Divine Access (2015)

Jack Harriman becomes a spiritual celebrity after debunking Reverend Guy Roy on a public-access TV show. While on the road speaking his brand of truth, forces natural and supernatural lead him to question whether he has a deeper calling.

Director:

Steven Chester Prince

Writers:

John A. O'Connell, Steven Chester Prince

Stars:

Billy Burke, Gary Cole, Patrick Warburton

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Burke	...	Jack
Gary Cole	...	Reverend Guy Roy Davis
Patrick Warburton	...	Bob
Joel David Moore	...	Nigel
Dora Madison	...	Amber (as Dora Madison Burge)
Sarah Shahi	...	Marian
Adrienne Barbeau	...	Catherine
Barak Hardley	...	Pyramid Pete
Ethan Cooper	...	Young Jack
Gabriela Ostos	...	Sally
Michael Zagst	...	Lonnie
Austin Lyon	...	Shrimp Caller
Jamie Tisdale	...	Drunk Girl #1
Katie Folger	...	Drunk Girl #2
Jeffrey Way	...	Drunk Guy

Storyline

DIVINE ACCESS is equal parts comedy and drama. Set in the south, it's a road movie, a buddy picture and an often sweet, thought-provoking story of redemption. Dragged from one religious experience to another by his mother Catherine in an attempt to fulfill her own spiritual quest, Jack Harriman finds that he knows more about the world's vast religions than most scholars. Living a simple life and using his religious expertise to attract women, Jack is asked to join a local cable access television show called Divine Access, produced by his good friend Bob McCord. Bob is keenly aware of Jack's penchant for discrediting religious zealots like the current host of the show, Reverend Guy Roy Davis. Jack humiliates Reverend Davis on an episode that quickly goes viral. Jack's immediate popularity fuels a jealousy and hatred within Guy Roy sending him on a downward spiral from grace. Jack, on the other hand, becomes a spiritual celebrity and reluctantly takes to the road on a multi-city ...

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Plot Keywords:

male full frontal nudity | male pubic hair | pubic hair | skinny dipping | male nudity | 

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Taglines:

Believe what you want to believe.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site The Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC) [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ilahi Erisim

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC),G-Men Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

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Greetings again from the darkness. Meet Jack. Thanks to a mother who dragged him around as a kid to a stream of religious events and retreats, he has grown into an adult who has vast knowledge about various religions and approaches to spirituality. Yet, despite this, he is a slacker and self-anointed underachiever … a man living the simple life of fishing, drinking beer and morning skinny dips in the lake.

As a favor to his friend Bob (Patrick Warburton), Jack (Billy Burke) agrees to appear on a cable access show. It turns out Bob wants Jack to humiliate the current host … Reverend Guy Roy Davis (Gary Cole). The stunt works sending Guy Roy off the deep end, and turning Jack into an oddball spiritual leader.

The film balances some extremely funny segments and moments with the drama that typically accompanies anything religious. As the film points out, a great many people are looking for something to believe in. Jack's simple talks revolve around philosophical bits such as: Believe you are loved. Why are you certain you are right and other are wrong? Tell your story and listen to others tell theirs.

When Jack hits the road to give his talks across Texas, he undergoes a personal transformation that is tied to Marian (Sarah Shahi) who he can't quite figure out whether she is real or a vision. His travel buddies include Nigel (Joel David Moore) and Amber (Dora Madison Burge). The interaction between these three characters makes for the best scenes in the film.

The casting and acting is superb. Gary Cole is both painful and hilarious to watch as Guy Roy, a man committed to spreading the gospel through his ventriloquism with a creepy "Mini Jesus" doll. Sarah Shahi brings the necessary level of mysticism to her role, and Adrienne Barbeau is spot on as Jack's mom. Patrick Warburton delivers his deadpan one-liners with aplomb, while Joel David Moore and Dora Madison Burge make for a quirky couple of passengers on the road trip. Even the multi-talented Turk Pipkin has a cameo as the leader of the Esoteric Fellowship. But it's Billy Burke who owns the movie as the reluctant spiritual leader who is fighting his own transformation. Burke delivers a subtle and nuanced performance while also being downright cynical and funny.

The religious overtones are pretty clear with Jesus, Matthew the Apostle, and Mary Magdalene, but that should in no way lead you to believe this is one of those sneaky Christian message movies. Actually, director Steven Chester Prince and his three co-writers do a nice job at asking "Is everyone doing the best they can?" and "Do you believe what you say?" The message seems to be that we all have doubts, but it's best to start with yourself before you start trying to fix others.