D.J. Caruso (Eagle Eye) directs and co-writes the screenplay for Redeeming Love, a dramatic and engaging romance that is unconventional and disturbing, yet beautiful and hopeful. Based on Francine Rivers' best-seller, a young girl goes through unspeakable suffering and family tragedy on her way to a difficult adulthood. When a young farmer rides into town, it sets both of them on a winding and rocky path. The well-crafted screenplay, the captivating story, and the mostly solid acting combine with able direction to overcome the few misses and make this cinematic experience a good one. Angel (Abigail Cowen) has gone through so much. As a child (Livi Birch), she sees her father reject her mother (Nina Dobrev) and her, eventually causing her mother to put herself in a risky situation that leads to sickness and death. After being forced into sex slavery and now an adult, Angel must cope with the challenges that come with being a prostitute in a town full of sex-craved gold seekers. If she doesn't adhere to the Duchess's (Famke Janssen) counsel or do whatever Duke (Eric Dane), a powerful and pedophilic sex trafficker tells her, she risks getting beaten, or worse. One day, Michael (Tom Lewis), a neighboring farmer, prays that God might direct him to a woman whom he can marry. When he rides into town, he happens to behold the woman of his dreams, and his prayers. Her name is Angel, and falling in love at first sight, he goes against all odds to court her with the unique goal of marring her. His various attempts are met with massive resistance that challenge his faith in God. He resists extraordinary temptation but strives to do what he believes is right. Ultimately, three special words are needed to be heard, but the waiting becomes intolerable, and his chasing her appears futile. And when Duke approaches a defenseless Angel, a torturous past returns to haunt her. Cowen and Lewis are fantastic in the lead roles. The rest of the acting is strong, with the exception of a couple uneven performances. Still, the cast's portrayal of Rivers' characters is natural, and together with a screenplay with no wasted words, the film only needs an intriguing plot to have the core ingredients for a good film. Fortunately, it has one. The story, inspired by the biblical Hosea, is full of twists and turns, and expertly interweaves divine faith with sexual desire. It's not an easy line to draw, but nothing feels contrived. Most viewers will find the film compelling, with only a few puritans cringing at the sex scenes and those triggered by old-fashioned Christian values objecting to the faith-based elements which are integral to the story. Although a few scenes should have been edited to keep it moving, the filmmakers deliver a gripping tale overall. The minor issues are not enough to undercut Redeeming Love. It fascinates, pulling the audience into the story. The developments along the way create suspense, and the payoffs are worth it. The emotional roller-coaster that Angel goes on is extreme, yet the movie comes together to make an incredible story credible, and it merits a watch for anyone who has a heart.
