FATHER STU

US, 2022, 124 minutes, Colour.

Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, Teresa Ruiz, Malcolm McDowell, Jacki Weaver, Cody Fern, Aaron Moten, Carlos Leal.

Directed by Rosalind Ross.

To get the best value out of watching this film, this reviewer suggests that, if you do not know anything about Father Stu, don’t look up anything, go to see the film and share the complexities of Stuart Long’s life and life choices. You will have mixed emotions along the way. But the ending will be credible. For many audiences, quite moving.

The film is based on a true story and, as with many of these films, there are photos and video clips of the central character during the final credits. And, given the story, it is helpful to see these clips and listen to Father Stu’s comments. The project has been a labour of love for Mark Wahlberg who invested his money in the production. He has also invested a great deal of personal energy in his performance, probably the most demanding so far in his career. And he is persuasive in the very different stages of Father Stu’s life. And, in support, he has Mel Gibson (always a strong screen presence) playing Bill Long, a negligent father, a drinker, labourer, putting down his son. And there is Jacki Weaver, full of emotions, as Stu’s mother. Both parents are grieving the death of their other son, aged six.

And here is another caution, especially those who have high sensitivities concerning what classification authorities name “coarse language”. There is a lot. However, it reflects so much of everyday language these days, and is typical of the characters and their emotions (a priest in confession actually giving the advice to Stu to clean up his language). But, sharing Stu’s journey means accepting that this is his life, that this has been his language.

The early part of the film, as expected, especially for audiences who know that he began life as a boxer, focuses on his career, its coming to an end, his not having any particular post-boxing aims in his life, deciding to go from his home in Montana to Los Angeles for an acting career. It doesn’t work out that way at all. Although he does get to appear in a commercial for a mop, to his mother’s dismay. He works in a shop selling meat, tries to charm customers, clashes with people, gets into fights… Not much prospect here.

Stu comes from a family with no religious background, something of an antipathy towards a cruel God with the death of their son. And Stu doesn’t seem to have many clues about religion but is attracted by Carmen (Teresa Ruiz) who teaches children in the local parish. Stu sets his eye on her – and who would believe the road that this attraction would open up?

And, for a religious audience, this is where the film comes into its own. And, it is interesting that a non-religious audience, who can readily identify with Stu and his life and stances, will be challenged about the mystery of God, the mystery of suffering, especially in the Catholic context.

There is an interesting character, Monsignor Kelly, played by Malcolm McDowell (50 years after A Clockwork Orange!) And Aaron Moten as Ham, a sympathetic friend and seminarian, and Cody Fern as a rather prim and pious seminarian (but the screenplay does not neglect some resolution for his character). Audiences will find the seminary sequences more than interesting.

So, Mark Wahlberg, has to play boxer, cheeky young roustabout, attempted charmer, aggressive fighter, experiencing a deadly motorbike accident, having to discover more meanings in his life than he would ever have dreamed.

This is a film that many audiences will have to be patient with, maybe not the kind of film they are expecting, but sharing the life of this “ordinary” man and his struggle to find fulfilment in his life, his struggle with illness and death – and his continual reference to Jesus on the cross for the meaning of our suffering.

1. The title? Direct? The performance by Mark Wahlberg? His investing in the film?
2. Based on a true story? The final credits, the photos, the video clips of Father Stu?
3. The credibility of the story, Stuart Long, background in Montana, family life, his father putting him down, negligent, his emotional mother? His boxing career, local, moderate successes? Older, physical conditions? Retiring? Not knowing what to do?
4. The scenes with his father, as a boy and his of his Elvis impersonation, his father’s putdown ? Seeing his father driving, at work, Stu confronting him on the worksite? The conflict between father and son? His accident, his father coming to the hospital, later coming to terms with his son, the return to Montana with his debilitated health, participation in the ordination, seeing Stu to the Care Home, going to AA, finally dancing with his wife?
5. The scenes with his mother, her emotions, at home, the loss of their young son, the father’s grief, blame on Stu? The boxing career, sorting out his future, to Los Angeles, the phone calls, seeing him on the mop commercial? The accident, her coming to Los Angeles? The dismay about Carmen, religious issues, language about God? Taking Stu back to Montana, life at home, caring for him? The ordination?
6. Stu, personality, Mark Wahlberg’s performance, the range in age, emotions, physical health and deterioration? As a boxer, the bouts? Health, going to Los Angeles, sure of himself, aiming to be an actor, the job selling the meat, discussions with the owner, charming the customers, the altercation with Carmen? Auditions, the physical propositioned by the agent and Stu smashing the camera? Losing his job?
7. The notice about the Catholic Church, Carmen, his going, talking with her, meeting Ham, their discussions, growing friendship? Going to the church, the class with the children? The priest, at Mass, Stu awkward, stamping on the foot of the parishioner? Listening to the homilies of the priest, images of the crucifixion, God, suffering, sharing human pain? Carmen giving him the rosary beads? The meeting, falling in love, his visit to her parents?
8. The accident, severity, injuries, his experience of the image of Mary helping him, the scene in the bar with the stranger, drinking only water, challenging him, a Christ-figure? The recuperation? His parents coming to visit, Carmen and her support, his mother’s antagonism?
9. The issue of baptism, his agreement, instruction, the immersion ceremony?
10. Stu, the change after his accident, a kind of Damascus experience? Carmen, the distance from them? Her visiting him, the sexual encounter, his going to confession?
11. The decision to be a priest, sending the money, IOU to Msgr Kelly? The rejection, going to his office, confronting Msgr Kelly, discussions about the church, belief, priesthood?
12. The seminary sequences, credibility, the years, spirituality, Stu and suffering, the crucifixion, his homily as a student and speaking of the crucifixion and God’s love? Classes, sport, meals, the seminarians together? The visit to the prison, Jacob’s awkwardness? Stu at ease with the prisoners? His sharing a room with Jacob? The sport, Jacob prissy? Ham supportive? The scenes with the Monsignor?
13. Stu and his collapse playing basketball, the doctor, the diagnosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease, degenerative, his mother’s reaction?
14. His return to the seminary, putting on weight, losing his senses, in the wheelchair? The decision that he could not be ordained, the monsignor telling him the news?
15. His return to Montana, yet his belief, his belief in himself?
16. Getting ready to go to church, his father putting on the tie, the truck breaking down, wheeling him to the church, Carmen present, the parishioners, the monsignor, Ham, the decision that he should be ordained, the ceremony?
17. His father taking him to the aged care home? The information about his ministry, hearing Jacob’s confession, Jacob telling Stu about his father wanting him to be a priest? The example of Stu’s ministry?
18. The deterioration, his death at 50, his ministry as a priest?