Sound of Freedom | Review by @JeffreySwindoll
15Angel Studios' Sound of Freedom is the current king of the box office, but the ultimate success of this film is the fact that its anti-human trafficking message is reaching millions of people around the world: God's children are not for sale.
https://notthebee.com/article/sound-of-freedom-review
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:23 Success
1:10 Intensity
1:56 Cast
2:46 Artistry
3:24 Conclusion
Let's put aside all the other news surrounding this movie's release for a moment, like the fact that it has shocked Hollywood by outperforming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny at the box office.
We're not here to talk about how this film is punching above its weight without much marketing or "big name" actors (unless you consider Jim Caviezel a big name).
This is just a good movie. Period.
While the film's commercial success is certainly newsworthy, that's not what makes a good movie, and that's not what this review is about. Many good movies perform terribly at the box office, and many terrible movies perform well at the box office. Sound of Freedom's success is totally deserved.
Sound of Freedom is a high-quality film with powerful performances and an unbeatable message. It is based on the true story of Tim Ballard, a U.S. federal agent that quit his job to save children from sex trafficking.
I'm so glad Angel Studios brought us this movie because if Netflix did, then it probably would have been a depressing, nihilistic, gratuitously graphic, and completely unwatchable trash heap.
Without any seriously graphic violence or sexual content, Sound of Freedom is still, at times, absolutely heart-pounding, gut-wrenching, and disturbing; yet, at other times, the viewer is rewarded with triumph, relief, and inspiration.
From the very first scene, my wife and I were in tears (and pretty much on the verge of tears throughout the movie). Even the title sequence, which features seemingly real surveillance footage of children getting abducted by sex traffickers, is very intense to watch. Other parts of the film had everyone in the audience applauding in victory.
It's been a while since the last time I felt such overwhelming highs and lows in a theater as I did with Sound of Freedom.
The casting and acting are exceptional.
It's not because of Caviezel's obvious passion for this project that made him great for this role; neither is it due to name recognition from The Passion of the Christ. These don't guarantee a truly good performance. I'm convinced that Caviezel's five seasons as the protagonist of the crime series Person of Interest is what prepared him to be perfect for this role.
It is no surprise that Caviezel is totally in his element playing Sound of Freedom's depiction of Tim Ballard - a noble knight who plunges himself into what he calls "the deepest recesses of hell" to save the innocent.
The supporting cast picks were also very convincing, especially for the Central and South American characters. With several of the "villain" characters, I often thought to myself "How did they find this guy?"
Even the two main child characters, especially the young boy played by Lucás Ávila, provide some of the most moving scenes.
The film looks and sounds great.
Judging from the credits, Sound of Freedom was filmed on location in even its most exotic locations, such as the jungles of Colombia. The realism of the sets helps the film's authenticity as a historical drama.
The script and music provide many goosebumps-inducing moments that a film of this importance deserves.
Whether it's the color, scenery, or framing - Sound of Freedom was made with true artistry that isn't always found in "Christian" movies. This movie has some truly beautiful shots.
Sound of Freedom also introduces many people to director and co-writer Alejandro Monteverde, who has proven to be a very capable filmmaker.
This movie asks, "What if this was your daughter?" It's about real evil and real good. It's about real people; real fathers and mothers, and real daughters and sons. That's what gives it impact.
It's not as though human trafficking is resolved through this film, but it is a wake-up call.
"One of the most disturbing problems in our world today is human trafficking and, particularly, the trafficking of children," said actor/director Mel Gibson, who was not involved in the production of the movie. "The first step in eradicating this crime is awareness. Go see Sound of Freedom."