DC Talk: Free at Last - The Movie (1994) Review

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(More customer reviews)They say that good things come to those who wait. In the case of dc Talk's FREE AT LAST - THE MOVIE, truer words could not have been spoken.
After a ten-year wait due to a failed attempt at a theatrical release, FREE AT LAST - THE MOVIE has finally been released to the public. The film is incomplete; it never finished the editing process and so, for example, the credits are not set, but those points are minimized once the movie starts rolling. For what we witness is an hour and half of the most entertaining and transparent footage ever shot of a Christian music act.
The movie is documentary-style, intermixed with concert footage. It's a snapshot of the FREE AT LAST world tour, and it's fun to remember what Toby, Michael, and Kevin were like on stage a decade ago. But I found myself longing for the concert segments to end so I could get back to seeing the guys off of the stage. The director was able to capture the group in some incredibly vulnerable moments and we see sides of all three guys that we've never glimpsed before. They speak freely of the struggle between fame and humility that a Christian artist constantly deals with. Personal issues pop up, as to personality quirks. Historic moments are captured, such as the first time the group performed at a Billy Graham crusade. There are cameos (Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and even Kim from the Real World S.F.). And there are some humorous moments as well - witness Kevin and a small dog on a staircase in San Francisco. But the overriding power of the project is in the way the film captures the heart of the group. Because for all of the stresses and human fallibility that we see it abundantly clear that dc Talk is a group that above all is striving to shed pretence and present the Gospel to the world in a real and honest way.
The DVD also contains some great bonus features. There is a feature length commentary with all three members. It's pieced together from separate sittings but fits well and is definitely worth a listen. The making-of featurette was well done. There are two trailers for the film. And there's a small Easter egg to find as well.
FREE AT LAST - THE MOVIE is a masterpiece, in spite of its unfinished state and ten year age. Any fan of dc Talk should consider this a must-own. And even if you do not like dc Talk this is a film that you will want to see to because it is just plain fun to watch but, more importantly, because it will give you a glimpse of what life is truly like for these men and women who are trying to both entertain and minister to their fans. It's a tough balancing act, but this gem of a DVD allows us the best glimpse yet of what that it like. Dare I say that Christian filmmaking (today's Christian subculture kind) has never been more ambitious than this? FIVE STARS.

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Footage from dc talk’s first headlining tour in 1994 is finally available on DVD!The DVD includes many special features including deleted scenes, movie trailers, making of the film, artist photos, artist commentary and 2 concept videos; Jesus is Just Alright, and The Hardway!

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