Hello everyone! 🙂
Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!
It’s rare that a Christian drama film gets released at the cinema these days. Thankfully my parents and I saw the latest Christian drama film based on a true story called ‘Breakthrough’ at the cinema. And the film itself was directed by a ‘Star Trek’ actress/director no less. Yeah! I was surprised by this.
‘Breakthrough’ was directed by Roxann Dawson who is well-known in ‘Star Trek’ circles for playing B’Elanna Torres in ‘Star Trek: Voyager’. I knew Roxann directed ‘Star Trek’ episodes in the ‘Voyager’ and ‘Enterprise’ shows. She’s also directed episodes of ‘Lost’, ‘Cold Case’ and ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
It was nice to see this Christian drama film directed by Roxann Dawson at the cinema. My parents and I were moved by the film, especially with the Christian messages of hope and faith featured throughout. I wasn’t aware of the real-life events that occurred when my parents and I saw this film.
‘Breakthrough’ is based on the book called ‘The Impossible’ by Joyce Smith, published in 2017. It’s a Christian biography that focuses on Joyce Smith’s 14-year old adopted son named John who fell through the icy lake in Lake St. Louis, Missouri. This happened fairly recently in early 2015.
I was surprised by this real-life event that happened. Apparently John Smith was dead for an hour once he’d been recovered from the frozen lake. But through the power of prayer by his mother Joyce, John regained a pulse. Soon, the staff at a well-equipped hospital worked hard to revive him.
My parents and I became aware of this film when we saw a trailer for it at our local cinema. The film was very uplifting about Joyce Smith’s faith in God and seeing through that her son got better and recovered. This is a film that brought me to tears towards the end with regards to my Christian faith.
The film does challenge those who have faith in God or not, about whether there’s a chance a loved one can be saved or not. I’m pleased in real-life that John Smith recovered and the messages of faith and hope are strongly evident in the film. I am glad a film like ‘Breakthrough’ was on the big screen.
The question was asked why God can save some people’s lives but not others. That was a question I found unable to answer as I was watching the film. I still retain my faith in God and Jesus, especially with a film like this about a mother who was determined not to give up on her son.
The performances of the cast are excellent in the film. There’s Chrissy Metz as Joyce Smith, who I found excellent whilst watching the film. There’s Josh Lucas (who I’ve seen in the 2003 film ‘Hulk’) as Brian Smith, Joyce’s husband, and Marcel Ruiz as John Smith, the 14-year-old boy who survives here.
The film also features Topher Grace as Pastor Jason Noble. I’ve seen Topher Grace as Eddie Brock Jr./Venom in ‘Spider-Man 3’. I liked Topher Grace’s performance in this film. I also liked how Jason Noble became an interesting person with supporting Joyce and Brian through their time of difficulty.
I liked Mike Colter as Tommy Shine, the fireman who saved John Smith from the freezing lake. It was interesting to see Tommy who heard the voice of God to save John, even when he didn’t believe in God. I liked how Tommy’s faith is challenged and how he develops with whether he believes in God.
There’s also Dennis Haysbert as Dr. Garrett, who does everything he can to save John’s life whilst he’s in hospital. I liked it when Joyce tells Dr. Garrett not to give up on what he has to do and let God do the work. It reassures me that the spirit of God is working in everyone especially in rescuing lives.
I reflect from watching the film on how secular society is nowadays and that there isn’t enough faith in God from everyone. Films like ‘Breakthrough’ reassure me that there is a God and that he is always there for us, even when things don’t go our way. I have had my prayers from God answered.
‘Breakthrough’ had a limited time at my local cinema. If you should ever chance upon it either on the big screen or on DVD, I highly recommend it. It’s well-directed by Roxann Dawson and it’s an uplifting and reassuring film about hope and faith in God, especially on a fairly recent true-life event.
Thanks for reading!
Bye for now!
Tim. 🙂
Bradley's Basement 