Religulous
From FilmFile
Taglines:
- Do you smell something burning?
- Heaven help us.
- The end (crossed out) truth is near.
Contents |
Synopsis
Atheist Bill Maher looks to understand the beliefs behind different world religions.
Review
Religulous is one of those documentaries that will annoy and anger a great many people - namely those who have blind devotion and faith in a specific doctrine of religion. To those out there who are a bit more open minded, sceptical, agnostic, questioning, or just plain atheist, then you may appreciate Bill Maher's latest film.
First things first, for those unaware out there Bill is a noted atheist comic. He hosts a popular talk show on US Tv, and has never shied away from tackling the more controversial issues. In his various stand up routines over the years he has questioned some of the more bizzarre, or simply hypocritical aspects of various faiths from around the world. If you are after a balanced discussion on the pros and cons of following a faith, then Religulous is not where you will find it. The film is merely an extension of his other looks at the topic.
By interviewing people of various faiths from the extreme, to the light, to the simply comical, Bill attempts to get answers to the questions that many non-believers or agnostics would like answered, and also find out what makes people be quite content believing in what a book tells them, yet dismissing other fairy-tales as simple nonsense. Sometimes a bit sharp and blunt with his attacks, other times quite subtle, but mainly amusing and jesting, the responses are what make the film really hit home. When an evangelical minister tries to mis-quote scripture to justify his excessive jewellery (and claiming that Jesus was wealthy himself), or a Jeusus character actor in a Holy Land theme park almost tells Bill that the Holocaust was probably a good thing (you really have to see it to believe it), you start to realise some of these people are simply delusional. Those who don't come across as such actually manage to convey themselves well, such as early scenes with a group of ministers who (aside from one who leaves early on) really do attempt to answer some questions and never really slip up.
Religulous showcases not only Maher's knack for a quick one-liner, or a wry observation, but also his knowledge of the material which he find so perplexing anyway. When he catches people attempting to pervert the message of the various scriptures of faith, he catches them straight away and points out they false claims. This is not the fabled ignorant-atheist that all believers like to think we all are. No, this is the true atheist, the one who HAS looked at the faiths, looking for answers, but never found them.
I recommend this film to all those with an open mind, and also to those who have a belief in a deity, but also have a sense of humour about themselves (such as the Vatican official who seems the most unlikely person to be in such a place). For those who don't like the idea of a sceptic doubting them, well, one of the GodTV channels should be starting a pulpit speech right about now....
Trivia
- Originally scheduled for release in March 2008 to coincide with the Easter holiday. But the 2007 Writers Guild strike caused delays in post-production. The release date was pushed back to July 11, 2008 and finally, October 3, 2008.
- The film used the fake working title "A Spiritual Journey" in order to obtain interviews with religious leaders. They did not know that Bill Maher was involved in the film until he arrived for the interviews.
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