Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Supelice Dreadfully Boring

Teringer An Exercise In Nonsense

Borgarkeri A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

mrjaws75-1 This is a really touching and inspirational movie. The guy was a saint, and not just because of the way he died. This film shows how truly Christian this man was: kissing and cradling AIDS patients in his arms back when health care professionals were wearing gloves and masks around them, staging peace marches through violence-torn Northern Ireland, handing out valuable gifts that he'd just been given to more needy people he encountered in the streets, and much more.Why don't more people know about this man? Why hasn't the Vatican put his cause on the fast track to sainthood? So he wrestled with his demons...but in that sense, he's no different than any other saint. And evidently, he won these private battles, daily. America needs to be reminded that you don't have to minister to Untouchables in Calcutta to be a contemporary saint. We've got Mychal Judge, Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merton who emerged right from our own back yard. It's a shame that more people don't know about them.This movie is on DVD, and I highly recommend it. My only frustration is that it doesn't have more archival footage of him. But why would it? He went about his virtuous business anonymously. As the movie says, "he wasn't a hero, he was just doing his job." Hopefully, they'll make a dramatized movie of his life so he'll get more exposure. John Mahoney HAS to play him.

dbborroughs The life of Franciscan Friar Mychal Judge is celebrated in this moving documentary. Mychal Judge was New York City Fire Department Chaplin and he died on the collapse of the Twin Towers. More a friendly look back at the man than a deep probing expose this is the kind of memorial that everyone of us would love to get but very few of use do, and even less of us deserve. There is no doubt that Judge deserves it. Here is a man who ministered to not only the firemen of New York but also the sick, the homeless and the outcast. He did what he felt was the right thing no matter how the church felt simply because he "knew" thats what Christ would have done. Its a wonderful story told mostly by his friends with a little assist from Ian McKellan as the narrator and the voice of Father Judge.If the film has any flaw its simply that its too in love with its subject. He is, for lack of a better term, a saint with almost no flaws. Anything that might be considered a flaw, say his alcoholism or his homosexuality, are beaten back with a mere waive of his hand, or so it seems. Its a nice thing to celebrate the man, but his "perfection" becomes trying.Still this is a very good documentary. If you need proof that not all men are evil, this is the film to see.

kmw1962 This quote comes from a Fransiscan Brother for whom Father Mychal Judge was a mentor.The people interviewed for this documentary are not the erudite, intelligent and moral but for the most part the dregs of society, the lost souls and the outcasts. Sure NYFD guys and fellow priests are there but the stories told about him in this film are mostly by drunks, addicts, the homeless, sick and the poor.This film is a reminder of what being a Christian is actually about without the preaching and proselytizing. While 9/11 is featured at the beginning of this film and again toward the end (Father Mychal held a Mass for many NY Firefighter on September 10 from which most of the film of him as a priest is taken), the documentary is really about a man and his works.

Laurie Duncan I saw this film last week at the Montreal film festival. I had to drag my husband because he was afraid it would be sappy. We were both extremely moved by the story and loved the film. The director did an excellent job in telling the story of Mychael Judge's life. He had a lot of great footage and interviews with many of the people who knew Judge well. I always walk out of a film and think what I would have done differently, but there is not one thing I would have changed. I predict this will get a nomination for an Oscar for Best Documentary this year. For people who avoided seeing United 93 because you were afraid or not ready to revisit what happened on 9/11, do not miss this film for that reason. There is some discussion and footage about 9/11, but most of the film deals with the life of this priest. It is very moving and inspirational. This is a film I would recommend to everyone.