Although he has occasionally dabbled in the romantic comedy and family drama genres, Gerard Butler is most closely associated with the many action films that he has appeared in. Given Butler’s impressive physique, undeniable charisma, and ability to transform into morally ambiguous characters, it is no surprise that he has often been drawn to action cinema. While there are some action stars like Dwayne Johnson or Vin Diesel who refuse to take chances, Butler has ensured that there is a diversity to the action films that he appears in; between a gritty heist thriller like Den of Thieves, a comic book epic like 300, and a thrilling disaster film like Greenland, he has managed to make each of his performances unique. Butler gave one of his most underrated performances as a real vigilante in the biographical revenge thriller Machine Gun Preacher, which became the subject of legitimate controversy based on the film’s inspiration.
What Is ‘Machine Gun Preacher’ About?

Butler stars as the former convict Sam Childers, who is released from prison, only to take up his life of crime once more. Although Childers is initially confused as to why his wife, Lynn (Michelle Monaghan), has become a devout Christian, he experiences a transformative crisis of the heart when he nearly kills a vagrant during a wild night of drinking. Childers agrees to become baptized and takes a mission trip to Uganda to help support the refugees that have been displaced by war. Although building homes is something that Childers finds to be productive, he grows increasingly agitated as he becomes aware of the child soldiers that have been inducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army, a powerful military group that has taken control of much of West Africa. Convinced that God has put him in the position to make a difference, Childers decides to build an orphanage that would protect future children from being swept up by an evil regime and becomes willing to fight and die for this cause.

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Although the title would suggest that the film is a straightforward revenge thriller, Machine Gun Preacher is a surprisingly effective character drama thanks to Butler’s great performance. Butler does a stellar job at showing the genuine shift in ideals that changes Childers’ life; although he initially leaves prison with no sense of remorse, being so close to death forces him to grow introspective about the legacy that he will obtain. Butler is effective at showing how Childers’ anger grows as he sees the level of atrocity that exists in poverty, as he grows increasingly frustrated when realizing that the vast majority of Americans are willfully ignorant about the situation. At the same time, Machine Gun Preachers avoids being a “white savior” film because of how fundamentally flawed Childers’ intentions are; what he initially sees as an opportunity to put his anger and resentment to good use becomes a learning moment, in which he understands that building bridges is more important than annihilating one’s enemies.
Why Was ‘Machine Gun Preacher’ So Controversial?​​​​​

Machine Gun Preacher was based on Childers’ real memoir Another Man’s War, which has itself been the subject of controversy. Prominent news organizations doubted the legitimacy of Childers’ claims and suggested that he may have overestimated the number of children that were rescued. Even though Childers claimed to have worked in step with the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, a spokesperson for the group refused to associate with him. An exposé on Childers also revealed that many of his orphanages were poorly run and that Childers had overstated the level of direct involvement he had in the organization. Several of Childers’ properties were investigated by the FBI and IRS in 2014, but no official charges were made.
It is possible to distinguish Machine Gun Preacher from the story it was based on, as the vast majority of controversy regarding Childers was unveiled in the aftermath of the film’s release. When viewed as an original action film, Machine Gun Preacher is surprisingly tense, insightful, and emotionally gripping. While it unfortunately may not be entirely based in reality, Machine Gun Preacher does present an optimistic story about the importance of redemption.
Machine Gun Preacher is available to rent on Amazon in the U.S.

Release Date

September 23, 2011

Runtime

129 Minutes

Rent on Amazon