10:02 a.m. Review of "The Miracle Maker" (2015)

I love this film. The message definitely makes up for it's a bit unprofessional deficiencies.

The semi-professionalism/ amateurism /low budget aspects don't bother me - if anything they give it more heart. The one thing that does horrendously bother me however is the casting and the direction with the father and daughter. I've seen this movie three or four times and even with the repeat viewing I keep thinking that they husband and wife and not father and daughter. They look too close in age and something about the way that they dress and the way they carry themselves - even without the obvious affection that a married couple would have - they look like a married couple - a married couple going through a rough spot. In particular the scene with her at her dressing table seemed more like something that a married woman would do. The fact that she stays home all of the time and doesn't seem to have any friends other than Sarah. There is a maturity and a lack of silliness that makes her appear older. According to IMDB the male at the time of filming was 46 and the female 27. Women in their late twenties in pioneer times were considered middle age and were most likely married. It would be extremely unlikely that a very pretty girl of 27 would not be married. There is a dissonance in the film with this very mature looking girl being treated like a young child by her father and on her part refusing to go behind his back. Any couple in love would not have been so obedient. The whole thing was just weird to me.

A few other things to me that stuck out was the hair and the costumes. Adult women - meaning anyone over 15 or 16 would be wearing their hair up. Down looks much prettier on film but would not have happened. One nice thing that the costumes (most likely borrowed from This is the Place) had no zippers which were not common until the 1930's. The problem with them though is that they were too clean and too new. "Sarah" is said to be semi-impoverished but yet has multiple new looking outfits. "Lily" even comments on how long it has been since she has had a new dress. "Oliver' when going out to play looks so crisp and clean that he looks like that he is on his way to church. Actor Jasen Wade was the only one who looked realistic. He is the only one as well that I completely liked his acting. Also, prior to Queen Victoria's wedding - and I'm sure later than that - wasn't a common color for wedding dresses even for the upper classes, but to do differently would have looked weird to us and have been very confusing. Another thing - very odd that they did the wedding in the middle of the street and not in the church.

Was Sarah Kent with her super pregnant body supposed to be comedy? Not sure.

So love Shauuna Thompson, but for someone who has been in bed for months - truly disabled or not - she was just a bit too springy when she did finally decide to get out of bed. I was bad and wondered how if she wouldn't get out of bed how she took a bath or went to the bathroom.

To two gossipy women reminded me of the Pratt sisters in "Larkrise to Candleford.' Is that a common thing in plays and film to have two comical gossipy interferring sometimes narrative characters?

The things that were amzing - the acting of the kids was out of this world. The little girl was just amazing. Why the heck have we not seen her in very many other things since???!!!!

The message was sweet. In a season of ego selfish characters having romances it is nice to have a film that concentrated more on being kind to one another and helping one another. For that you have to totally love the film even with all of the things that aren't completely realistic.

'Miracle maker' reunites director John Lyde and screenwriter Sally Meyer, plus several cast members, from 2013's 'Christmas for a dollar.' I won't hold a grudge against anyone for what was a holiday movie so unyielding in would-be charm and good will as to be pretentious, and bereft - but the connections are notable. Keeping that in mind, and based on the premise, I admit I definitely had unfavorable presuppositions when I sat to watch this - but, I'll sit for just about anything. So how is it?

The setting and scenario is established quickly: a frontier town of many decades past, facing hardship on account of the elements, and the hardness of the town's foremost capitalist pig. In addition to that goon, we're also introduced to all the characters, and get a pretty clear picture of their persons and circumstances. We have the hopeful children, the town gossips, the separated lovers, the struggling families, and so on. Beyond that we get eyefuls of rounding details; in general I appreciate the attention to aspects like set design and decoration, costume design, hair and makeup, and so on.

With that said - given the time and place, interiors and wardrobe seem a bit too pristine and impeccably free of soil, dust, or clutter. For as much emphasis as is placed on one character's appearance, the supposed blemish is barely noticeable. Similarly, between a somewhat indelicate hand in Meyers's writing, and a somewhat brisk pace owing to Lyde's direction, scenes and character moments that should have impact are inhibited from naturally manifesting, breathing, and resolving. In turn, the cast's performances are also then dampened. I can't speak to everyone here, but I've seen many in no few other pictures, and found their skills at least adequate, if not admirable. In 'Miracle maker,' the range, nuance, and personality they would bring to their portrayals are broadly artificially restrained, and the depictions are kind of flat as a result.

I don't want to cast aspersions, and even if I did, I'm not sure that any one person's contributions should be singled out as especially deficient. I think it's more that various elements of the movie are sufficiently flawed that the confluence of them all subdues the whole. The heavy-handedness is unfortunate, because were the screenplay given due care, I think the tale would be most fruitful indeed. Characters, dialogue, scene writing, the overall narrative - all show great potential. That potential is not fully realized, and the assembled actors are caged within the bounds of the unfinished space.

None of this is to say that I dislike 'Miracle maker' outright. Actually, as low as my expectations were, this exceeds them. I see the value that just wasn't entirely brought to bear, and I like it nonetheless. It's just that I want to like it more than I do; the feature could and should have been more than it was. Strong ideas, strong themes, a strong cast, and an engaging and heartwarming story are sadly weakened.

How is 'Miracle maker?' Well, I think it is worth watching - not to go out of your way to find, but a fair way to spend 90 minutes if you come across it. Just keep your expectations in check, and maybe you'll be pleasantly, mildly surprised, as I was.

More in line with a Hallmark Film.

There is a good message, good entertainment and great scenery.

All in all an excellent family film.

Presented as a Christmas film, it works but is missing the Christmas fill. Appears to have been shot in the spring instead of fall

Acting was fair. Sometimes a bit scripted.

Storyline of tortued preacher and accident could have been a bit better, when actually seen it seem not to fit well with overall story.

Still this film is a 6.5.

Solid 6.