Oh My God (2009)Movie Review
Genres: Documentary and Politics/Religion
Release Date: November 13th, 2009 (limited)
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributors: Mitropoulos Films
Also Known As: Oh My G-D
Oh My God
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Logline: Explores the relationship between man and what man thinks God is, irrespective of religious or geographic boundaries.
Genres: Documentary and Politics/Religion
Release Date: November 13th, 2009 (limited)
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributors: Mitropoulos Films
Production Co.: Anonymous Content
Produced in: United States
STORY:
As religion and its effects on the world continue to dominate the headlines, this documentary examines worldwide perceptions of God and features participation from celebrities such as Hugh Jackman, Ringo Starr, David Copperfield, Seal, Sir Bob Geldof, Baz Luhrmann, Her Roayl Highness Michael of Kent and Jack Thompson, among others. Over three years, filmmaker Peter Rodgers traveled across 23 countries asking the simple question, "What is God?," to see what this entity that goes by the name of God means to individuals -- from children; to religious leaders; to celebrities; to fanatics and to the common man. The results of this journey are sometimes predictable, and sometimes surprising.
REVIEW:
Peter Rodger has attempted to answer the question that has plagued much of mankind, including some of the brightest. He wants to know what God is. We know from the outset that it is a question that can't be answered, but Rodger is determined to uncover something new. He doesn't. So his documentary, "Oh My God", is a well put together endeavor that, in the end, sheds no new light on this heavy topic.
Rodger has talent and the look and feel of his production is very professional, at times falling into the category of "a bit too slick". It has a rock video, MTV mentality propelling it along - the glitz acting as a substitute for the preferred meat. He interviews countless men and women in his quest, some of whom are famous, or at least a little bit famous. A few of the "great" philosophers interviewed here include: Hugh Jackman, David Copperfield, Seal, Bob Geldof and Ringo Starr. Not exactly where I'd head to receive help in solving one of the world's biggest questions but no one else has the answer either.
Rodger eventually comes to the conclusion, although it is not stated explicitly, that the bad guys are the Catholic Church, Israel and Jihadists, while the good guys are the Muslims that are not Jihadists, Buddhists, and those that live in primitive cultures. Without getting too much into the politics of it, I will say that I found his observations to be curious, primarily because of the way he cherry-picked facts.
The central message of "Oh My God" is that religions are good but bad people ruin them. It's the sort of conclusion most children of high school age might come up with. When Ringo Starr is a centerpiece of deep thought, you have to smirk a bit at everything that has preceded the drummer's observation that God is "luv". As the credits rolled, I was surprised that "All You Need is Love" wasn't pouring out of the speakers. It would have been an apt ending for this lightweight bit of philosophy.
