Review: Hillsong: Let Hope Rise (2016)

[David N. Butterworth]

HILLSONG: LET HOPE RISE (2016)
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2016 David N. Butterworth

** (out of ****)

Being neither Australian nor of the Pentecostal persuasion I had never
heard of Hillsong, not the Sydney, New South Wales-based house of prayer
(Hillsong Church) nor its training center just down the road (Hillsong
International Leadership College) nor its record label (Hillsong Music
Australia) nor any one of the bands produced by said label (Hillsong Kids,
Hillsong Young & Free, Hillsong Chapel, Hillsong United, and Hillsong
Worship, that last one formerly known as Hillsong Live between 1992 and
2014 and plain old Hillsong before that). Fair enough. Like I say, I'm
not Australian or Pentecostal. And I'm also not one to attend any of the
worldwide places of worship in which some 50 million people sing Hillsong's
songs every Sunday, songs taken from a prolific outpouring of recordings
with such non-secular titles as "Stone's Been Rolled Away," "God is in the
House," "Touching Heaven Changing Earth," and "Faith + Hope + Love." But
as an avid filmgoer I would've thought I'd have stumbled across one of
their many movies--mostly live concert performances--at least. 2014's
"Hillsong Live: Cornerstone," for example, or "Hillsong United: Live in
Miami" (2012), or "Hillsong: I Heart Revolution" (from 2008). Nope. Never
heard of them either. So when I first spotted "Hillsong: Let Hope Rise"
adorning the marquee at the AMC Neshaminy 24 in suburban Philadelphia I
simply had to check it out. What is--or who are--Hillsong when they're at
home? The answer was right there on Fandango had I only bothered to look.
"Every Sunday, 50 million people sing their songs around the world.
"Hillsong: Let Hope Rise" brings the music to life in a theatrical worship
experience." So, for one hundred and three PG-rated minutes I worshipped
at the altar of Hillsong. And not even reluctantly so, but with openness
and tolerance in my heart. Given the ecumenical clout the Hillsong brand
brings to the table I wasn't surprised to find this so-called "theatrical
worship experience" to be both slickly produced and rather fervent. One's
enjoyment of the actual content will depend a lot on one's enthusiasm for
"Christian music," of which there is rather a lot. But the talking heads,
which articulate Hillsong's "humble beginnings" through "astonishing rise
to prominence" as an international phenomenon, warrant attention for their
earnestness alone, whether you're a believer or a naysayer or somewhere in
between. My wife, who would appear to be less swayed by shameless
marketing practices, tried to talk me out of going, saying she attended an
"outdoor Christian Californian church service" once and the music was
"extra coat crumble" (she actually said "execrable" but her phone didn't
recognize the word for some reason). She was right of course--she almost
always is--but the Power of Christ compelled me. Speaking of which, I
suspect I would've had more fun at one of those exorcism things.

--
David N. Butterworth
rec.arts.movies.reviews
butterwo...@gmail.com