The Last Sin Eater (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (May 2007)

The Last Sin Eater
US Poster for "The Last Sin Eater"
Directed by	Michael Landon Jr.
Produced by	Brian Bird Michael Landon Jr.
Written by	Novel: Francine Rivers Screenplay: Brian Bird Michael Landon Jr.
Starring	Liana Liberato Louise Fletcher Henry Thomas
Music by	Mark McKenzie
Cinematography	Robert Seaman
Editing by	Michael Landon Jr.
Distributed by	Fox Faith
Release date(s)	9 February 2007 (USA)
Running time	117 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2,200,000 (estimated)
Gross revenue	$379,643 (USA)
Official website
IMDb profile

The Last Sin Eater is an American movie released on 9 February 2007, directed by Michael Landon Jr. and distributed by Fox Faith. It is based on the 1998 novel by Francine Rivers.

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cast 3 Reception 3.1 Box Office 3.2 Reviews 4 References

[edit] Synopsis

The Last Sin Eater is a story that takes place in the 1850’s Appalachia. Ten-year-old Cadi's grief over the death of her beloved grandmother, the only person who seemed to love her unconditionally, is compounded by a previous family tragedy for which she believes her family blames her. While at her grandmother's grave, Cadi sees the "sin-eater," a human who absolves the residents of the tiny Smoky Mountain community of their sins. Somehow Cadi comes to realize that the sin eater is false and learns of Jesus, and her conversion to Christianity leads to a reconciliation with her family.

[edit] Cast

• Henry Thomas ... Man of God
• Louise Fletcher ... Miz Elda
• Liana Liberato ... Cadi Forbes
• Soren Fulton ... Fagan Kai
• Stewart Finlay-McLennan ... Brogan Kai
• Peter Wingfield ... The Sin Eater

[edit] Reception

[edit] Box Office

The Last Sin Eater was released in 429 theaters, and stayed in the theater for 2 weeks. According to Box Office Mojo the film grossed only $388,390 in these 14 days. However, the film earned $246,483 in its opening weekend (63.5% of total income).^[1]

[edit] Reviews

The Last Sin Eater received mixed reviews, but despite a favorable one from the New York Times, some smaller print outlets were less than enthuiastic. The New York Times gave The Last Sin Eater a positive review.^[2] Critic Matt Zoller Seitz wrote: "Handsomely produced, earnestly performed and 100 percent irony-free, "The Last Sin Eater" is religious art for mainstream consumption." The review gave credit to the direction and photography: "the movie is a big-screen Sunday school story with sumptuous scenery, graceful crane shots and Rembrandt lighting — designed mainly to impart and then repeat wisdom about guilt, sin and redemption — this can't really be considered a flaw." Surprisingly, the film received negatives from some Bible Belt papers. One criticizing the films "Christian message", South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "With its dulling straightforward pitch for Jesus, The Last Sin Eater seems like the worst of films from a non-born-again perspective." The other was negative about the direction: "The camera always seems to be too far off when you wish to get a better look and too close when you wish that it would point at anything other than what’s in the frame." (Austin Chronicle) ^[3] However, Reel Talk critic Betty Joe Tucker was impressed by the cinematography "This extremely well-photographed film establishes a compelling “you are there” atmosphere. It also boasts impressive performances by children and adult actors alike. Liana Liberato, who plays Cadi, is a real find. Because of the intensity and vulnerability she projects." (Reel Talk) ^[4] Additionally, Variety complimented the look of the film: "Pic was attractively lensed by Robert Seaman in Utah locales that adequately double for Appalachian mountain country." Variety ^[5]

[edit] References