Movie Review — I Can Only Imagine - The Song You Know, The Story You Don't
"I Can Only Imagine" is a moving and inspiring film that tells the story of the hit Christian song of the same name, and the incredible true story behind it. Directed by the Erwin Brothers and released in 2018 by Lionsgate, the film stars Dennis Quaid, Cloris Leachman, Madeline Carroll, Trace Adkins, Michael Finley, and Priscilla Shirer. With a run time of 1 hour and 50 minutes, the movie takes the viewer on a journey of faith, redemption, and forgiveness.
The film centers around the life of Bart Millard (played by Michael Finley), the lead singer of the Christian band MercyMe. As a young boy, Bart endures a difficult childhood with a physically and emotionally abusive father, Arthur (Dennis Quaid). Despite his harsh upbringing, Bart has a love for music and dreams of becoming a famous musician. However, after a series of setbacks, Bart's dreams begin to fade, and he feels lost and disillusioned.
After a chance encounter with a music producer, Brickell (Trace Adkins), Bart forms MercyMe and begins to pursue his passion for music. As the band struggles to gain traction, Bart reconnects with his childhood sweetheart, Shannon (Madeline Carroll), and the two begin a relationship. However, as Bart's music career takes off, he is forced to confront the demons of his past and the strained relationship with his father.
The heart of the film is Bart's relationship with his father, Arthur. Throughout the movie, we see flashbacks of a young Bart enduring his father's abuse and the toll it takes on him. Dennis Quaid gives a standout performance as Arthur, portraying him as a complex and flawed character who is struggling with his own demons. As the story unfolds, we see Arthur's own journey towards redemption and forgiveness, culminating in a powerful scene where he accepts responsibility for his past actions and asks for Bart's forgiveness.
The film's title, "I Can Only Imagine," refers to the song that Bart writes about his relationship with his father. The song becomes a hit and touches the lives of millions of people, becoming one of the most played Christian songs of all time. The film shows the power of music to connect people and to heal wounds, as well as the importance of forgiveness..
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