The Worth of Souls

Author(s): Zgamer
Location: Eagle, ID

"The Worth of Souls”

Distributed by: Focus Features
Produced by: Michael Shamberg and Steven Soderberg
Directed by: Steven Soderberg
Written by: Steven Soderberg and Scott S. Anderson

Principal Cast:

Kevin Zegers as Elder Jacob Hale
K.C. Clyde as Elder Ryan Ferguson
Scott Mechlowicz as Elder Alex McDonald
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Elder Taylor Hoopes
Cuba Gooding Jr. as Kenan Travis
Diane Lane as Rachel Walker
Clive Owen as Chad Walker
Steve Buscemi as Eric Christian
Natalie Portman as Patty Mitchell

Tagline: "The door to salvation may be closer than you think"

Release Date: December 19, 2007

Synopsis: Jacob Hale (Zegers) is not the most willing Latter-Day Saint (or "Mormon" as they are referred to) in the world. All throughout his life he has felt forced into his religion by his family. Every conference, every church meeting, and every single youth activity possible has been part of his life. Now, when he's finally able to feel the freedom of adulthood, he gets called to serve a mission for two years away from his casual life style. To make it worse, he learned that its not to some far off country or foreign culture, but in the chaotic mess of New York City. So grudgingly, he made his way to a second-rate apartment complex to meet his companions.

However, they are not what he expected either. There's Alex McDonald (Mechlowicz), inexperienced missionary who has suddenly has found a disturbing interest in anti-mormon articles and pamphlets. There's Ryan Ferguson (Clyde), a newer missionary who find himself attracted to a girl next door (Portman), even though he can't have a romantic relationship while on a mission. And there's Taylor Hoopes (Levitt), a know-it-all who makes life for Jacob a living hell with his criticism and sarcasm. To add insult to injury, Jacob has been unofficially decided the new "leader" for these screwed up missionaries.

As Jacob starts his door-to-door preaching and testifying of Jesus Christ, with his companion Taylor at his side, he begins to notice a lot of peculiar people. One of which is Kenan Travis (Gooding), a black mechanic who is prejudice to Mormons, yet desperate to seek answers to his questions of life. There's Rachel Walker (Lane), who's husband (Owen) treats her as an inferior. And there's Eric Christian (Buscemi), a sex addict who has just got the beating of his life from the husband of a woman he cheated with.

These people begin to impact Jacob's life significantly. As the days go by, Kenan begins to challenge/question them more often and with more intrigue, Rachel begin seeing them secretly, and their visits with Eric start to get more frequent. The results vary each time but Jacob soon starts to become grateful for what he has compared to some of the plights of these people. But as his personal faith in his church starts increasing, a series of unforeseeable circumstances looms over his little group of preachers. Will he be prepared for it?

What the press would say:

Could anyone have predicted that a movie like this would be coming? A Mormon drama that doesn't treat its characters like caricatures? After so many of those movies had come and gone within the Latter-Day Saint community, this bold new movie emerges from the ranks to tell its message to the public. And what a message it proclaims.

The plot is detailed and thoughtfully organized. Each event in the story is linked with one another to tell of the ups and downs of the experiences of Mormon missionaries. Thankfully, the story doesn't exclude its non-Mormon audiences with Mormon-only ideas and references, as it not only gives those people a great way to be introduced to the religion, but appeals to them with the conflicts and morals that the characters face.

Director Steven Soderberg took quite a risk going into such a misunderstood and sensitive subject, but he surprised everyone by treating it with the utmost respect. Each emotion and action of the characters are coordinated effectively to get the right mood of the situation. His handling of the progression of the story also works wonders, as the flow of it feels natural and real. The climatic events near the end, including an assault on Elder Ferguson's life and a shocking revelation of certain immoral choices in Elder Hoopes' life, really give the movie the dramatic build up it needs to reach its appropriate yet uplifting ending.

And who could have asked for a better cast. The talent ranges from Oscar winning stars to actors in the Mormon film industry, but each side gives its all. Kevin Zegers is superb in the lead role, giving the audience someone who they can truly sympathize with. The other missionaries are all well performed, especially Joseph Gordon-Levitt who is unforgettable in his pivotal scene of his confession to Zegers' character near the end. Among the non-missionary characters, Gooding and Buscemi stand out for the sympathetic value of their characters and the depth of their performances. Their pivotal moments includes Gooding's final questioning session with Zegers and Buscemi admitting his true feelings on Mormons and (plot twist!) how he was the one who attempted to kill Ferguson.

If you were to only see one movie about Latter Day Saints, this is the one.

Possible Nominations

Best Picture (Michael Shamberg and Steven Soderberg)
Best Director (Steven Soderberg)
Best Original Screenplay (Steven Soderberg and Scott S. Anderson)
Best Actor (Kevin Zegers)
Best Supporting Actor (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)
Best Supporting Actor (Cuba Gooding Jr.)
Best Supporting Actor (Steve Buscemi)
Best Editing (Stephen Mirrione)
Best Score (Thomas Newman)