Discussing
Calvary’s portrait of a priest

Josh Larsen

Josh Larsen
August 12, 2014

In Calvary, Brendan Gleeson offers a portrait of a priest who embodies James Davison Hunter's idea of "faithful presence."

Tamara Hill Murphy
August 12, 2014

Josh, thanks for the review. I'm really looking forward to watching this film. At the same time, a sister Anglican church in Durham is mourning the (suspected) first-degree murder of one of their priests and the Calvary plot line might feel eerily prescient.

Lord, have mercy on all of us.

Amanda Cleary Eastep
August 12, 2014

Thanks for the review, Josh. Trailer is interesting and the movie has a great cast. Love Gleeson, too. The trailer doesn't make it appear as if he is considering offering "himself up as a sacrifice" as much as he is preparing to defend himself, if necessary. What do you see as the message of the film?

Josh Larsen
TC Staff
August 12, 2014

The trailer is selling a very different film, Amanda (as is often the case). As far as the message goes, one thing the movie suggested to me was this: the line between the righteous and the unrighteous isn't always where we think it is.

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