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ON FAITH & MEDIA View Comments

The Cold Light of Day

By
John Mulderig
Source: Catholic News Service


Henry Cavill and Caroline Goodall star in a scene from the movie "The Cold Light of Day."
As it sluggishly unfolds its far-fetched plot, the easily forgettable action adventure "The Cold Light of Day" (Summit) makes for feeble entertainment. Amid the mayhem of frantic gun duels and hectic car chases, director Mabrouk El Mechri fails to provide viewers with much reason to care.

This is the fish-out-of-water story of ordinary businessman Will Shaw (Henry Cavill). Will finds himself unexpectedly caught up in the world of espionage after his family is kidnapped during a yachting vacation off the coast of Spain, and he learns that his father Martin (Bruce Willis), whom he believed to be a cultural attache, is in fact a CIA agent.

All this leaves bewildered Will trying to meet the kidnappers' demands, which basically amount to the return of a purloined briefcase (read MacGuffin), even as he strives to avoid falling into the clutches of dad's tough-as-nails colleague Carrack (Sigourney Weaver), who may or may not be a traitor.

With no one to trust, Will goes on the lam, accompanied—eventually—by Lucia (Veronica Echegui), a Madrid office worker whose family connections have gotten her mixed up with the warring operatives as well.

Witnessing serial broad-daylight gun-downs and vehicular sprees through the Spanish capital that send more than a few extras scrambling for safety, unengaged moviegoers may have enough attention left over to ask themselves if the metropolis' entire police force has taken simultaneous vacation time.

The film contains considerable violence, some of it harsh and gory, adult themes, several instances of profanity, at least one use of the F-word and occasional crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III—adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13—parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

*****
John Mulderig is on the staff of Catholic News Service.



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Felix of Cantalice: Felix was the first Capuchin Franciscan ever canonized. In fact, when he was born, the Capuchins did not yet exist as a distinct group within the Franciscans. 
<p>Born of humble, God-fearing parents in the Rieti Valley, Felix worked as a farmhand and a shepherd until he was 28. He developed the habit of praying while he worked. </p><p>In 1543 he joined the Capuchins. When the guardian explained the hardships of that way of life, Felix answered: "Father, the austerity of your Order does not frighten me. I hope, with God’s help, to overcome all the difficulties which will arise from my own weakness." </p><p>Three years later Felix was assigned to the friary in Rome as its official beggar. Because he was a model of simplicity and charity, he edified many people during the 42 years he performed that service for his confreres. </p><p>As he made his rounds, he worked to convert hardened sinners and to feed the poor–as did his good friend, St. Philip Neri, who founded the Oratory, a community of priests serving the poor of Rome. When Felix wasn’t talking on his rounds, he was praying the rosary. The people named him "Brother Deo Gratias" (thanks be to God) because he was always using that blessing. </p><p>When Felix was an old man, his superior had to order him to wear sandals to protect his health. Around the same time a certain cardinal offered to suggest to Felix’s superiors that he be freed of begging so that he could devote more time to prayer. Felix talked the cardinal out of that idea. Felix was canonized in 1712.</p> American Catholic Blog I think of all the women religious in the United States who touch countless lives, alleviate the suffering of so many, strive to offer a voice to the voiceless, remember the forgotten, care for those most in need, and focus their lives on the greater good of all God's people, without concern or regard for what they could receive in return.

 
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