I Still Believe (film)

I Still Believe is a 2020 American Christian romantic drama film directed by the Erwin Brothers and starring KJ Apa, Britt Robertson, Shania Twain, Melissa Roxburgh, and Gary Sinise. It is based on the life of American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter Jeremy Camp and his first wife, Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer shortly before they married. Camp's song "I Still Believe" is the film's namesake.

I Still Believe
Theatrical release poster
Directed byErwin Brothers
Produced by
Screenplay by
Based onI Still Believe
by Jeremy Camp and Phil Newman
Starring
Music byJohn Debney
CinematographyKristopher Kimlin
Edited by
  • Parker Adams
  • Ben Smallbone
Production
companies
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
  • March 7, 2020 (2020-03-07) (ArcLight Hollywood)
  • March 13, 2020 (2020-03-13) (United States)
Running time
116 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$12 million[3]
Box office$11.7 million[4][5]

The film is the first production by Kingdom Story Company, the Erwin Brothers' fifth feature film, and their second to be released under the Lionsgate banner. It premiered at ArcLight Hollywood on March 7, 2020, and was theatrically released in the United States on March 13, 2020. It received mixed reviews from critics, who commended the film for depicting faith in the midst of suffering, but criticized the plot and characters. Lionsgate released the film to video on demand on March 27, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plot

In Lafayette, Indiana, in September 1999, Jeremy Camp (KJ Apa) departs for Calvary Chapel College in Murrieta, California. The night of his arrival, he goes to a concert of Canadian Christian band, the Kry, where he meets the lead singer, Jean-Luc LaJoie (Nathan Parsons), who become fast friends with Jeremy, who turns to him for musical advice.

After the concert, Jeremy meets Melissa Henning (Britt Robertson), a fellow student at his school, and friend of Jean-Luc, who loves Melissa, but Melissa does not reciprocate the feeling. Jeremy and Melissa get to know each other, and quickly begin dating, causing a rift among Jeremy, Melissa, and Jean-Luc. As a result, Melissa ends her relationship with Jeremy. Jeremy goes back to his family's home in Indiana for Christmas break. A few days after Christmas, Jeremy receives a phone call from Jean-Luc, saying that Melissa is sick, and asks Jeremy to come back to California.

Upon his arrival, Jeremy visits Melissa in the hospital, who tells him that she has been diagnosed with Stage 3C cancer in her liver. Melissa also tells Jeremy that she loves him. Jeremy says the same, and proposes to her. Melissa accepts. During this time, Jeremy begins to make a name for himself as a Christian singer-songwriter. Melissa learns that the cancer has spread to her ovaries, and that she needs a surgery that will leave her infertile. After the surgery was supposed to happen, Melissa wakes up to Jeremy, who tells her the surgery was canceled because she is now cancer-free. Six months later, Jeremy and Melissa marry. Everything seems perfect until after their honeymoon, Melissa wakes up in pain. Jeremy takes her to the hospital, where they find out her cancer has returned, and that nothing more can be done for her.

As Melissa grows weaker, Jeremy begins to question his faith in God. In the hospital, Jeremy sings a song he wrote ("Walk by Faith") during their honeymoon. Melissa dies shortly after. Jeremy becomes angry at God, and chooses to abandon his musical career, smashing his guitar until it breaks. Inside the guitar, Jeremy finds a note Melissa left for him to find after her death, telling him that suffering does not damage faith, but strengthen it, and encouraging him to continue writing songs.

Two years later, Jeremy performs a song he wrote after Melissa's death (I Still Believe) about his suffering, but eventually restored faith. After the concert, he meets a girl named Adrienne (Abigail Cowens), who tells Jeremy that she lost someone close to her, and she was angry at God, and his songs changed her life. Jeremy promises to share Melissa's story, believing that God will use it to change lives. The credits reveal that Jeremy and Adrienne got married in 2003, and have three children.

Cast

Production

The film is the first project of a deal struck between the Erwin Brothers and Lionsgate after the success of their film I Can Only Imagine in 2018.[7] It is also the first film produced by Kingdom Story Company, a film studio founded by the Erwin Brothers, Kevin Downes, and Tony Young,[8] and the Erwin Brothers' second music biopic after I Can Only Imagine.

Jeremy Camp was actively involved in the production of the film,[9] while singer-songwriter Bart Millard of MercyMe (whose life story was told in the Erwin Brothers' I Can Only Imagine) acted as an executive producer,[10] along with Camp, Jon Gunn, and others.

Casting

KJ Apa was announced as the star of the film, playing Camp, and Gary Sinise was announced for the role of Camp's father, at CinemaCon in April 2019.[11] That same month it was announced that Britt Robertson would co-star as Melissa Camp, joined by Shania Twain as Camp's mother, Melissa Roxburgh as Melissa's sister, and Nathan Parsons as Jean-Luc Lajoie, lead singer for the band The Kry, a mutual friend.[7]

Apa, who did his own singing for the film, said he was drawn to the story because "[t]heir love is seriously put to the test in this movie," adding, "it's about journeying through your biggest fears and disappointments and coming out still believing. I believe that anyone, everyone can relate to this film because it's a story about love, loss, and hope."[12] Apa later related that his role in I Still Believe is "the coolest thing I've ever done".[13] Jeremy Camp stated that Apa was concerned about detail and would often consult him whenever he was in doubt regarding how to play his character in certain scenes.[6]

Co-director Andrew Erwin related that he hoped the cast, particularly Apa and Robertson, would attract non-Christians in addition to a Christian audience.[14]

Music

Composer John Debney was hired to write the score for the film,[15] while KJ Apa sang his own renditions of several songs written by Jeremy Camp during the period of his life accounted in the film, including "I Still Believe", "Walk by Faith", and "This Man".[16] I Still Believe is John Debney's third time composing the score for a Christian film, after The Passion of the Christ in 2004 and The Young Messiah in 2016.

Writing

Jon Erwin, Jon Gunn, and Madeline Carrol (who starred in I Can Only Imagine) wrote the screenplay for I Still Believe.[2] The film is Madeline Carrol's screenwriting debut. Jeremy Camp, initially apprehensive about how the film's script would read, was surprised to find that he liked it right off for "[h]ow accurate and beautifully done it was."[6]

Filming

Filming began in the Mobile, Alabama area in May 2019,[17][18] where it was filmed entirely.[19]

The film's cinematographer, Kristopher Kimlin, had collaborated with the Erwin Brothers on their past productions, Moms' Night Out, Woodlawn, and I Can Only Imagine.

Theme

Regarding the film's main theme, Jeremy Camp, on whose life the film is based, said that it "tells my story and shares what God has done amidst all the hard things I went through. It shows hope in the midst of pain."[20]

The film's stars, Apa, Robertson and Twain, also shared their thoughts on the film's themes, with Twain commenting that "[t]his is [about] a love that goes beyond fear, that goes beyond any doubt[.]" Apa said that

it's [about] journeying through your biggest fear and coming out on the other side and still loving God ... I hope people, after seeing the love between Jeremy and Melissa, think, 'I hope that I could one day be in love like that[.][21]

I Still Believe's co-director, Jon Erwin, said in an interview with the Baptist Press that

[the] film grapples with [the question of why God allows suffering.] ... I think we forget so many times that there is a beauty, and a purpose, and a meaning in the difficult things we go through. And that sometimes God uses those things more than He uses the good things that happen to shape us, to mold us and to give us our voice. ... It's a love story as God intended, between these two people and God, and between these two people and each other[.][22]

Soundtrack
I Still Believe: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
John Debney, Jeremy Camp, David Leonard, and JJ Heller
ReleasedMarch 6, 2020
GenreSoundtrack
LabelCapitol
John Debney film scores chronology
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
(2019)		 I Still Believe: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(2020)		 Clifford the Big Red Dog
(2020)

The original motion picture soundtrack was released digitally by Capital Records on March 6, 2020, and included Debney's score, Apa's renditions of Camp's songs "This Man", "I Still Believe", "My Desire", and "Right Here", as well as new versions of "I Still Believe" and "Walk by Faith" performed by Jeremy Camp, and two tracks featuring dialog from the film.[16]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."I Still Believe" (performed by KJ Apa; written by Jeremy Camp)3:42
2."Jeremy Says Goodbye" (written by Debney)4:05
3."This Man" (performed by KJ Apa; written by Jeremy Camp)3:09
4."Take My Hand" (performed by David Leonard written by Jean-Luc Lajoie & Yves Lajoie)4:20
5."Find Me in the River" (performed by KJ Apa and JJ Heller)3:03
6."Some Stars Shine Brighter Than Others" (written by Debney)3:12
7."My Desire" (performed by KJ Apa; written by Jeremy Camp)3:19
8."Dwelling Places (Dialog)" (dialog by cast of I Still Believe)0:59
9."Right Here" (performed by KJ Apa; written by Jeremy Camp)3:29
10."Melissa Loves Jeremy" (written by Debney)2:07
11."You Call I'll Answer" (performed by David Leonard)4:03
12."Walk by Faith (Dialog)" (dialog by cast of I Still Believe)2:35
13."Ancient Stories Still Relevant" (written by Debney)4:44
14."Hey, What's Your Name Again?" (written by Debney)3:21
15."Walk by Faith (2020 version)" (written and performed by Jeremy Camp)3:41
16."I Still Believe (2020 Version)" (written and performed by Jeremy Camp)4:31
17."I Can't Save Myself (Bonus Track)" (performed by Adrienne Camp)3:12

Release

I Still Believe premiered at ArcLight Hollywood in Hollywood, California on March 7, 2020,[23] and was released in North American theaters on March 13 by Lionsgate,[24][25] with early showings on IMAX theaters on March 11. I Still Believe is the first feature-length faith-based film to be released on IMAX screens.[2]

As the COVID-19 pandemic receded, the film was released in three Santikos Theatres locations in San Antonio, Texas on May 1, 2020.[26]

Rating

I Still Believe was rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for "thematic material".[27]

Marketing

The film's first trailer was released in August 2019,[28] while the second was released in January 2020.[29]

Christian band MercyMe announced in October 2019 that it would be promoting the film through their winter-spring 20/20 tour with Jeremy Camp as a special guest.[10][30] In February 2020, Camp wrote and released I Still Believe: A Memoir in promotion of the film.[9] Jeremy and Adrienne Camp and Jon Erwin spoke at Liberty University in early March prior to the film's release to promote I Still Believe.[31]

Regarding Lionsgate's role behind the film's marketing, co-director Jon Erwin related that

[h]aving the full support of Lionsgate is new for us [him, his brother Andrew, and frequent collaborator Kevin Downes] . . . They’re treating this [film] no different [sic] than they would ‘Twilight’ or ‘The Hunger Games’ or any of their huge releases. The ad buy is . . . big, just like any other movie. We’ve never experienced anything like it.[6]

Video on demand

Due to movie theaters closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company announced on March 19 that the film would get an early digital Premium VOD release on March 27 in the United States and Canada, just two weeks after the film's theatrical debut and before the end of the usual 90-day theatrical run.[32] Lionsgate chairman Joe Drake said in a statement, "With theaters closed nationwide due to these unprecedented events, we want to continue to make I Still Believe available to consumers... We're enormously proud of the movie that the Erwin Brothers created and are grateful to be able to share it with audiences for their home viewing pleasure."[33] The Erwin brothers added, "As filmmakers, we are heartbroken that we can’t share I Still Believe on a big screen the way we intended. We make movies because we love movies and we stand firmly behind the nation’s theater chains, from the largest circuits to the smallest mom and pop indies that have been so dramatically affected by these unprecedented closures. But the safety of guests comes first, and we're proud to have the opportunity to share online a movie whose inspiring message of love, hope and faith is perfect for these uncertain times."[33]

Reception

Box office

I Still Believe grossed $9.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $1.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $11.7 million.[4]

In the United States and Canada, the film was released alongside The Hunt and Bloodshot, and was projected to gross $11–15 million from 3,250 theaters in its opening weekend.[34][35][36] The film was number one at the box office on its first day at $4 million, including $780,000 from Wednesday IMAX screenings and Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to just $9.1 million, finishing third behind holdover Onward and Bloodshot. The weekend was also noteworthy for being the lowest combined grossing since October 1998, with all films totaling only $55.3 million, which was attributed to COVID-19 concerns.[37][3]

As the COVID-19 pandemic receded, the film was released in three Santikos Theatres locations in San Antonio, Texas on May 1, 2020.[38]

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, I Still Believe holds an approval rating of 50% based on 44 reviews, with an average rating of 5.59/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "I Still Believe's palpable good intentions are offset by its predictable handling of a fact-based story that ends up preaching to the choir."[39] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 41 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed it average reviews."[40] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, and PostTrak reported it received an average 4.5 out of 5 stars.[37]

In a favorable review, Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood said that "I Still Believe doesn't rewrite any of the rules of this genre, but it does ask the right questions of faith in light of unimaginable tragedy without trying to sugarcoat them. For those who truly want to 'still believe', it should be enough. Fans of Apa also ought to be happy. Cynics should quarantine themselves from this; it's not for you."[41] Megan Basham of World also wrote a positive review for the film, and, while criticizing it for its "melodramatic raging", similarly praised its depiction of faith amidst suffering, saying, "[t]he Erwins are careful to show that God is faithful even when He says 'no.'"[42] Joe Leydon of Variety, in a positive review for the film, praised Apa's and Robertson's performances and commended the Erwin Brothers' direction, saying that in I Still Believe "they amp the emotional power – subtly at first, then gradually more aggressively – with a 'Love Story'-style scenario that is all the more potent for being based on real-life events."[43]

Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter commended the film for dealing with "the difficulty of maintaining faith when tragedy strikes for no apparent reason", although his review was ultimately negative, with him stating as a bottom line that "[t]ears will be jerked, but you'll feel the machinations."[44] Carla Meyer of The San Francisco Chronicle, while praising Robertson's acting and her chemistry with Apa, derided the film for the lack of "any character development for Jeremy beyond caretaker and worried partner."[45] Similarly, IndieWire writer David Ehrlich gave the film a "C-", stating that "[t]he power of the Camps' story is hard to deny, but it would almost be impossible to make it seem more hollow. Maybe if the Erwins depicted people with half the same detail with which they dote upon Jesus, I Still Believe wouldn't feel so insufferably forced to those of us who don't.[46] Similarly, TheWrap contributor Carlos Aguilar, while praising Kristopher Kimlin's cinematography and the "above-average production value", called the film "[s]accharine" and "[f]ormulaic to the core, from the protagonist's short-lived moment of doubt to the epiphany that sets him back on course."[47]

gollark: Also, I suspect most people don't actually care very much. I mean, abstractly, if you ask people "would you like people to not get malaria/be cured of malaria", they'll say yes. But people generally do *not* really care enough to actually pay the various charities which are able to provide malaria nets and stuff, despite these being extremely effective at lives saved per $.
gollark: Declaring something a right doesn't magically solve all the huge logistical hurdles in getting everyone ever the relevant treatment tsuff.
gollark: Huh, wow.
gollark: That sounds very unpleasant. You'd really expect to get immunity to it after the first time somehow.
gollark: IIRC they're basically responsible for the most human deaths out of any species around.

References
  1. "I Still Believe – Official Ticketing Site - KJ Apa, Britt Robertson, Shania Twain, Gary Sinise" – via tickets.istillbelieve.movie.
  2. Mendelson, Scott (February 11, 2020). "Box Office: IMAX Positions 'I Still Believe' As Next Big Faith-Based Hit". Forbes. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  3. "With Attendance at a 40-Year Low, This Is a Box-Office Weekend When No One Wins". IndieWire. March 15, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  4. "I Still Believe (2020) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  5. "I Still Believe (2020)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  6. Josh Shepherd (March 9, 2020). "Romance Flick 'I Still Believe' Seeks To Set New Standard For Faith-Driven Films". TheFederalist.com. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  7. ‘I Still Believe’: Shania Twain, Melissa Roxburgh & More Join Lionsgate/Kingdom Studios’ Faith-Based Drama (Deadline)
  8. Erwin brothers launching new film studio (Birmingham Business Journal)
  9. Herb Longs (February 22, 2020). "Jeremy Camp Pens New Book 'I Still Believe: A Memoir'". TheChristianBeat.com. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  10. Clarks, Jessie (October 30, 2019). "MercyMe's Bart Millard Announced As Executive Producer Of 'I Still Believe'". The Christian Beat. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  11. K.J. Apa & Gary Sinise Join Lionsgate/Kingdom Studio Faith-Based Film ‘I Still Believe’ – CinemaCon (Deadline)
  12. WATCH: Riverdale's KJ Apa Sings and Romances Britt Robertson in Moving I Still Believe Trailer (People)
  13. Kelly McCarthy (March 9, 2020). "'Riverdale' star on returning to set without Luke Perry". Good Morning America. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  14. Michael Foust (February 19, 2020). "Director: "I Still Believe" Is a 'Huge Opportunity' to Reach the Unchurched". Christian Headlines. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  15. "John Debney to Score the Erwin Brothers' 'I Still Believe'". FilmMusicReporter.com. January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  16. "'I Still Believe' Soundtrack Details". FilmMusicReporter.com. March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  17. Film News Roundup: Shania Twain, Britt Robertson Join Faith-Based ‘I Still Believe’ (Variety)
  18. New Erwin brothers movie, ‘I Still Believe,’ seeks extras for filming in Mobile (AL.com)
  19. Culturati, Kate O'Hare's Pax (March 11, 2020). "'I Still Believe' Tells Jeremy Camp's Story of Love Amid Suffering".
  20. Morris, Andrea (August 23, 2019). "Shania Twain, Gary Sinise Starring in 'I Still Believe', True Story of Christian Singer Jeremy Camp". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  21. Law, Jeannie (November 30, 2019). "'I Still Believe' movie aims to inspire viewers to 'love beyond fear' ('Heart of the Story' video)". The Christian Post. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  22. Diana Chandler (February 24, 2020). "'I Still Believe' touted as evangelistic love story". Baptist Press. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  23. "'I Still Believe' movie premiere". NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  24. "'I Still Believe' trailer shows star-studded cast, tells true love story of Jeremy Camp". The Christian Post.
  25. "I Still Believe". Lionsgate Publicity. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  26. McKlintock, Pamela (May 4, 2020). "San Antonio Movie Chain Reopens Early, Attracts 3,000 Customers on First Weekend". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  27. "I Still Believe (2020) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  28. See Riverdale star K.J. Apa in first trailer for Christian romance I Still Believe (EW)
  29. Cranswick, Amie (January 15, 2020). "New trailer for I Still Believe starring KJ Apa, Britt Robertson, Gary Sinise and Shania Twain". FlickeringMyth.com. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  30. Michael Foust (February 12, 2020). "I Still Believe to Become 1st Faith-Based Movie on IMAX". Christian Headlines. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  31. Jacob Couch (March 4, 2020). "Singer Jeremy Camp promotes 'I Still Believe' film with director Jon Erwin". Liberty News. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  32. Jeff Sneider (March 19, 2020). "KJ Apa's Faith-Based Drama 'I Still Believe' Gets Early VOD Release". Collider.com. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  33. I STILL BELIEVE Heads to Video on Demand Due to Coronavirus
  34. Anthony D'Alessandro (March 11, 2020). "Vin Diesel Pic 'Bloodshot', K.J. Apa's 'I Still Believe' & Blumhouse's 'The Hunt' Hit Theaters Amid Coronavirus Jitters". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  35. Jeremy Fuster (March 10, 2020). "'I Still Believe' Expected to Top 'Bloodshot' and 'The Hunt' at Weekend Box Office". TheWrap. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  36. Brad Brevet (March 12, 2020). "'I Still Believe', 'The Hunt', and 'Bloodshot' To Hit Theaters This Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  37. Anthony D'Alessandro (March 15, 2020). "Weekend Box Office Headed To 22-Year-Low At $58M+ As Coronavirus Fears Grip Nation". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
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  42. Megan Basham (March 6, 2020). "Emotional underload". World. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  43. Joe Leydon (March 11, 2020). "'I Still Believe' Review - Variety". Variety. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  44. Frank Scheck (March 11, 2020). "'I Still Believe': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  45. Carla Meyer (March 11, 2020). "Review: Britt Robertson keeps 'I Still Believe' somewhat believable". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  46. David Ehrlich (March 11, 2020). "'I Still Believe' Review: A Christian Rock Biopic So Earnest It Makes 'Walk to Remember' Seem Like 'Salò'". IndieWire. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  47. Carlos Aguilar (March 12, 2020). "'I Still Believe' Film Review: KJ Apa Croons His Way Through Another Saccharine Faith-Based Biopic". TheWrap. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
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