18 Comment(s)

1. If Napoleon Dynamite was a Mormon movie, how come Neil LaBute’s aren’t? Or was it just an oversight?

   Comment # 1 by Gordon Banks | Jun 13, 2006 | Reply

2. The argument goes that the geography of the characters and their diction indicates that they are Mormon. I believe Napoleon sports a Ricks College t-shirt as well. This, I agree, is slim evidence; nevertheless, the characters of Neil LaBute’s films are not Mormons.

   I refer you to my earlier post on Mormon Cinema and the Problem of Intent. In that post I outline a working definition for Mormon Cinema. I also express the personal opinion that neither Napoleon Dynamite nor Saints and Soldiers qualifies as Mormon Cinema.

   Comment # 2 by Scot Denhalter | Jun 13, 2006 | Reply

3. Interesting list. I’ve seen 10 of them.

   I agree that LaBute’s films don’t belong on the list, but I don’t think Napoleon Dynamite should either.

   Isn’t there a Mormon movie about a pinewood derby?

   What about that movie where those two yahoos travel around the country asking people what they know about Mormons?

   What about Orgazmo?

   Comment # 3 by Matt Thurston | Jun 13, 2006 | Reply

4. Legend of Johnny Lingo?

   Comment # 4 by Matt Thurston | Jun 13, 2006 | Reply

5. Are these movies about Mormonism or movies incidentally directed/procuced/edited by Mormons? Angels in America is why I ask.

   Comment # 5 by Rob | Jun 13, 2006 | Reply

6. “Brigham Young” starring Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Brian Donlevy, Dean Jagger as Brigham Young, John Carradine as Porter Rockwell (excellent type-casting), and Vincent Price as Joseph Smith. I thought Vincent Price did an excellent job. Came out in 1940. Black and White. Approx 112 minutes. UPC code on my VHS is 0-24543-07998-9. IMDB listing here.

   There are some historical inaccuracies, but they seem within the limits one should allow for Hollywood movie-making. The movie is favorable, even charitable, towards the Church and early members.

   Comment # 6 by Bookslinger | Jun 13, 2006 | Reply

7. I’m going to argue that Napoleon Dynamite is an example of Mormon cinema–it’s a snapshot of an atmosphere that I have only ever seen among Intermountain West Mormons. It was made by an Intermountain West Mormon, and the worldview it displays is a direct result of that. Beyond that, I have found that while my LDS friends discuss the film’s details, never really considering its structure or underlying cultural assumptions, my non-LDS friends discuss this film as a foreign and mysterious piece of art. They often enjoy it, but are at root deeply confused by it. Admittedly, “my friends” are not a representative sample of the filmgoing population, but I saw the same split in published reviews.

   I also think there’s an argument for Neil LaBute films as Mormon cinema, as LaBute’s time in the church has left a noticeable fingerprint on his views of morality and evil, and morality and evil are at heart what most of his films are about.

   Angels in America is a stretch. It’s a work with Mormon characters; but it isn’t told from a Mormon point of view, it isn’t a Mormon story, and it’s not made by a Mormon. It’s an outsider’s view on us, of course, and therefore of interest, but not as a Mormon film. I’d hardly call a Swede’s film about her views of Columbia a piece of Columbian cinema, for example.

   Comment # 7 by Serenity Valley | Jun 14, 2006 | Reply

8. Thanks for this list. Earlier today I had been trying to remember one of the movies on the list that I had wanted to get on Netflix. I’m not in Utah so I don’t really here about the mormon movies that come out.
   I think Napoleon Dynamite belongs on the Mormon movie list. My husband’s work friends told him “You can’t not see it. Its your culture.” We watched it and wondered, how is Idaho life our culture? But by the end we had to admit that it was definitely part of our culture.
   I think it was the first Mormon movie I saw (or maybe it was Saints and Soldiers). I was impressed with those two as my first Mormon movies.

   Comment # 8 by JKS | Jun 15, 2006 | Reply

9. When i first say N.D., I was certain that it was a “mormon movie.” I couldn’t see how anyone outside Utah/Idaho would even get the jokes (like Ligers).

   Comment # 9 by Rick | Jun 15, 2006 | Reply

10. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

    I will add Johnny Lingo to the list, but I will also research the film about the two guys interview people around the country to see what they know about Mormonism. I saw a trailer and quickly forgot about it, so I don’t know its title. I haven’t heard anything about a Mormon Pinewood Derby movie. If you get a title, let me know. I have not seen Orgasmo, but I will rent it from Netflix and see if it needs to be added. Was the writer/director Mormon? What about plan 10 from Outer Space. I saw that screened at Sunstone a few years ago. Was the writer/director of that a Mormon or was it just a comedy about Mormon beliefs by a non-Mormon, Utahn? I can’t remember.

    Neil LaBute’s films may carry with them some of his Mormon upbringing, but I do not include them as Mormon Cinema because his characters are not Mormon; thus the universal themes of morality and evil are not being communicated to the audience in any recognizably Mormon way as, for example, through the thoughts and actions of Mormon characters who are facing problems of morality and evil or perhaps causing them.

    I include Angels in America because Tony Kushner was LDS. (I could be wrong, but I included his mini-series under this belief.) The Mormon characters in the film are second-tier characters, but they are in no way peripheral. Their Mormonism is not central to the story, but it achieves a strong and resonant presence within the story.

    I do not include Brigham Young because the writer and director were not Mormon. See my blog post “Mormon Cinema and the Problem of Intent” for a working definition of Mormon Cinema.

    Thanks again for the suggestions.

    Comment # 10 by Scot Denhalter | Jun 19, 2006 | Reply

11. Trey Parker (of South Park fame) is the Orgasmo writer/director. He’s not LDS, though the erstwhile porn star main character is a Mormon missionary who does his thing on film in order to make enough money to afford a temple marriage. Hmmmm

    Kushner is Jewish, not LDS. No LDS background that I’m aware of. If I remember my reading about the plays long ago, he was fascinated by Mormonism because of the literal belief in angels and prophets and for purposes of his story and message about religion/politics, he needed a conservative group to have some of his characters come from.

    LaBute is coming to the Salt Lake Sunstone symposium. Might be fun to ask him if he thinks his films should make this list!

    Comment # 11 by Dan | Jun 21, 2006 | Reply

12. I have seen “Orgasmo”, but I would not reccommend it, as it is a semiporn film.
    LaBute joined the church while at BYU, he did not grow up mormom. He does have a mormon play/film “Later-Day Bash” which might have been made into a movie. IMDB indicates it was on TV.
    If Angels in America (a great miniseries) is included, you would have to include such shows as “Brigham Young”.
    I would not include “Napolean Dynamite” in my list of mormon films. If one does, should not “Brigham City” also be added?
    If we add short films, the SouthPark episode having to do with the Joseph Smith story would fit.

    Comment # 12 by chas | Jun 22, 2006 | Reply

13. Good info. Thanks. I am removing Angels in America from the list and am not including Orgasmo. Neither writer/director is/was Mormon. I will look for a copy of Latter-day Bash. I will leave Napolean Dynamite on the list despite my aforementioned reservations. BTW: Brigham City is already on the list. It is my personal favorite.

    Comment # 13 by Scot Denhalter | Jun 22, 2006 | Reply

14. Sorry I missed “Brigham City” on the list, my mistake.

    Comment # 14 by chas | Jun 23, 2006 | Reply

15. Good list. The pinewood derby movie is, “Down and Derby.” It was the last film in which the late Pat Morita (Mr. Miagi of Karate Kid fame) acted. Living in Minnesota makes it tough to see any of these movies without having to purchase them. Great list!!

    Comment # 15 by Brian | Jun 23, 2006 | Reply

16. Brian,

    I have two words for you Minnesotans: “Netflix.” Oh, I mean I have one word for you.

    Scot

    Comment # 16 by Scot Denhalter | Jun 23, 2006 | Reply

17. I think “Brigham City” is the best example of Mormon cinema–or more Mormon drama (plays)for that matter. The film actually presents a unique Mormon doctrine as its theme: the idea of the Fortunate Fall of man and experiencing opposition in all things as necessary for Eternal Progression. So many other Mormon films, present a world view that is almost identical to that of currernt Evangelical Christianity.

    Second on my list of the best Mormon films would be “Latter Days”–which presents a gay character living in moderm LDS culture.

    Third on my list would be “Saints and Soldiers.”

    Fourth on my list would be the SECOND “Tee Work & The Glory” film–”American Zion.” I was shocked that the film actually depicted REAL human emotions. I found the apostate son’s story very interesting and relatively believable. Sam Cardon’s musical score was also excellent–amonge the best I’ve ever heard in an Mormon film; certain musical passaged (and the ending credits music) really felt authentic to the 1830’s American mid-west.

    (Sam also composed the excellent score for “Brigham City.” THAT score included what I think is the most effective use of musical scoring in any Mormon film: the music used in the final Sacrament Meeting scene and closing credits. It would be a first class score in ANY film genre.)

    In my opinion the absolutely worst of the Mormon films would be “Single’s Ward” (after seeing it I was ashamed of being LDS and having ever attended a Single’s Ward)and “The Book of Mormon Movie.”

    Apart from Mark Gollaher’s strong performance as Laman, everything about “The Book of Mormon Movie” was laughable. The film is so horrible on every level that it actually is fantastic as CAMP. But as far as “inspirtaional” or dramtic effectivenes–forget it!

    Comment # 17 by Rob | Aug 15, 2006 | Reply

18. Stephen William’s short film “Blessing” is a great addition to this list. It is only 17 minutes, but very well made. You can find more information about it if you are interested at http://protextfilms.com. It explores the relationship in a very devout Mormon family and the tensions of having a gay Mormon son who comes to participate in a blessing on the father who is recovering from a stroke.

    Comment # 18 by Karlito | Apr 21, 2007 | Reply

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