[KAHLIL GILBRAN'S THE PROPHET opens in Cleveland on Friday August 21st exclusively at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]
Review by Bob Ignizio
Bringing to animated life several of its author’s
metaphysical parables, KAHLIL GILBRAN’S
THE PROPHET reminds me of the time-worn aphorism, “the road to hell is
paved with good intentions.” There’s no doubt that producer Salma Hayek, who
also provides the voice for one of the film’s main characters, wanted this to
be an uplifting and inspiring experience for those who watch it. But in trying
to shoehorn Gilbran’s much loved prose poetry into something with enough action
and conflict to hold a modern audience’s attention, THE PROPHET follows the ‘Save the Cat’ beat sheet to a depressing tee.
The result is a film that, when it isn't cheapening the source material with a cheesy and
predictable plot, is boring the target audience of kids to tears with
long stretches of metaphysical philosophizing
There really isn’t a plot to Gilbran’s volume; only a set up in which a
group of people gather to hear the prophet Almustafa speak on a variety of
subjects one last time before he embarks on an ocean voyage back to his
homeland. In the film, Mustafa (voice of Liam Neeson) is a political prisoner who is looked after by housekeeper Kamilla (Hayek). Kamilla in
turn has problems of her own dealing with a daughter, Almitra (voice of Quvenzhané
Wallis), who hasn’t spoken a word since the death of her father, and
who has a habit of stealing and otherwise causing havoc in town.
Mustafa is told he can be freed
if he returns home. However, there are some
who consider the prophet’s words and ideas too dangerous, and a further
condition is added for his release: Mustafa must renounce all he has said and
written. This he refuses to do, resulting in an order for his execution. The
townspeople rally to Mustafa’s defense while Kamilla, Almitra, and a
sympathetic guard (voiced by John Krasinski) try to come up with a plan to
break the prophet out of prison, but it may be too late.
There is nothing particularly new or interesting about this framing sequence directed by Roger Alles (THE
LION KING), but the segments adapting Gilbran’s poems are visually
interesting. Each poem is adapted in a different style by a different animator,
among them Tomm Moore (THE SECRET OF
KELLS, SONG OF THE SEA), Bill Plympton (all those weird Plyptoon shorts),
Nina Paley (SITA SINGS THE BLUES),
and Joann Sfar (GAINSBOURG: A HEROIC
LIFE). These segments will appeal to those who appreciate animation as an
art form, but feel somewhat at odds with the more commercial feel of
the main story.
There are some works of literature that just don't translate to the screen, and it would seem this is one of them. Or maybe it was just the wrong approach trying to turn 'The Prophet' into a family film intended to have broad appeal. Either way, this is the movie we have, and regardless of how one
feels about Gilbran’s philosophy, THE
PROPHET just isn’t a compelling piece of cinema. No doubt it will still
appeal to some, and others will bend over backwards trying to convince
themselves they like it because they feel as if they should, but I’m in no mood for
such contortions. It’s not a horrible film, by any means, but the attempt to blend formulaic mass entertainment with artsy metaphysics comes up short on both counts. 2 out of
4 stars.
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