Joshua Bennett
The Good Catholic is an American romantic comedy film written and directed by Paul Shoulberg. It stars Zachary Spicer, Wrenn Schmidt, Danny Glover and John C. McGinley. The film was released on September 8, 2017, by Broad Green Pictures. The Good Catholic was inspired by the true story of Shoulberg's parents – his father a former priest and his mother a former nun, both of whom were in service to the church when they met. The film follows an idealistic young priest, Father Daniel, who is happy in his work, but unhappy in his faith. One night, Father Dan meets Jane through the confessional box and the two develop a friendship. The film explores the relationship between God and love and questions the strict methodology of the church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Based on a true story | Loosely based on and inspired by the true story of Shoulberg’s own parents – his father a former priest and his mother a former nun, both of whom were in service to the church at the time they met |
| Plot | An idealistic young priest, Father Daniel, is happy in his work, unhappy in his faith, and lost his father in the past year. He meets Jane, a brash, sexy, opinionated, depressive agnostic musician and singer-songwriter, through the confessional box. They become friends and fall in love. |
| Themes | Faith, love, compassion, life, death |
| Reception | The film holds a 43% "Rotten" score on Rotten Tomatoes. It has been praised for its cast, acting, secular humanist talk, unique content, natural writing, and chemistry. However, it has also been criticized for its pacing, insincere dialogue, lack of visual elegance, and failure to provide a compelling love story. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Good Catholic is loosely based on writer-director Paul Shoulberg's parents
- The film explores the universal themes of compassion and love
- The film's light surface belies a darker confrontation with religious doubt
- The Good Catholic won the Panavision Spirit Award for Best Independent Feature Film
- The film portrays the everyday tasks of running a church
The Good Catholic is loosely based on writer-director Paul Shoulberg's parents
The Good Catholic is an American romantic comedy film written and directed by Paul Shoulberg. It stars Zachary Spicer, Wrenn Schmidt, Danny Glover, and John C. McGinley. The film was released on September 8, 2017, by Broad Green Pictures. The Good Catholic follows the story of three Catholic priests—Father Daniel, Father Ollie, and Father Victor—who live in a rectory together. One Friday night, Father Daniel meets Jane, a musician and agnostic, through the confessional box. As their friendship develops, Father Daniel begins to question his true calling and struggle with his faith.
The Good Catholic is loosely based on and inspired by the true story of writer-director Paul Shoulberg's parents. In an interview, lead actor Zachary Spicer confirmed that the characters of Father Daniel and Jane were inspired by Shoulberg's parents. Shoulberg's father was a former priest, and his mother was a former nun, both of whom were in service to the church when they met.
The film explores themes of love, faith, and compassion, with a focus on the inner struggles of faith and the everyday tasks of running a church. It offers a unique perspective on the relationship between God and love and the allure of the secular world.
The Good Catholic has received mixed reviews from critics. While some praise the acting, chemistry between the leads, and the exploration of genuine issues of love and faith, others criticize the choppy pacing, insincere dialogue, and the lack of a compelling love story. Despite this, the film was recognized at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, winning the Panavision Spirit Award for Best Independent Feature Film.
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The film explores the universal themes of compassion and love
The Good Catholic is a romantic comedy film written and directed by Paul Shoulberg. It stars Zachary Spicer, Wrenn Schmidt, Danny Glover, and John C. McGinley. The film explores the universal themes of compassion and love through the story of three Catholic priests living together in a rectory. The priests, Fathers Daniel, Ollie, and Victor, each have their own unique personalities and approaches to their faith, and the film examines how their relationships and interactions with each other and with God are influenced by these differences.
Father Daniel, played by Zachary Spicer, is a young idealistic priest who is dedicated to his work and loves it more than anything else. However, he experiences a crisis of faith and questions his true calling after meeting a woman, Jane, at confession. Jane is a brash, sexy, and opinionated musician who is dying. She is new to the church and develops a crush on Daniel, offering him friendship instead of a penance. As their relationship develops, Daniel finds himself struggling between embracing the priesthood and abandoning his position due to his growing feelings for Jane.
Father Ollie, played by John C. McGinley, is a sports-obsessed Franciscan priest who brings a relaxed and off-the-cuff humor to the film. He is a stark contrast to the traditionalist Father Victor, played by Danny Glover. While Father Ollie teaches compassion and finds comfort in the mundane tasks of setting up the candles and the church for mass, Father Victor is devoted solely to God and the Church, with little outside interests. He firmly believes that a priest's duty is to be devoted only to God and becomes concerned about Father Daniel's relationship with Jane.
The film explores the theme of compassion through the characters of Fathers Ollie and Victor. Father Ollie teaches that compassion means to suffer with another and to comfort the sick and be there for the dying. Meanwhile, Father Victor preaches that God lives inside each of us, and his homily examines the relationship between God and love. The film also explores the theme of love in various forms, including romantic love between Father Daniel and Jane, love for one another as demonstrated by the priests' friendship and support for each other, and love for God as each priest struggles with their own relationship with their faith.
The Good Catholic is loosely based on and inspired by the true story of the director Paul Shoulberg's parents, who were a former priest and a former nun, respectively, and were in service to the church when they met. The film provides an unbiased portrayal of the allure of the secular world and the inner struggles of faith, questioning the strict methodology of the church. It offers a thoughtful and entertaining exploration of the universal themes of compassion and love, presenting them in a way that is accessible and appealing to a wide audience, regardless of their religious background.
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The film's light surface belies a darker confrontation with religious doubt
The 2017 romantic comedy "The Good Catholic" is loosely based on the true story of writer-director Paul Shoulberg's parents—his father, a former priest, and his mother, a former nun. The film centres on three priests living together in a rectory: Father Daniel, Father Ollie, and Father Victor. Daniel is a young, idealistic priest who is happy in his work but unhappy in his faith. He has always felt a vocation, though he admits his late father pushed him into the priesthood. He senses that he has never had the same relationship with God as his superior, the traditionalist Father Victor, or his more liberated colleague, Father Ollie.
One Friday night, Daniel meets Jane, a brash, sexy, opinionated musician through the confessional box. Over the weeks, they become friends, playing "battleship" in the confessional and spending time together outside of church. Jane is a depressive agnostic who is new to the church, and she tells Daniel that she is dying. As their friendship develops, Jane begins to fall in love with Daniel, and he finds himself questioning his true calling.
Despite its light surface as a romantic comedy, "The Good Catholic" confronts darker themes of religious doubt and crisis of faith. The film gives equal narrative weight to the beliefs and emotions of its only non-Christian character, resisting the urge to patronize Jane by suggesting that her sorrow is due to her agnosticism. It presents the allure of the secular world in an unbiased way and allows Daniel to struggle with determining his future within the church. The film is notable for its willingness to question the strict methodology of the church and explore the inner struggles of faith.
Throughout the movie, each priest rehearses a homily: Dan teaches that death gives meaning to life and to enjoy life now because we all die. Father Ollie teaches compassion—that we need to comfort the sick and be there with the dying. Father Victor preaches that no one sees God, but He lives inside each of us. Victor's homily at the end of the film examines the relationship between God and love.
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The Good Catholic won the Panavision Spirit Award for Best Independent Feature Film
The Good Catholic is an American romantic comedy film written and directed by Paul Shoulberg. It stars Zachary Spicer, Wrenn Schmidt, Danny Glover, and John C. McGinley. The film was released on September 8, 2017, by Broad Green Pictures. The Good Catholic was accepted at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and won the Panavision Spirit Award for Best Independent Feature Film. It is loosely based on and inspired by the true story of Shoulberg's own parents—his father, a former priest, and his mother, a former nun. Both were in service to the church when they met.
The film centres around three Catholic priests—Father Daniel, Father Ollie, and Father Victor—who live in a rectory together. One Friday night, Father Dan meets Jane through the confessional box. Jane is a musician and tells Father Dan that she is dying. Over the weeks, they become friends and eventually fall in love. As their relationship develops, Father Dan struggles with his faith and questions his true calling.
The Good Catholic has received mixed reviews from critics. Some praise the acting, directing, and exploration of faith and love themes, while others criticise the choppy pacing and insincere dialogue. Despite the mixed reviews, the film's win at the Santa Barbara Film Festival recognises its achievements as an independent feature film.
The award for Best Independent Feature Film acknowledges the film's unique story, which is inspired by true events, and its exploration of complex themes such as faith, love, and the human condition. The win also highlights the film's impact and contribution to independent cinema, showcasing the power of collaborative storytelling and the ability to connect with audiences beyond the perceived "faith-based" demographic.
The Panavision Spirit Award for Best Independent Feature Film recognises not only the creative vision of the filmmakers but also the technical aspects that brought the story to life. The award celebrates the collaborative spirit of the cast and crew, including the producers, John Armstrong, Graham Sheldon, and Zachary Spicer, who is also one of the film's stars. Their dedication to bringing this story to the screen is a testament to their passion and commitment to the art of filmmaking.
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The film portrays the everyday tasks of running a church
The film "The Good Catholic" offers a glimpse into the life of a priest and the challenges he faces in his daily duties. While the movie is a work of fiction, it accurately portrays the realities of managing a church and the dedication and sacrifice required of those who answer the call to serve.
Running a church entails a myriad of tasks, and the film does well to showcase some of these duties. One of the primary responsibilities is tending to the spiritual needs of the congregation. This includes delivering sermons, offering guidance and counsel, and providing comfort and support during difficult times. The priest in the movie is portrayed as a compassionate and dedicated shepherd, always available to his flock, which is a vital aspect of pastoral care.
Another important duty depicted in the film is the administration and management of the church. This involves overseeing the day-to-day operations, from maintaining the church premises to managing finances and resources. The movie shows the priest navigating these tasks, underlining the business side of running a church, which is often unseen by the congregation. It highlights the practical concerns that must be addressed to ensure the smooth functioning of any religious institution.
The film also touches on the importance of community engagement and outreach. A significant part of a priest's work is building bridges between the church and the wider community. This can involve organizing events, collaborating with local groups, and offering support to those in need beyond the church walls. By portraying these efforts, the film emphasizes the inclusive and charitable nature of the church's work.
Additionally, "The Good Catholic" likely reflects the personal sacrifices and challenges that come with the vocation. Being a priest often requires dedication that leaves little room for personal pursuits or relationships. The film explores the internal struggles and doubts that a priest may experience, highlighting the human side of those who devote their lives to serving others.
Overall, while "The Good Catholic" is a fictional story, it offers a sincere and insightful portrayal of the everyday tasks and challenges involved in running a church. It sheds light on the dedication, compassion, and self-sacrifice required of those who answer the call to serve, providing a thoughtful glimpse into the life of a priest.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, The Good Catholic is loosely based on and inspired by the true story of the writer and director Paul Shoulberg's parents. Shoulberg's father was a former priest and his mother a former nun, both of whom were in service to the church at the time they met.
The Good Catholic is about an idealistic young priest, Father Daniel, who is happy in his work but unhappy in his faith. After meeting a woman, Jane, at confession, he begins to question his true calling.
The Good Catholic stars Zachary Spicer as Father Daniel, Wrenn Schmidt as Jane, Danny Glover as Father Victor, and John C. McGinley as Father Ollie.
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