For Greater Glory

Those wanting to hear a sermon might get the most enjoyment from For Greater Glory. Those wanting narrative integrity and historical accuracy should probably look elsewhere.

This earnest but woefully heavy-handed war epic is based on the true story of the Cristeros, a group of Catholic rebels who staged an uprising against the Mexican government in the 1920s to protest the country’s enforcement of a ban on public worship.

The ban is the brainchild of Plutarco Elias Calles (Ruben Blades), the atheist Mexican president who took over in the years following the country’s revolution and subsequent passage of its Constitution in 1917. It essentially disallows public displays of religion and contains other anti-clerical provisions.

Several Catholics start with a passive protest against the government that escalates into a violent war when Calles begins using military force. Enter Enrique Gorostieta (Andy Garcia), a former army general who doesn’t share the Catholic faith but agrees to lead the revolt at the encouragement of his devout wife (Eva Longoria). Along the way, he forges a relationship with a teenage orphan (Mauricio Kuri) who becomes a protege of sorts and agrees to join the fight.

Although the film is technically secular, it preaches nevertheless, trying to canonize the rebels and generate audience sympathy with melodramatic contrivances while glossing over some of the more important bureaucratic elements of its story.

For example, the screenplay by Michael Love downplays the role of the U.S. ambassador (Bruce Greenwood), whose backdoor negotiations were critical toward ending the war, and misses an opportunity to place its story within a greater historical context involving religious freedom in Mexico.

For Greater Glory marks the directorial debut of Dean Wright, best known for his visual effects work on such franchises as The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. The film is stylish and makes the most of its modest budget and Mexican locations.

The performances are generally solid, especially Blades and Garcia as the primary adversaries. The supporting cast includes noteworthy names such as Peter O’Toole, Bruce McGill and Catalina Sandino Moreno.

Yet what’s missing is a sense of authenticity, as the film spins its wheels dramatically with its repetitive battle sequences, overbearing music score and shallow characterizations that make it feel like a Hollywood wannabe instead of the thorough portrait its true-life subjects probably deserve.

Rated R, 143 minutes.