Why 'War Room' Is a Must-See Movie - J. Lee Grady

Why 'War Room' Is a Must-See Movie

 9/2/2015 J. LEE GRADY  charisma magazine

'War Room' is a must-see Christian movie. (Facebook )

I'm not a big fan of Christian movies, mainly because low budgets often result in bad acting and cheesy scripts that make even the most gracious churchgoers cringe in embarrassment. But today Hollywood insiders are admitting that the quality of Christian filmmaking is improving—and the newly released War Room is likely to take the genre to a new level.

Don't expect your typical nose-in-the-air film critics to give War Room good reviews. Its faith message is not subtle. People actually pray—out loud!—on screen, and the name of Jesus is mentioned numerous times. One of the main characters gets on his knees and asks God for forgiveness, while another walks out on her back porch and commands the devil to go to hell.

If all that religion isn't enough to drive the Hollywood elite crazy, the actors in this film talk with thick Southern accents. Even popular Bible teacher Beth Moore shows off her Texas drawl in a cameo role.

The reason for the Southern flair is that War Room was created by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, Baptist brothers from Georgia who gave us Facing the Giants, Fireproof and Courageous. Those films were panned by Hollywood, but their financial success made a few leaders in the movie business curious. They discovered that evangelical Christians have an appetite for wholesome entertainment that reinforces their beliefs. That's why Fireproof was the top-grossing independent film of 2008—and whyWar Room ended up with a stunning $11.4 million last weekend when it opened in theaters.

I won't be surprised if War Room breaks all previous records for the Kendrick Brothers. They have outdone themselves with this one. You need to see it. In fact, you should take your friends and see it as a group.

The story revolves around a middle-class couple struggling in their marriage. Elizabeth Jordan (Priscilla Shirer) is a real-estate agent who is mad at her busy husband, Tony (T.C. Stallings), because he's stressed out and angry at her most of the time. When Elizabeth takes on the job of selling the house of an elderly woman named Miss Clara (Karen Abercrombie), she begins a remarkable spiritual journey that transforms her family.

War Room gets its title from the small closet Miss Clara uses for prayer. She challenges Elizabeth to let go of her anger, submit fully to God and begin her own prayer life. "You are a warrior," she tells her young friend. Elizabeth reluctantly cleans out the walk-in closet in her bedroom and begins to fight for her marriage—at the same time that her husband is considering having an affair. By the end of the film, Miss Clara has not only mentored Elizabeth in prayer; she has also taught all of us why we need to go to war on our knees.

I don't know of any film that portrays the power of prayer like War Room. Abercrombie (who has appeared in numerous TV shows including Alley McBeal and Judging Amy) steals the show as Miss Clara, but Priscilla Shirer, who is the daughter of Dallas pastor Tony Evans, brings unexpected acting talent to the screen—especially in the scene when she decides she won't let the devil have her family or her marriage.

This movie is unabashedly Christian and might as well be rated P-I for politically incorrect. There is no profanity (Miss Clara does declare in one scene that the devil's butt has been kicked) and no sex—although a woman Tony meets at work invites him to her apartment. And the only violence occurs when a man wielding a knife confronts Elizabeth and Miss Clara. You guessed it—the old lady rebukes her attacker in the name of Jesus.

Miss Clara's bold approach to faith is what I liked most about War Room. This brave saint doesn't care what anybody thinks—she is going to pray whether you like it or not. She gets in Elizabeth's face and confronts her bad attitudes, and she gets in the devil's face and commands him to stop destroying Elizabeth's marriage. By the end of the film she's kneeling in her new prayer room in her son's house, praying up a storm for America.

This is exactly why director Alex Kendrick says he made War Room. He told Entertainment Weekly: "This movie calls people to make prayer a priority, and we believe that it's something our culture and our nation really needs — to turn back to God and to seek him in prayer."

War Room may do more than shatter box office records. It could actually inspire a fresh movement of prayer in our prayerless nation.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma and the director of The Mordecai Project. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. Check out his ministry at themordecaiproject.org.

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'War Room' a Call to Do Battle on Your Knees - movie

'War Room' a Call to Do Battle on Your Knees

By Charlene Aaron

CBN News Reporter

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

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DALLAS -- "War Room," the latest faith-based film from brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick, follows the turbulent marriage of a middle class couple and highlights the difference that prayer can make.

Best-selling author and Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer makes her big screen debut as Elizabeth Jordan, a busy, fed-up wife, mom, and realtor.

Having never acted in a movie before, she said she was surprised when she was asked to play the role.

"When they said we would like for you to be the lead in the film -- not just have a 'lil part in the film, be a lead in the film -- I was like, 'Have y'all lost your minds?'" she laughed.

A Boiling Point

In the film, the Jordan's rocky marriage constantly reaches the boiling point.

Shirer, daughter of well-known pastor Tony Evans, worked with the Kendricks on their blockbuster film "Courageous," writing the resolution for women from the film. 

"When we were going into 'War Room,' we were thinking we would love to have someone like Priscilla Shirer who would play this role," Stephen Kendrick said. "So we were writing scenes with her in mind, thinking what would Priscilla do in this situation."

Actor T.C. Stallings plays Shirer's husband, a successful pharmaceutical rep. As a former player with the Arena Football League, he told CBN News he related to his character's struggle with pride and putting God first, a problem he believes a lot of men face.

"I said, 'Lord, there's some things about Tony Jordan that I actually experienced,'" he said. "Football was god for me."

"It provided the fame, the notoriety, the finances, so I put everything into it. Tony Jordan does the same thing," he explained.

In the 'War Room'

Using the analogy of military strategy, "War Room" expounds on what happens when the main character Elizabeth learns the key to praying in her closet.

"In the Christian walk we often try to figure it out on our own, get in over our heads, then run to God in our war room, our prayer closet if you will, and say, 'God, what are you doing?'" Director Alex Kendrick explained.

"And so we use that parallel in the movie to say that we are supposed to go to the Lord first," he said.

"God is looking down saying, 'I'm the only one who can change this culture and I'm the only one who can change the human heart. If you will come before me, then I will move mightily on your behalf,'" Stephen Kendrick said.

Popular speaker and author Beth Moore makes a cameo appearance in the film. She agrees that some people underestimate the power of prayer.

"What happens is that people give up," she said. "Anybody that doesn't believe in the power of prayer quits too soon."

Actress Karen Abercrombie plays Miss Clara, an elderly woman who enlists Elizabeth's help in selling her home while encouraging her to fight for her family, on her knees.

"Miss Clara is a 77-year-old widow and she is a prayer warrior and she's funny, she's kind, and she is super passionate about the Lord," Abercrombie said.

"For Elizabeth it's kind of slow and steady," Shirer explained. "She has to keep meeting with Miss Clara because she has to help her sell her house. But she's kind of like, 'Alright, stop asking me personal questions about my relationship with the Lord.'"

More than a Movie

Many say "War Room" is more than just a movie. For the Kendricks it's their first independent project apart from their church Sherwood Baptist. 

They also say it's a call for Christians to seek the Lord for the answers to the problems in their lives, in our nation, and the culture.

"We pray that people will watch this film and that they will, yes, feel the tension, and the drama, laugh with us, cry at certain point," Alex Kendrick said. "But by the end be inspired and reminded about the powerful weapon that prayer can be to fight the right enemy, the right way and that they'll want to go home and say I have to amp up my prayer life."

Cast members said they learned more than just lines from this project.

"I will say that I have become more strategic," Shirer said. "It reminds you every day to be diligent about what your prayer life is."

Abercrombie testified to the power of powerful prayer in her and family.

"I've seen family members come to the Lord after some serious prayer and so I was able to pull on those things when I went into that prayer closet," she said.

A Lasting Impact

Moviegoers who watched the premiere of "War Room" have given it rave reviews.

"The characters brought to life what so many of us can relate to in our lives and our own world and it gives hope," moviegoer Suzanne Trahan said.

"It gives an answer to all the difficulty we all struggle with--for such a time as this," she added.

Matt Jacobs of Dallas also said he thought it was excellent.

"I found myself crying a lot throughout this movie," he admitted.

You can watch "War Room" for yourself when it hits theaters on August 28.

Glenn Beck Red Carpet Reaction to 'War Room'

Gospel Artist Crystal Aikin Reacts to 'War Room'

Moviegoer Suzanne Trahan Reacts to 'War Room' Premiere

Moviegoer Matt Jacobs Reacts to 'War Room' Premiere

Kendrick Bros Taking Their Films Beyond Sherwood (Filmmakers of "Facing the Giants," "Courageous," and "Fireproof")

Kendrick Brothers Stephen & Alex

Kendrick Bros Taking Their Films Beyond Sherwood

By Charlene Aaron

CBN News Reporter

Friday, September 05, 2014

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick developed a love for making movies when they were just kids growing up in Georgia.

"When we were growing up we didn't have a television for a while, but our parents would take us to see Disney films," Stephen Kendrick told CBN News. "And so we got excited about wanting to get into filmmaking one day."

The brothers said they were doing stop and go animation and flip books with their Hardy Boy books while at home.

"We got a little stop and go animation 8 mm camera -- I think Alex was in fourth grade at the time -- and then a video camera in our teens when they came out in the 80s," Stephen said. "So it's been part of our lives since the beginning."

The brothers were raised by Christian parents. Their dad was a preacher and their mom was a teacher.

That is why the Kendrick brothers are especially passionate about producing films with a gospel message.

Small Beginnings

Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, gave Alex and Stephen the opportunity to put their film practice to use by helping with the church's media ministry.

Today they serve as associate pastors at the church.

"We love our church family at Sherwood," Stephen said. "They've been very supportive of us from the beginning."

Their first film called "Flywheel" tells the story of a dishonest used car salesman who comes to grips with his need for God.

It was produced on a bare-bones budget and ran in a local theater in the Kendricks' hometown for six weeks.

The filmmakers went on to write and produce three other films, which Alex directed.

"Facing the Giants," "Courageous," and "Fireproof" have grossed nearly $80 million at the box office, with a combined budget of less than $4 million.

"Fireproof," a movie about restoring marriage, starring actor Kirk Cameron, became the highest grossing independent film of 2008.

The movie's accompanying devotional, Love Dare, has sold more than 3.5 million copies.

Confounding Hollywood

The success of these little-known Christian filmmakers has left Hollywood scratching its head. The Kendricks say prayer is the key to all they have been able to accomplish.

"Every one of our movies is a whole string of miracles where the Lord would step up and provide exactly what we needed," Stephen explained. "The cast, the crew, the locations the protection, the story line, the truths to communicate so when we look up on the scene, when we look up on the screen, and we see the Body of Christ."

They admit that it makes no difference what level of talent you develop and that ultimately true power comes from God.

"No amount of skill can manufacture the favor of God," Alex said.

"We need the Lord's favor to say I want to bless this film where the Lord says 'I'm going to do things you cannot do in your own power.'"

CBN News was invited on the set of the latest Kendrick film in Charlotte, North Carolina. The movie, known only as "Kendrick Movie 5," encourages Christians around the globe to pray.

"This time it was on the power of prayer and to remind believers that we must not only pray but sometimes do battle in prayer," Alex explained.

The film features best-selling author, Bible teacher and daughter of Pastor Tony Evans, Priscilla Shirer.

Shirer, who makes her big screen debut in the film, told CBN News what it was like working on the set with the sibling filmmakers.

"We have just had a great time -- getting the job done but just being light hearted and fun in the process and to see their patience," she said.

She bragged that, as director, Alex demonstrated extraordinary patience.

"He's shown us what leadership is," she said.

Leaving Sherwood

"Kendrick Movie 5" is the first project the brothers have produced under the newly formed Kendrick Brothers Films.

The brothers said they both knew it was time to leave Sherwood, the place where their filmmaking career took off.

"The Lord told us to expand your filmmaking beyond Sherwood's walls and take what you've learned under the leadership of Michael Catt and under the support of the church and try to impact the body of Christ, networking with young Christian filmmakers from across the nation so that they're learning to how to make God-honoring films," Stephen told CBN News.

A recent survey by Lifeway Research found that 56 percent of Americans want more movies with Christian values.

To feed that growing demand, major studios are taking a leap of faith with biblical epics such as "Noah" and the release of "Exodus" in December and the remake of "Ben-Hur" scheduled for early 2016.

Four faith-based films have already earned more than $50 million each in ticket sales, according to Boxofficemojo.com. Those films -- "Noah," "Heaven is for Real," "Son of God," and "God's Not Dead" -- are among the top 20 grossing films of 2014.

"We're excited to be among them doing that. And so when you hear movies that proclaim God's truth, that proclaim the gospel and do it without compromise, without watering it down, we're cheering them on," Alex said.

Obedient to the Call

The Kendricks said their pastor once told them they're not the first God called to make Christian movies, but they could very well be the ones to respond with obedience to the call.

"We want to be among those God uses and so we wanted to take that step of faith, even when we didn't know what we were doing," Alex said. "And so we've learned so much along the way."

"Kendrick Movie 5" is set to hit theaters next fall.

In the meantime, Alex and Stephen say their focus is not box office numbers but the number of people they can touch with their movies with a message.

"What we try to do with every film that we make is aim it at the Church but include the gospel so those who see the movie but don't have a relationship with Christ will hopefully be drawn to Him," Stephen said.

"We've had thousands of people come to Him as a result of the films," he added. "So it's been very exciting to hear those stories of changed lives."