Paradise

Paradise is a break in the tradition of movies depicting Christian faith. This pilot may not have achieved series status with Showtime, but its forthright depiction of the enigmatic mix of transgression, authenticity and humility of religious leaders is fresh and honest. The characters show real conflict between human desire and higher calling. The psychologically sophisticated conversations between Elizabeth Paradise and the other family members are intellectually stimulating, and the interactions between Senator Linney, billionaire Jeremiah Alcott and the Paradise Ministries officers are probably not far from the reality of the politics of international ministry organization. Although the heart of Reverend Paradise is shown to be simple and pure, there is an authenticity in the total behavior of the character that makes him believable. The strange twist around a middleweight price fight and the unexpected, uninvited supernatural abilities of renegade son Luke shows a candid window into the unpredictable nature of God. But it is the structural frame of the campfire and the strange visitor that likes double stuffed Oreo cookies that leaves the viewer with a final sense of wonder and a desire to watch it again from the beginning.