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Movies / On DVD / Joshua
Joshua

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Joshua (2002)

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22 %
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Reviews Counted: 23

Fresh: 5

Rotten:18

Average Rating: 4.2/10

Consensus: Joshua is well-intentioned, but too heavy-handed.

Rated: G

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Apr 19, 2002 Limited

Synopsis: A man arrives in a small town. At first, no one knows his name; no one knows where he came from. He's strong. He's smart. He's "easy on the eyes." The locals want to call him a stranger, but when... A man arrives in a small town. At first, no one knows his name; no one knows where he came from. He's strong. He's smart. He's "easy on the eyes." The locals want to call him a stranger, but when they meet him, he makes them feel quite the opposite - like they've known him their whole lives.

Theo, a lovable giant of a man, is the first to shake his hand, the first to learn his name. "Joshua." It's one seemingly simple sound that soon makes its way around town, into the hearts and minds of young and old. Joshua's name falls on the lips of Maggie, the pretty local girl-turned-news anchorwoman. It reaches Kevin, a troubled teen searching for his place in the world. Joshua's name reassures Joan, a housewife trying to put passion back into her marriage, and it reaches into the soul of a revival tent preacher to pull out a lifetime of shame.

Joshua is seemingly everywhere at once, making the kind of impression that few have ever felt. But it is exactly this influence that creates a division between the stubbornly orthodox Father Tardone and the well-meaning but less-than-confident Father Pat, two priests who believe very strongly in the same thing, but in very different ways.

"Sometimes you gotta' tear something down to build it back up again."

As a carpenter, that's one of Joshua's favorite sayings. So when the charismatic stranger sets his sights on rebuilding the burnt down Baptist church, it comes as little surprise that many in the town, regardless of their faith, lend a hand. But what ends up getting back up are each of their lives, their hearts, their trust in themselves and each other. Joshua has shown them how to believe. Especially Father Pat. And that draws the scrutiny of Father Tardone, who is not pleased with Joshua and his hold over the community.

"Deep in the hearts of so many people, there's an emptiness that nothing in this world can fill," Joshua admits, and this is especially true for the seasoned pastor. Why does he shun what others embrace?

When the reluctant priest finally recognizes the way, finally says the word through a whisper and a tear, it comes with a force of a revelation. "Joshua." It's is an exclamation of faith, a declaration of love and the realization that hope indeed does have a name.

That name is "Joshua." -- © Epiphany Films LLC [More]

Starring: Tony Goldwyn, F. Murray Abraham, Stacy Edwards, Kurt Fuller

Starring: Tony Goldwyn, F. Murray Abraham, Stacy Edwards, Kurt Fuller, Giancarlo Giannini

Director: Jon Purdy

Director: Jon Purdy
Screenwriter: Brad Mirman
Studio: Artisan Entertainment

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Oct 22, 2002

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Reviews for Joshua

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
07/07/07
Los Angeles Daily News
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Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
07/06/07
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

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Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
07/03/07
New York Daily News
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
06/16/07
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve
N/R

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Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
03/10/07
Boxoffice Magazine
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
01/26/07
Hollywood Reporter
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
01/25/07
Joe Leydon
Variety
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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
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No review available.

comment Comment
08/10/05
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
N/R

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Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Houston Chronicle
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
02/21/04
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Film Threat
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer

The film falls short on tension, eloquence, spiritual challenge -- things that have made the original New Testament stories so compelling for 20 centuries.

Full Review Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel | comment Comment
09/20/02
James D. Davis
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

It's a persuasive spiritual journey, sentimental at times but never hopelessly cloying.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
09/19/02
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The script covers huge, heavy topics in a bland, surfacey way that doesn't offer any insight into why, for instance, good things happen to bad people.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
09/19/02
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Ultimately, we're left with 90 minutes worth of good intentions and sweet sentiments that never coalesce into an involving story.

Full Review Source: Kalamazoo Gazette | comment Comment
07/29/02
James Sanford
Kalamazoo Gazette

What would Jesus do if He was a film director? He'd create a movie better than this.

Full Review Source: Des Moines Register | comment Comment
07/05/02
Jeffrey Bruner
Des Moines Register
N/R

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Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
06/21/02
Arizona Republic
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It's played in the most straight-faced fashion, with little humor to lighten things up. The heavy-handed film is almost laughable as a consequence.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
06/14/02
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
 
 
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