CAPSULES

By Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Letters to God (Vivendi)

Inspirational and touching drama, based on real events, about a faith-filled but cancer-stricken 8-year-old boy (Tanner Maguire) whose prayers and reflections are expressed in a series of letters to the Almighty, and the effect these notes have on his family -- including his widowed, overtaxed mother (Robyn Lively), his devout grandmother (Maree Cheatham) and his emotionally conflicted teen brother (Michael Christopher Bolten) -- but especially on the depressed, boozing war-vet-turned-postman (Jeffrey S. Johnson) who has recently taken over the local mail route. Though the underlying theology of director David Nixon's family-friendly tale of courage and conversion is evangelical, the basic message about the power of Gospel values to transform lives is sufficiently nondenominational to exert a strong appeal on Christian believers of every stripe. Life-threatening illness, divorce and alcoholism themes. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

The Perfect Game (IndustryWorks)

Rousing, faith-infused sports drama, based on real events, recounting the unlikely odyssey of a ragtag boys baseball team from Monterrey, Mexico, who, under the spiritual guidance of a devout but down-to-earth priest (Cheech Marin) and the leadership of a hard-driving coach (Clifton Collins Jr.) travel to the U.S. to compete in the 1957 Little League championship tournament, achieving a string of unexpected victories against far more advantaged teams. As directed by William Dear, W. William Winokur's script unambiguously presents the young players' Catholicism as the inspiration not only for their winning streak, but for their persistent refusal to allow either their impoverished circumstances or the disdainful prejudice they frequently encounter north of the border to deprive them of their dream, though a brief scene of Marin's otherwise estimable character celebrating a Tridentine Mass presents an image of worship so sloppy and repetitive as to approach unintentional parody. Racial tensions, ethnic slurs and a few mildly earthy insults. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Copyright (c) 2010 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops