God's Army (2000)

Director:

Richard Dutcher

Writer:

Richard Dutcher

Release Date:

10 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Saving the world one soul at a time

Plot:

Life as a Mormon missionary isn't what 19-year-old Brandon Allen expected: so many rules and so few successes...

Plot Keywords:

Missionary | Mormon | Latter Day Saints | Mormon Missionary | Baptism

Cast

Matthew A. Brown	...	Elder Allen
Richard Dutcher	...	Elder Dalton
Jacque Gray	...	Sister Fronk
Jeffrey Scott Kelly	...	Elder Mangum
Desean Terry	...	Elder Banks
Michael Buster	...	Elder Kinegar
Luis Robledo	...	Elder Sandoval
John Pentecost	...	President Beecroft
Lynne Carr	...	Sister Beecroft
Kelli Coleman	...	Sister Monson
Anthony Anselmi	...	Elder Harmer
Peter Jackson	...	Elder Downey
Seamus Hurley	...	Elder Rex
Francine Riber	...	Connie
Fawn Perez	...	Laura
Lorena Mena	...	Lyla
Jennifer Christopher	...	Karla
John Kraemer	...	Tim
Erica Clare	...	Sindy
Todd Davis	...	Elder Stokes
Louie Olivos Jr.	...	Laura's Father
Elaine Hill	...	Elaine
Lance Johnson	...	Brother Rose
Darron Johnson	...	Lionel
Doug Stewart	...	Benny
Malayika Singley	...	Jenna
Dominique Dumas	...	Jenna's Boy #1
Jeremiah Dumas	...	Jenna's Boy #2
Taz Brighton Dodge	...	Tim's Kid #1
Eli Dutcher	...	Tim's Kid #2
Kiki Kehoe	...	Tim's Kid #3
Paul Downey	...	Paramedic
Albert Cabrera	...	Ambulance Driver
Scott Sandler	...	Nurse
Gwen Dutcher	...	Sexy Mormon Lady
Ethan Dutcher	...	Beach Kid #1
Lucas Dutcher	...	Beach Kid #2
Paul Vito Abato	...	Old Man
Sherri Boyzsa	...	Dragon Lady
Soledad St. Hilaire	...	Latina
James Thiel	...	Bathroom Man (as Jim Thiel)
Cody Rosenberg	...	Coroner
Larry Bagby	...	Cop #1
Richard Radstone	...	Cop #2
Robert Consoli	...	Perp (as Rob Consoli)
Lance Schmidt	...	Mortician
James Powell	...	Gene Dalton
Cade Kleven	...	Little Pop #1
A.J. Desveaux	...	Little Pop #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carrie Morgan	...	Karla
Mark Shady	...	Mormon Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Dutcher

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard Dutcher

Produced by
Gena Downey	....	associate producer
Paul Downey	....	line producer
Richard Dutcher	....	producer
Mark Victor	....	producer

Original Music by
Miriam Cutler

Cinematography by
Ken Glassing

Film Editing by
Michael Chaskes

Casting by
Jennifer Buster

Makeup Department
Jamie Ann Ontiveros	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Gena Downey	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Downey	....	first assistant director
Peter Jackson	....	first assistant director: second unit
Peter Jackson	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Doug Allen	....	sound mixer

Stunts
Doug Coleman	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Thomas Bango	....	gaffer
Matthew Caudillo	....	focus puller
Bryan Gilbert	....	key grip

Editorial Department
Wade Felker	....	colorist

Production Companies

• Main Street Movie Company

Distributors

• Excel Entertainment (????-????) (USA)
• New Films International (????-????)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and some language

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

New Zealand:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Main Street Movie Company

Trivia:

The Elder Allen character background is loosely based on Richard Dutcher's own life.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Elder Sandoval is seen playing a guitar. Musical instruments are allowed on Mormon missions, though many forgo them, preferring to travel light.

Quotes:

Dalton:So, what did you think of the sisters?
Allen:Monson's nice, I don't know about the other one.
Dalton:Yeah, Sister Fronk.
Allen:Yeah, her.
Dalton:She's a very smart girl.
Allen:Well, she thinks so.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Singles Ward (2002)

Soundtrack:

Go to Hell

By and for Mormons

I had a chance to see a screening in Utah with Richard Dutcher. He said that he made the film for the LDS community so they could see a bit of themselves on screen in an entertaining way. After having seen the movie, I agree that is what he accomplished.

For a Mormon to wade through movies where they are portrayed as rustics, idiots or laughing-stocks (My Five Wives, or Orgazmo, anyone?) is tiring. For a Mormon to wade through other movies about people who act immorally (in their view) and are praised in the movie for it (any action film, and many romances) is equally tiring or even offensive. He thought 5 million Mormons in the US wanted to see something different. He was right.

He did not make the film to proselytize to non-mormons, address or explain "issues" about the Mormon church, teach doctrinal points or any other such thing. Anyone saying otherwise probably missed the entire "raison d'etre" of the movie.

The plot was a bit more formulaic than one might like, but less so than any "Action movie blockbuster" of the year (For example, did anyone really *wonder* how the plot of "Gladiator" would develop?).

The acting was solid. That's pretty suprising for essentially an indy. Dutcher said that only a few of the actors were Mormon, but they were convincingly Mormon. The dialog was good and too jargon-filled for any non-mormon to follow 100%. It wasn't the movie's intent to provide explanations for these things. If you need a glossary for the movie, ask the target audience. The music was well done, contributed to the movie without being to obtrusive. The production was very professional, even considering it was done on a shoestring budget and shot in less than 3(?) weeks.

Compared to such high-profile stinkers as the Blair Witch Project, this movie was masterpiece. Compared to a masterpiece, it was good, not stellar but good.

That's my $.02 opinion. Take it for what it is.

N.

P.S. For those who wonder if the movie is a "realistic" portrayal of Mormon missionary life, the answer is "yes, it is inasmuch as a 108 minute movie can do."