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Title: The Rite (2011)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Anthony Hopkins | ... | Father Lucas Trevant | |
| Colin O'Donoghue | ... | Michael Kovak | |
| Alice Braga | ... | Angeline | |
| Ciarán Hinds | ... | Father Xavier | |
| Toby Jones | ... | Father Matthew | |
| Rutger Hauer | ... | Istvan Kovak | |
| Marta Gastini | ... | Rosaria | |
| Maria Grazia Cucinotta | ... | Aunt Andria | |
| Arianna Veronesi | ... | Francesca | |
 |
Andrea Calligari | ... | Vincenzo |
| Chris Marquette | ... | Eddie | |
| Torrey DeVitto | ... | Nina | |
| Ben Cheetham | ... | Young Michael | |
| Marija Karan | ... | Sandra | |
|
|
Rosa Pianeta | ... | Woman in Exorcism Video |
Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donaghue), the son of a funeral director grows indifferent to his father and joins a Seminary. On his way to the course completion, he is overwhelmed by a strong lack of faith. His religious beliefs are further jolted when he sees a young girl haplessly dying in a road accident for whom he reluctantly performs the ritual to absolve her sins. His mentor still believes in him and urges him to go to Italy to take an exorcism course hoping that he it would strengthen his faith in Christianity. In Italy, he attends a session from Father Xavier (Ciarán Hinds), who soon becomes aware of his skepticism. As a result he sends him to an eminent Jesuit exorcist, Father Lucas Trevant (Sir Anthony Hopkins), whose ways though questionable are quite effective. He witnesses the exorcism of a sixteen year old girl but still seems unconvinced. Father Lucas explains to him that it takes multiple sessions over a long stretch of time to completely free a victim from the demon. ... Written by who knows
While I was always waiting to see what happened next and interested in how the good guys would overcome the challenges they faced I felt completely detached from the main character, Michael Kovak. I don't need to like the main character but I still need to connect. Unfortunately, Michael was very emotionally inaccessible and therefore I never really cared for him.
On a positive note, Anthony Hopkins had a very good performance and the little field trips that he took the "doubter" on were some of the best parts of the movie. I loved how Kovak hung on to his doubt even when faced with an example of the possessed knowing the unknowable. The pacing was slow and gradually ratcheted up the tension as it went along. For some this may be boring but I was comfortable with it as it made the events unfolding feel natural instead of forced or rushed.
Overall, it was an alright movie that could have been great but just wasn't.