Directed by Larry Charles. Starring Bill Maher.Documentary. Synopsis: The political commentator and comedian Bill Maher shares his journey on his religious indoctrination and current beliefs and interviews believers and non-believers across the religious spectrum.
The first thing I should tell you before you read my thoughts on this flick is that I'm a Maher fan. The second thing I'll say is that over the years of watching his Real Time show, I've heard him express his atheist leanings. I don't share them nor do I think he is truly atheist, but more agnostic.
With all of that out of the way, I will tell you I thought this documentary was very well done, very interesting, funny, and well worth your time no matter where you sit on the question of religious beliefs. Look, its a documentary, so its slanted towards a certain point of view. Its the rare documentary that isn't, even those that do not intend to be. Maher himself, in my view, is an exceptional comedic talent but he is also extremely intelligent and well informed about the subjects he chooses to talk about, satirize, and just plain make fun of in his work.
Maher is forthcoming in sharing his religious background, born of a Catholic father and Jewish mother and raised Catholic, he shares some of his past thoughts and the silliness he perceived then and now with his religious upbringing, using his inimmitable dry style. One of the better scenes is a sit down with his mother and sister as they chat about how things were in the Maher household when it came to Sundays back in the day.
But, don't think this is all introspection on the part of Maher, he does interviews with Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, Jews, and Muslim, both devout and, if I may use the phrase, "fallen". He spares no one in making fun of the more illogical of the religious orthodoxy, but does seem to have a particular distate for the Muslim faith, not so much due to its religious tenets as with the violent underpinnings he perceives. He seems especially to find The Church Of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) humorous.
One of the most memorable and humorous scenes of the flick, in my opinion, is his sit down meeting with a member of a religious organization who claims that homosexuality can be "cured" by religious faith and that, in fact, he and his current wife are both former homosexuals and they now look to a higher power to help others find the way. Maher is at his best, here, with his trademark double entendres and fake gay flirting with the gentleman, who also seemed to be getting a kick out of Maher.
The documentary also follows him oversees to both the Vatican and the Holy Land, the sacred site of the world's 3 most popular religions. Trust me, Bill is no different there than when he is hanging out with a bunch of guys-mainly reformed or saved criminals-in a makeshift church in Arkansas.
To me, what I like about Maher in general and in particular on this issue is his willingness to be intellectually honest in addressing the issues. Though I don't agree with him- I believe his premise is false, there is a clear distinction between faith and religious orthodoxy, in my opinion-I do appreciate his fairness in letting others voice there opinions, even if he is going to cut them up with a wisecrack the minute they finish. And, he just doesn't talk to the zany, either-like the preacher in Florida who claims there is no sin and that is Jesus in the flesh-but also to priests, reverends, scientists, and priests who are scientists.He does make some good points and the use of cutaways to religious films as well as other scenes, including Hollywood films, is very effective.
So, I would highly recommend this flick to anyone who is interested in this topic, no matter which side of the fence you might sit on the question of the existence of a higher power, or even if you are not sure where you sit. The flick will challenge your thoughts and beliefs, either way, but if you know how and why you feel, there shouldn't be a problem, should there?
Of course, be prepared for some irreverant and off-color dialogue, its what you get with Maher.
The first thing I should tell you before you read my thoughts on this flick is that I'm a Maher fan. The second thing I'll say is that over the years of watching his Real Time show, I've heard him express his atheist leanings. I don't share them nor do I think he is truly atheist, but more agnostic.
With all of that out of the way, I will tell you I thought this documentary was very well done, very interesting, funny, and well worth your time no matter where you sit on the question of religious beliefs. Look, its a documentary, so its slanted towards a certain point of view. Its the rare documentary that isn't, even those that do not intend to be. Maher himself, in my view, is an exceptional comedic talent but he is also extremely intelligent and well informed about the subjects he chooses to talk about, satirize, and just plain make fun of in his work.
Maher is forthcoming in sharing his religious background, born of a Catholic father and Jewish mother and raised Catholic, he shares some of his past thoughts and the silliness he perceived then and now with his religious upbringing, using his inimmitable dry style. One of the better scenes is a sit down with his mother and sister as they chat about how things were in the Maher household when it came to Sundays back in the day.
But, don't think this is all introspection on the part of Maher, he does interviews with Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, Jews, and Muslim, both devout and, if I may use the phrase, "fallen". He spares no one in making fun of the more illogical of the religious orthodoxy, but does seem to have a particular distate for the Muslim faith, not so much due to its religious tenets as with the violent underpinnings he perceives. He seems especially to find The Church Of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) humorous.
One of the most memorable and humorous scenes of the flick, in my opinion, is his sit down meeting with a member of a religious organization who claims that homosexuality can be "cured" by religious faith and that, in fact, he and his current wife are both former homosexuals and they now look to a higher power to help others find the way. Maher is at his best, here, with his trademark double entendres and fake gay flirting with the gentleman, who also seemed to be getting a kick out of Maher.
The documentary also follows him oversees to both the Vatican and the Holy Land, the sacred site of the world's 3 most popular religions. Trust me, Bill is no different there than when he is hanging out with a bunch of guys-mainly reformed or saved criminals-in a makeshift church in Arkansas.
To me, what I like about Maher in general and in particular on this issue is his willingness to be intellectually honest in addressing the issues. Though I don't agree with him- I believe his premise is false, there is a clear distinction between faith and religious orthodoxy, in my opinion-I do appreciate his fairness in letting others voice there opinions, even if he is going to cut them up with a wisecrack the minute they finish. And, he just doesn't talk to the zany, either-like the preacher in Florida who claims there is no sin and that is Jesus in the flesh-but also to priests, reverends, scientists, and priests who are scientists.He does make some good points and the use of cutaways to religious films as well as other scenes, including Hollywood films, is very effective.
So, I would highly recommend this flick to anyone who is interested in this topic, no matter which side of the fence you might sit on the question of the existence of a higher power, or even if you are not sure where you sit. The flick will challenge your thoughts and beliefs, either way, but if you know how and why you feel, there shouldn't be a problem, should there?
Of course, be prepared for some irreverant and off-color dialogue, its what you get with Maher.
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