Image Credit: Phillip V. CarusoThere are a lot of bad things to enjoy about Brooklyn’s Finest, but I especially like Ethan Hawke’s crooked cop, Sal, who is simply the most Catholic human being in movie history. Sal wears a cross around his neck. He goes to Confession. He prays the Hail Mary with his daughters. There’s a cross on every wall of his house. There’s a gigantic tattoo of St. Michael the Archangel on his back. And he appears to have roughly as many children as Christ had apostles. Late in the movie, Hawke says that his wife is expecting twins. My whole theater burst out laughing. We get it: Sal is a tortured, guilt-ridden Catholic. Is there any other kind?
As a Catholic myself, I always enjoy seeing the more outré elements of my religion pop up in movies. I think The Seventh Seal should be required viewing in Sunday school. I applaud Mel Gibson for wedging a crucifix cameo into Apocalypto. But with Brooklyn’s Finest, the time has come to declare Shenanigans. Catholicism is about more than just guilt, buried secrets, and unconvincing working-class accents. We’re just as boring as the next guy. I’m talking to you, Dan Brown.
It’s partially our own fault. Catholicism has so many movie-ready motifs, like stained-glass windows, the regular use of important-sounding Latin phrases, and the Confessional Booth. But I especially blame The Godfather. Francis Ford Coppola’s mob classic crosscuts between a baptism and a slew of bloody murders. Take it from me: that makes baptism look much cooler than it actually is.
Did you see Brooklyn’s Finest, PopWatchers? Do you agree that Hollywood should start using other religions to add fake depth to one-dimensional characters? And what are your favorite Confessional scenes? I’d nominate Sin City, but I went to Catholic school, so maybe I’m just working through some issues.
THANK YOU. I hate movie/TV depictions of Catholics. I am your average boring, not-100%-in-agreement-with-all-my-faith’s-teachings-but-generally-happy-and-comfortable-with-it type of person, but I get the impression sometimes that upon learning that I’m Catholic, people think I’m some kind of fanatical nutjob. So it’s an ancient religion with a long history, some of which is a bit scary. I’m not! (Also, thank you for the Monty Python clip; I LOVE that scene and it was a fantastic surprise when I clicked on the link!) And yes, Dan Brown is an idiot.
Imagine the uproar if the “stereotypes” of other certain religions were depicted like this.
Thank you for the heads up- won’t be seeing this one.
As a (not too strict) Catholic I am sick of this sort of stuff.
I’m tired of movies with Catholics as fanatical nuts (I’m catholic and I’m crazy for other reasons, not my religion) and also tired of movies with corrupt cops, same story over and over again. Not saying that there are not bad cops out there but seriously, inYC, there are 37,000 + stories out there and Hollywood insists on recycling the same garbage.
And, of course, most of the cops depicted are Irish Catholic.
I know, another cliche! Hollywood needs to keep up with times, most of the cops i know are hispanics!
i like jersey shore catholics
I’m not Catholic, but I can understand your annoyance. However, Hollywood does a good job of dumbing down all religions so Catholicism should not be exempt. Ideally no one takes these depictions too seriously, but I know there are many who think all Baptist preachers scream and sweat at the pulpit and that all Muslims are extremists. And I nominate In Bruges for the best confessional scene… so sick… so sad.
Haven’t seen this yet but as a Catholic I agree we take some crap in movies. But the confessional scene in the opening of Heaven’s Prisoners (with Alec Baldwin) is excellent and more like priests I have known. The author of that book (James Lee Burke) also goes heavily on Catholic imagery and morals in his novels in a fairly accurate way. I think movies think it’s ok to denigrate Catholicism for some reason though.
“In Bruges” wins the best confessional scene ever, of course.
Um, I believe Ethan changed his name to “Handsome Hawke”
Yeah, I heard. lol
Thanks for the heads — recently I’ve seen that Bruce Willis movie w/Tracy Morgan. Well, theres parts in there that show a Mexican “gang” go to church & kill somebody there & then ask for forgiveness…I was ashamed. All these movies we see with Catholics isn’t even like that. We’re normal! lol.
Well, I think the more “movie-ready motifs” are the corruption, wealth, and sex abuse scandals perpetrated by this “church.” It stands to reason that anyone still willing to accept them as an authority on moral matters and/or give them money pretty much has to be a bit of a nut. Ironic timing, considering the story of yet another sex abuse scandal is breaking today.
For two fine confessional scenes, both of which eventually ended up on the cutting room floor, check out the DVD extras for “Changing Lanes” and “Road to Perdition.” As fascinating as Catholic elements are to me in films, it’s even more fascinating to see what ends up being cut from the final film.
Im Catholic it doesnt bother me its only a movie. But remember Gran Torino how Clint Eastwood went to confession then got shot up only going for his lighter. There are still good potrayals of Catholics in film. Of course the best was William Wallace Braveheart by Mel gibson…just sayin