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Best known for her work in The Departed, Source Code, and Up in the Air, veteran actress Vera Farmiga has ventured into a new role as director for Higher Ground. Her approach to following one woman’s ever-evolving faith in God is even-handed, but it contains enough weaknesses to keep it from being something more than average.

Divided into chapters complete with titles, Higher Ground begins as its central character, Corinne (Farmiga), is baptized in a peaceful lake right after her husband Ethan (Joshua Leonard, The Blair Witch Project) has enthusiastically extolled the wondrous joy he’s found in God.

While Corinne is under water, we are taken back to a pivotal moment in her childhood during the 1960s when her mother (Donna Murphy, The Fountain) miscarries. It destroys her mother’s faith, turns her father (Academy Award nominee John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone) into an alcoholic, and ultimately ruins their marriage.

Corinne’s own faith is non-existent until years later when, as a young wife and new mother, she survives an accident with Ethan. To borrow a historical term, it sparks a “great awakening” within them, as they become deeply embedded within a small religious community fervent in its beliefs.

Over time, Corinne questions her religious convictions as various trials and tribulations befall her, as they do just about every other human being. She also struggles against her conservative community’s Puritanical notions about a woman’s place within the family and church.

Farmiga delivers a plain, consistent performance throughout the film. As director, she miscast her much younger sister, Taissa Farmiga, as a young Corinne. Her performance is, for lack of a better word, boring. Leonard is a nice surprise, even if his character is annoying and blames his mistakes on Satan than himself. Can anyone say, “free will?”

Hawkes and Murphy are underutilized and also miscast as Corinne’s parents, considering they are both just 14 years older than Farmiga. Hawkes, who only has himself to blame since it’s doubtful anyone put a gun to his head and forced him to be a part of this film, is nothing more than a cliché.

Farmiga’s effort doesn’t necessarily demonize or glorify those with a deeply held belief in the Almighty, but neither does it take a stand on anything. Ultimately, it’s as unrewarding as a warm Coca-Cola on a hot summer’s day.

On a letter grade scale from “A” being excellent to “F” for failing Higher Ground receives a C.

Higher Ground is rated R and has a running time of 109 minutes.

Now showing through October 20 @ 
Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square
4050 Pennsylvania, KCMO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for more information.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.