Come Sunday (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Come Sunday

| image = Come Sunday.png

| alt =

| caption = Poster

| director = Joshua Marston

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Ira Glass
Alissa Shipp
James D. Stern
Julie Goldstein

}}

| writer = Marcus Hinchey

| based_on = {{based on|"Heretics" from This American Life|Russell Cobb}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Tamar-kali

| cinematography = Peter Flinckenberg

| editing = Malcolm Jamieson

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

Apparatus Productions
Endgame Entertainment
This American Life

}}

| distributor = Netflix

| released = {{Film date|2018|1|21|Sundance|2018|4|13|United States}}

| runtime = 106 minutes{{cite web|url=https://www.sundance.org/projects/come-sunday|title=Come Sunday|website=Sundance Film Festival|publisher=The Sundance Institute|access-date=December 13, 2017|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626173212/https://www.sundance.org/projects/come-sunday|url-status=dead}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Come Sunday is a 2018 American drama film directed by Joshua Marston and written by Marcus Hinchey, based on "Heretics", a 2005 episode of the radio show This American Life. It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Carlton Pearson, an evangelist minister who was ostracized by his church and excommunicated for preaching that there is no Hell. Jason Segel, Condola Rashad, Lakeith Stanfield, Stacey Sargeant, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Danny Glover, and Martin Sheen also star.

The film had its world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and was released in the United States on April 13, 2018, by Netflix.

Plot

Evangelist Carlton Pearson is ostracized by his church and excommunicated for preaching that there is no Hell.

Pearson, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, was a popular preacher known for his charismatic sermons and large congregation. However, his faith is shaken when he begins to question traditional Christian teachings, particularly the concept of hell. He starts to believe that a loving God would not condemn people to eternal damnation, even if they are non-believers. This new perspective, which he calls "The Gospel of Inclusion," leads him to preach that hell does not exist and that everyone is already saved through God's grace. His radical shift in theology causes controversy and alienates many in his congregation and the larger Christian community. The film follows Pearson's personal struggles as he faces rejection, both from his church and lifelong mentors, while standing firm in his new beliefs. The movie highlights themes of faith, doubt, and redemption, focusing on the cost of following one’s conscience against tradition.

Cast

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Carlton Pearson
Martin Sheen as Oral Roberts
Condola Rashad as Gina Pearson, Carlton's wife
Jason Segel as Henry
Danny Glover as Quincy Pearson, Carlton's imprisoned uncle
Lakeith Stanfield as Reggie
Allie McCulloch as Lawyer
Joni Bovill as Yvette Flunder
Stacey Sargeant as Nicky Brown
Vondie Curtis-Hall as J. D. Ellis
Dustin Lewis as Ron
Ric Reitz as Richard Roberts
Greg Lutz as Pat Robertson

Production

In July 2010, it was announced Marc Forster would produce and possibly direct the film Heretics, written by Marcus Hinchey and based on the This American Life episode of the same name. James D. Stern was set to produce the film under his Endgame Entertainment banner, with Ira Glass also producing alongside Alissa Shipp under their This American Life banner.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/marc-forster-produce-and-possibly-direct-heretics-19202/|title=Marc Forster to Produce and Possibly Direct 'Heretics'|website=TheWrap|first=Jeff|last=Sneider|date=July 13, 2010|access-date=January 8, 2017}} In May 2014, it was announced Robert Redford and Jeffrey Wright had been cast in the film, which had been retitled Come Sunday, while Jonathan Demme would direct, with Forster only serving as an executive producer.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/robert-redford-talks-play-oral-706196|title=Robert Redford in Talks to Play Oral Roberts in Film 'Come Sunday' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|first=Tatania|last=Siegel|date=May 21, 2014|access-date=January 8, 2017}} In July 2016, it was announced Joshua Marston would now direct the film, with Chiwetel Ejiofor joining the cast and Netflix distributing.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chiwetel-ejiofor-talks-star-opposite-914696|title=Chiwetel Ejiofor in Talks to Star Opposite Robert Redford in Netflix Film 'Come Sunday' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|first=Tatiana|last=Siegel|date=July 26, 2016|access-date=January 8, 2017}} In September 2016, Danny Glover joined the cast of the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/danny-glover-joining-robert-redford-932708|title=Danny Glover Joining Robert Redford in 'Come Sunday' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|first=Rebecca|last=Ford|date=September 27, 2016|access-date=January 8, 2017}} In December 2016, Condola Rashad, Lakeith Stanfield and Martin Sheen joined the cast of the film, with Sheen replacing Redford.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/condola-rashad-come-sunday-movie-chiwetel-ejiofor-netflix-1201865864/|title=Condola Rashad Joins Netflix's 'Come Sunday' With Chiwetel Ejiofor|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=December 7, 2016|access-date=January 8, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/atlanta-star-lakeith-stanfield-joins-chiwetel-ejiofor-netflixs-come-sunday-956568|title='Atlanta' Star Lakeith Stanfield Joins Chiwetel Ejiofor in Netflix's 'Come Sunday' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|first=Mia|last=Galuppo|date=December 16, 2016|access-date=January 8, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/martin-sheen-movie-oral-roberts-chiwetel-ejiofor-come-sunday-netflix-1201879117/|title=Martin Sheen Will Play Oral Roberts Opposite Chiwetel Ejiofor In Netflix's 'Come Sunday'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anita|last=Busch|date=December 7, 2016|access-date=January 8, 2017}} In January 2017, Stacey Sargeant joined the cast of the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/netflixs-come-sunday-stacey-sergeant-joseph-ferrante-labyrinth-movie-1201892097/|title=Netflix's 'Come Sunday' Adds Stacey Sergeant; Joseph Ferrante Cast In 'LAbyrinth'|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=January 23, 2017|access-date=January 23, 2017}}

=Filming=

Principal photography began in January 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.dga.org/~/media/Files/Production%20List/CPLBAFull%20pdf.pdf?531|title=Come Sunday|publisher=Directors Guild of America|access-date=January 8, 2017}}

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/2018-sundance-film-festival--feature-films-announced|title=2018 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: FEATURE FILMS ANNOUNCED|website=Sundance Film Festival|publisher=The Sundance Institute|date=November 29, 2017|access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122114851/https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/2018-sundance-film-festival--feature-films-announced|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sundance.org/pdf/film-guide/SFF18_PPG_Grid_v5.pdf|title=Sundance Program Schedule|website=Sundance Film Festival|publisher=The Sundance Institute|access-date=December 14, 2017|archive-date=June 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614194644/https://www.sundance.org/pdf/film-guide/SFF18_PPG_Grid_v5.pdf|url-status=dead}} It was released on April 13, 2018, on Netflix.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/movies/a-sneak-preview-of-2018-netflix-films-and-a-canine-secret-weapon.html|title=A Sneak Preview of 2018 Netflix Films and a Canine Secret Weapon|website=The New York Times|first=Glen|last=Kenny|date=December 29, 2017|access-date=January 13, 2018}}

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus reads, "Come Sunday benefits greatly from Chiwetel Ejiofor's central performance, which is often enough to lift an otherwise uneven drama."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/come_sunday|title=Come Sunday (2018)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 65 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/come-sunday |title=Come Sunday Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=May 5, 2020 }}

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "The movie's pounding heart is the remarkable Ejiofor. Imbuing his role with authority, charisma, mighty strength and wrenching human frailty, he's enough to make believers of all of us."{{cite web |date=2018 |title='Come Sunday': Film Review {{!}} Sundance 2018 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/come-sunday-sundance-2018-1076860 |website=The Hollywood Reporter }}

Peter Debruge of Variety wrote: "Marston, working from Marcus Hinchey’s sensitive and remarkably nuanced script, invites measured introspection from both his characters and the audience."{{cite web |date=22 January 2018|last=Debruge |first=Peter|title=Film Review: 'Come Sunday' |url=http://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/come-sunday-review-1202671818/ |website=Variety }}