OK, I’m ready for the slings and arrows. I was finally able to see “The Work and the Glory” on DVD this week. In a few words, I loved it. But just so you know, much of the world hated it. Still, it’s a movie I can heartily recommend.
Living in the LDS hinterlands of Miami, four hours from a temple and an LDS bookstore, it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with the latest in LDS popular culture. A lot of people I know saw “The Work and the Glory” months ago in Utah, for example. But for me, and my family, it’s the DVD or nothing.
I loved the book. I think Bro. Lund does a great job of teaching us history while maintaining an interesting story. But good books do not a good movie necessarily make.
The movie version of “The Work and the Glory” regularly had me in tears. The scene of Joseph and Emma being harassed while walking through Palmyra was gripping and helped me imagine the injustices that the prophet had to go through in the name of truth. Joseph’s testimony was moving and well-presented. The love triangle between Lydia and Nathan and Joshua was believable and moving. Most of the actors were excellent — Martin Harris looks just as I imagine him in real life, and the fictional Benjamin Steed looks exactly like the book describes him.
In short, this movie was great. I plan on seeing it again soon. I know many of you right now are shaking your heads and saying, “I’ve seen ‘Batman’ reruns with better acting than this movie,” and all I can say is, I disagree. This movie truly moved me.