the complicated tensions between Christian faith and violence.
With all the talk of "Kony/KONY 2012" wending its way into the culture, this movie gives a vivid picture of who this villain is and why the world should be doing something about him.
Audience Reviews for Machine Gun Preacher
Somewhat in the veins of Blood Diamond, this one fared well enough for me, though not as good as Blood Diamond. The cast gave excellent performance, and the execution was good enough to restrain it from becoming too preachy. Being too loud, I didn't like the Hallelujah parts.
Super Reviewer
Real life stories make for some very good films. Now I've had reservations about seeing Machine Gun Preacher due to the fact that Gerard Butler has made a few duds over the last few years, and his last good films were Gamer and Law Abiding Citizen. For Machine Gun Preacher, Butler goes back to a more serious role as Sam Childers. The film focuses on Childers life and how he went from a criminal to someone trying to find salvation by helping others in need. Childers went to Sudan to help children that were orphaned due to civil war. Although not a flawless film, Machine Gun Preacher is a worthwhile film that is in my opinion quite underrated. Gerard Butler delivers a strong and powerful performance that is quite possibly the best of his career. The film is a mix of action and drama, and director Marc Forster does a good job with the material to capture Childers's life, but considering that he had such a unique life, the film could have been a bit better as well. In terms of a good biopic, this tells a compelling story and it is well acted. Butler redeems himself with this role due to the fact that he played in a few boring and unimpressive chick flicks. I very much enjoyed the film, but there were a few areas where the film could have been better. However there are enough good elements to make this one worth seeing. The film is very good, and is quite eye opening as well. As a whole, it is a flawed film but it is a well executed action drama that delivers something memorable.
Super Reviewer
An outstanding movie that packs insanely powerful punch. It`s an inspirational classic of a rebel who found his cause. A genuine human drama that cuts you to the core with its realism and story. An utterly heartbreaking, inspiring and action-packed drama. A riveting, deeply moving and extremely powerful movie. Director, Marc Fosters best film since The Kite Runner, he`s a true artist and craftsman. An absolute triumph. An incredible and unforgettable film that shakes you, shocks you and inspires you. It`s spectacular in every way you can think of and is simply extraordinary. Gerard Butler gives the best performance of his career, an explosive tour de force performance that shines with his movie star caliber. Butler delivers in a massive way that's shows his power, passion, emotion and strength. Michael Shannon and Michelle Monaghan give fine performances. An embracing, compelling and astonishing piece of work. An exhilarating mixture of thrills, explosive action and deeply absorbing drama.
Super Reviewer
Machine Gun Preacher Quotes
| Daisy: | The only thing necessary for the triumph of an evil is for a good man to do nothing. |
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