Last night was the premiere of the movie, Out of Liberty. This is not a "church" film, but a raw look at what it was truly like for the LDS church leaders who were held there for 155 grueling days.
Out of Liberty comes across as more of a "western" type film and the story is told from the perspective of the jailer, Sam Tillery, which was fascinating. Sam is not of the LDS faith and sees things very black and white regarding his prisoners being held for treason. He has a past of his own he's trying to overcome and the leader of the mob constantly taunts him about it. None of the characters were cardboard cutouts, however, from the mob leader to Joseph Smith's visitors, each one felt fleshed out, with reasons for their behavior on both sides of the issue of justice. The story will make you think about a lot of issues that are still facing our society today---how misunderstanding can lead to fear and too often fear slips into hate when you don't know what you're really hating. The performances were nuanced and provided a powerful medium to start conversations.
Though all the acting was strong, I was particularly impressed with three of the actors. Brandon Ray Olive played the role of Joseph Smith and said he felt the weight on his shoulders in portraying a man that so many people revere. His stature and demeanor is a departure from the stereotypical men usually cast as Joseph, but Brandon Ray Olive does the role justice showcasing long-suffering patience with strength and charm under the dire circumstances. Another standout was Jasen Wade, who played Sam Tillery. He has such an unassuming air about him, he was perfect for the stone-faced jailer who was concerned with nothing more than justice being done. The story of his journey is compelling and Wade's performance adds emphasis as a likable hero. Corbin Allred plays Porter Rockwell before the long hair and beard, when he was young and life hadn't weighed him down so much. Corbin played the role perfectly, with just the right amount of protectiveness and playfulness when it came to his friends in prison. As I mentioned, all of the actors were outstanding and particularly strong leading men. They seemed quite close and mentioned several times that they all left the shoot changed men---going from friends to brothers during the film, and it showed at the premiere.
If you like films that will show you a perspective you hadn't thought about regarding Liberty jail and its place in history, you won't want to miss this one when it comes to theaters near you.
Here's the trailer:
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