Mental Health Through Pop Culture

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I Still Believe

Life is weird, right? Our history has some truly weird events that have taken place. To quote Doctor Manhattan, some events that are so small, they could be argued to have never taken place at all. Those tiny, and what may seem like insignificant moments, are what fascinate me. I'm convinced it fascinates us all. It's probably one of the reasons that true crime is so popular within the podcast medium. That fascination and my movie passion meet at the crossroads in biopics. Biopics are quickly climbing up my favorite genres in the medium of films. Movies like Bombshell, Rocketman & Spotlight have tattooed themselves onto my soul. Constant recommendations to people that have never seen it. Never ending conversations for those that have seen it.

Biopics are a fascinating genre to watch in film. Just like every other genre of film, not all of them are gonna be oscar caliber. I'll give the filmmakers credit, though. Deciding when and where to start a story of someone's life isn't always the easiest thing to do. Look at how the filmmakers behind Jobs approached the story of Steve Jobs. They aimed to step the full story of Jobs' rise to fame. While Steve Jobs told the story of the Apple wizard's biggest moments in technology. Both films telling the same story, just different approaches. It all comes back to how you tell the story.

Following the success of 2018's biopic, I Can Only Imagine, the same team returns to tell the story of Jeremy Camp in I Still Believe. While I have made it no secret, on our show, that I am a Christian. I tend to shy away from Christian movies. They're mostly cheesy, poorly acted and predictable. With the subject matter of this film focusing on its' attention on the now famous worship singer, Jeremy Camp - expect those genre tropes. The writing isn't always the best and delivery can sometimes feel wooden. Sometimes it's part of the journey for these types of movies. Perhaps the biggest fault against the film is inability to identify its identity. Believe exists somewhere between Camp's rise to stardom in music and a love story between him and his, now deceased, first wife. For the majority of the time, it operates as a love story. Though, it doesn't shy away from Camp's own story. Resulting in a bit of baffling narrative.

Given its subject matter, the movie is created with all intensive purposes to be a niche film. Camp's career and his love story both exist heavy in Christianity. There is nothing wrong with that, it just creates a more narrow audience. That notion aside, the film is fairly inspiring. Telling the story of a husband's journey of watching his wife die. Yet, somehow in the end finding the strength to still smile in the end. Adversity is hard. Coming from a strictly personal note from myself and to many of you reading this right now. It's insanely hard to laugh and smile during those hard seasons of life. Journeys like Camp's inspire and challenge to find joy in those seasons. KJ Apa, most famous for Riverdale, takes center stage as the famous singer. Him and Brit Robertson have incredible chemistry between one another. Apa, despite all the film's shortcomings, rises to another level. I honestly can't wIt to see him in more.

Overall, I Still Believe, is a mixed bag. The film casts strong leads in KJ Apa & Brit Robertson. The two have dynamite chemistry and help boost the film over it's somewhat sluggish quality. Believe suffers from cliches of its niche genre. The film runs a bit too long, runs with some bad acting, and suffers majorly from identity issues. The film's inspiration is undeniable. So expect, some to be rejuvenated at the very least. I Still Believe falls victim to niche tropes but stays afloat with its leading actors!

RORSCHACH RATING:

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and you are struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message or tweet to us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written and produced by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey. Music by Yuriy Bespalov & Beggars. I Still Believe is property of Lionsgate Pictures. We do not own nor claim any rights.

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