Under the Banner of Heaven

Author(s): Pat

Location: NY

"Under the Banner of Heaven"
Directed by David Cronenberg

Written by William Monahan

Based upon the Book by Jon Krakauer

Music by James Howard Newton

Produced by Tom Cruise, Kathleen Kennedy

Main Cast
Viggo Mortensen (Ron Lafferty)

Natalie Portman (Brenda Lafferty)

Kiefer Sutherland (Dan Lafferty)

Michael Vartan (Jon Krakauer)

Matthew Rhys (Allen Lafferty)

Vera Farmiga (Dianna Lafferty)

Monica Potter (Betty Wright McEntire)

Jenna Fischer (Chloe Low)

Kurt Russell (Onias)

Jason Ritter (Ricky Knapp)

Freddy Rodriguez (Chip Carnes)

Tagline: "I am the one mighty and strong"

Synopsis: Based on a true story.In 2002, author Jon Krakauer (Michael Vartan) travels to a maximum security prison in Utah to meet Dan Lafferty (Kiefer Sutherland), a man sentanced to prison in 1984 for the murders of a young woman and her infant daughter. Dan is a Mormon Fundamentalist who, along with his brother, believed that it was God’s wish to have the blood spilt from his victims. In 1978, Dan Lafferty and his brothers, Ron (Viggo Mortensen) and Allen (Matthew Rhys), set off on a mission to find a better path to the Kingdom of Heaven. Having grown up with a violent father and fundamentalist background, the brothers are very excited to find happiness but also too eager. They stumble upon Prophet Onias (Kurt Russell), the self-proclaimed Voice of God, who takes the Lafferty boys under his wing to create a school to futher his teachings. It is there where the brothers adapt a strict polygamist lifestyle. Dianna (Vera Farmiga), Ron’s wife, becomes angry with her husband after his repeated beatings of her and decides to leave him and encourages Brenda (Natalie Portman), Allen’s wife, to do the same. Brenda loves her husband even though he hurts her. Sometimes she escapes to the home of Chloe Low (Jenna Fischer) to deal with his oppression. Eventually, Brenda’s sister, Betty (Monica Potter) convinces Brenda to defy her husband, which she does in front of his brothers. She openly speaks out at Dan and Ron, which sparks a great deal of anger in Ron because he believes that women have no right to question his authority. In 1984, Ron receives a revelation from God telling him that Brenda needs to be killed because she is threatening to destroy everything that the Lafferty brothers have built. After much meditation and prayer, Dan realizes that this is true and convinces Allen to believe the same. Ron and Dan, along with two drifters (Jason Ritter, Freddy Rodriguez), kill Brenda and her daughter and make a dash to safety in Las Vegas. Back in 2002, Dan tells Krakauer that the murders of Brenda and her daughter were necessary to complete God’s ultimate plan. He claims that Ron believed he was right and acting on divine wishes. “Under the Banner of Heaven” tells the story of a man, driven mad by an exaggerated religious belief, and his gruesome journey to find paradise.

What the Press would say:
Based upon actual events and a book by “Into the Wild” author Jon Krakauer, David Cronenberg’s latest film, “Under the Banner of Heaven”, tells the story of two brothers driven insane by their beliefs and the one woman who pays the ultimate price for standing up to them. Told mostly through flashbacks in the early ‘80s, the story is narrated by Dan Lafferty, a man in prison for murdering his sister-in-law and her infant daughter. He tells the story about how he and his brother, Ron, started a Fundalmentalist Morman church to put forth their own beliefs, which ultimately drive them to commit murder. The film centers on Ron and his slow rise to power amongst their small group of followers. Viggo Mortensen takes on the role of Ron Lafferty with such ease and subtlety that it quickly becomes uncomfortable to watch. He effortlessly captures the essence of Ron’s slow descent into madness and shows his emotions through glaring eyes. An interesting Southern accent also helps his performance too. Vera Farmiga shines as Ron’s wife, Dianna, who ends up leaving him halfway through the film. Her tortured, physically and mentally, wife role allows for a great deal of range and humanity. Kurt Russell delivers an amazing cameo performance as a spaced-out, self-proclaimed prophet who guides Ron and Dan on their quest for paradise. His delivery is very creepy in that what he says is usually in old English. Kiefer Sutherland plays the role of Dan Lafferty, the brother who seems to be in control in the beginning but slowly becomes submissive to Ron’s actions. It is in the prison scenes where Sutherland excels. His remorse and grief for the situation burn through his skin and onto the screen. Natalie Portman gives the performance of her career as Brenda, the fated sister-in-law to the Lafferty brothers. She cries, she screams, she gets beaten, and she dies, but all that seems irrelevant because of one simple scene. Before Ron receives his revelation that Brenda must die, the woman visits him and tells him that he’s gone mad. Portman’s control of the scene is terrifying and righteous and everything else that her character embodies. Overall, “Under the Banner of Heaven” is a sad, violent tale about the dark world of extremism that takes you on an emotional journey into the lives of several people affected by unrealistic hopes and dreams.

FYC

Best Picture

Best Director-David Cronenberg

Best Adapted Screenplay

Best Actor-Viggo Mortensen

Best Actress-Natalie Portman

Best Supporting Actor-Matthew Rhys

Best Supporting Actor-Kurt Russell

Best Supporting Actor-Kiefer Sutherland

Best Supporting Actress-Vera Farmiga