The Testament of Ann Lee – Movie Reviews by Ry!

The Testament of Ann Lee – Faith of Song & Dance: A Character tale

Upon a path of indifference, It is a journey of worth and growth.  As days turn, common steps may be a spark to find reason, but also bring about questions of another kind.  Perseverance strings within one’s heart, but everything can be more than what it seems.  As life unfolds, it is a tale that sparks intrigue in circumstance, especially when brought to the big screen.  In this review, I take a look at the latest drama film.  Through a journey of faith, even with predictable quips, The Testament of Ann Lee is an arduous look at one’s purpose to believe … and show that life can mean so much more.

This is the story of Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried) and her journey of becoming the founding leader of the Shaker movement in America.  Life is a foundation for stories and moments.  From our waking eyes to the lasting days, we are telling a story of some kind.  Looking at life is to find meaning, some purpose as we trail in our indifference to find colors galore.  For film, life becomes a foundation that can blend the realism (of the moment) through the creative sense of storytelling.  Through its own realistic threads, this film blends those moments through a unique sense of characterization and musical prowess.  In the beginning, we come into this film through voice over narration, which introduces us to Ann Lee.  In a series of early childhood moments, we learn about her unique gifts (foreshadowing) as she struggles with family, worship and duty.  As the film moves through her childhood to early adulthood, she finds true purpose through a group that expresses faith through a combination of song and dance.  It is at this moment that Ann Lee decides to journey to the American Colonies, in hopes of practicing her faith with other Shakers in peace.  From this moment, general exposition and world-building lead to a deeper path of characterization, building through raw conversations and off-the-cuff musical quips.  The mix of bio-pic and musical elements create moments where themes become vivid through a creative direction.  With Ann Lee and the rest of her followers spreading the word in America (you can view the list of actors/actresses on the film’s IMdb Page – link), the struggle of connections and conflict heighten scenes through thematic appeals of faith and human worth.

As Ann Lee continues the movement in America, her following starts to come into conflict with other elements of the current day (American Revolution, Separate Parishes).  When the period piece aspects come into play, the direction falls into moments of melodramatic sequences and shallow storytelling.  For all the strength of character, everything becomes rushed for convenience, leading to a predictable third act of any typical biopic.  The Testament of Ann Lee is an intriguing journey about faith.  If you are a fan of character films or musicals, there is something here.  Overall, this can be a good time at the theaters, for the right price.   

Full Score – 3 out of 5 (Theater Discount)