“Billy: The Early Years” releases in more than 280 theaters across 15 states this weekend, just weeks ahead of the famed evangelist’s 90th birthday.
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(Photo: Katherine Bomboy)Actor Armie Hammer plays the young Billy Graham in the film “Billy: The Early Years,” which releases in more than 280 theaters across 15 states Oct. 10.
Starring 21-year-old actor Armie Hammer as the young Billy Graham, “Billy” attempts to capture the essence of Graham’s journey from a young man at the crossroads of faith and doubt to ultimately facing the moment of decision that gave way to one of history’s most influential evangelists.
“Finally, someone has made the kind of family-friendly film we've been asking for,” exclaimed Mary Graham, president of Women of Faith, in her endorsement for the movie.
GiGi Graham, oldest daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, meanwhile said her two greatest concerns before seeing the film were: (1.) "Would the Gospel of Jesus Christ be presented clearly?" And (2.) "Would this film present daddy and mother in a positive way?"
“I was very pleased that yes, the Gospel is clearly presented and my daddy, my mother and the ministry are all presented in a most positive way,” she added.
Starting with Graham’s teenage years in Charlotte, N.C., the upcoming film paints a vivid portrait of Graham and his life before international prominence – from the legendary series of revival meetings in Charlotte that ultimately led to Graham’s conversion in 1934 to the early stages of his relationship with Ruth Bell, the woman who Graham would eventually marry.
Also captured in the film is Graham’s relationship with the evangelical star of the 1940s, Charles Templeton, a gifted young preacher who would eventually reject the Christian faith after a long struggle with doubt. In the film, Templeton comes to personify the rising tide of disbelief into which Graham launched his evangelistic crusades.
In the weeks leading up to the official theatrical opening, more than 50 advanced screenings were held throughout the Bible Belt, where most of the theaters showing the film this weekend are.
The rave reviews that the movie has drawn so far have already generated a great deal of buzz around the film.
One critic of "Billy," however, is widely-recognized evangelist Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s youngest son.
“The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has not collaborated with nor does it endorse the movie, 'Billy: The Early Years,'” expressed BGEA CEO Franklin Graham in a written response over the summer.
“While the move covers many aspects of my father’s early years, it depicts events that never happened or are greatly embellished,” he added.
But not all in the Graham camp agree with Franklin.
In fact, Gigi Graham has been one of the film’s biggest supporters and was even hired as a consultant to help promote the film.
"Franklin called me and said he thought the movie was dorky,” she told Christianity Today. “But I think it's good and positive, and I think it honors the Lord and my mother and daddy.”
Gigi and filmmaker Bill McKay told CT that they felt Franklin was just nitpicking.
"People need to remember that the movie is fiction based on fact," said Gigi, who has seen the movie about 10 times.
"[I]t's a movie, not a documentary," added McKay. “We were just trying to humanize the experience in that scene. But every step of the way, we tried very hard to be faithful to Dr. Graham's story." Continue >>
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Amen. Remember who God uses. Moses, a coward and a murderer. Joseph, the youngest and most hated of his brothers. David, also the youngest, smallest, and despised by his brothers. Gideon, a coward from the smallest tribe in Israel. Peter, a coward who had a habit of saying the wrong thing. Paul, a mass murderer.
Yes, they all surrendered to God's will. And God used them.
I look forward to seeing the movie, and I thank God that God took a real human being with real questions and real flaws to use him in such a truly remarkable way.
Of course, God may never use me or you in such an worldwide way in front of cameras, but the message to me is clear: If I surrender fully - even with all of my questions - God can answer all questions in Himself (even if my mind may not understand until heaven) and God can use me to fulfill His plan for me.
Praise God!