Movie Review: "Facing the Giants"

We all face giants in our lives at some time or another. Giants of fear or giants of failure. Giants of doubt or giants of depression. "Facing the Giants" is an inspirational movie about, as its title states, facing the giants in your life, whatever they may be.

The protagonist is Grant Taylor, a high school football coach suffering mounting losses on the field and off. In the midst of his struggles, Taylor turns to prayer and his faith in God to see him through his hardships, and along the way, he instills a new game plan for himself and his team that centers on glorifying God in everything -- win or lose.

"Facing the Giants" is reminsicent of other feel good sports films like "Hoosiers" and "Remember the Titans," but with a clear Christian message. The message is not surprising, however, since "Giants" was produced entirely by the staff of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., on a budget of just $100,000. Yet the independent film has grossed $10 million since its limited national theatrical release in the fall.

When compared with big-budget Hollywood productions, "Giants" suffers some from its budgetary limitations. The acting is sometimes off in parts, but these actors weren't professionals. All of them (with the exception of a cameo of University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt who plays himself), were, in some way, associated with Sherwood Baptist Church and the surrounding community. Some of the game sequences, however, compare favorably with Hollywood's football flicks, and in many instances, the "Giants" action scenes are more realistic.

Despite its shortcomings, "Facing the Giants" stands on its own as a movie about practically living out your faith in your everyday life. It's about honoring and trusting God in all things, and leaving the results to Him.

There's still time to catch "Giants" in theaters in select locations (The movie's Web site has searchable database for theaters still showing the film. I caught it last night at the Blue Ridge Cinema here in Raleigh.) Or if you can't find it playing in your area, "Giants" is due out on DVD on Jan. 30.