I’m scheduled to attend a screening of Fifty Shades of Grey tonight. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it.
But it will, if nothing else, be an interesting review to write. I can’t think of a film that has stirred up so much ire within the Christian community–and yet paired it with such intense curiosity.
Searches for the movie at Plugged In have been high, and a blog that my associate Adam Holz wrote on the subject has drawn some significant traffic. And in a rundown of clergy reaction to the movie, Cathy Lynn Grossman of the Religion News Service reports that “box-office pre-sale numbers are soaring, particularly in the Bible Belt and the Midwest,” two regions of the country known for their religiosity.
But even if Christians are curious, religious leaders are none-too-happy about the movie’s release. And from what I hear, why would they be?
An organization called the Religious Alliance Against Pornography has issued a letter that “The contrast between the message of Fifty Shades of Grey and God’s design for self-giving and self-sacrificing love, marriage and sexual intimacy could not be greater.” Grossman reports that Cincinnati’s Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr wrote to diocesan priests, calling Shades a “direct assault on Christian marriage and spiritual strength of God’s people.” Some are calling the movie “pornography.” And the American Family Association is asking theaters to reject the movie. In a statement, AFA President Tim Wildmon said:
Nothing in ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ builds up society, respects or empowers women or demonstrates healthy relationships. Rather, the film glorifies abusive relationships and glamorizes abusive tendencies such as stalking, bondage sex, intimidation and isolation. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control’s standards of emotional abuse and sexual violence include nearly every one of the interactions between the two main characters. Both movie theaters and moviegoers can stand up to this kind of disgusting content that’s touted as ‘entertainment’ and choose not to show or pay to see the film.
While some may characterize the AFA’s stance on the movie as conservative Christian handwringing, some secular groups are echoing those concerns. An organization called Stop Porn Culture is using Facebook and Twitter to encourage people to, instead of dropping $50 on Fifty Shades, to donate that money to a domestic violence shelter.
“We realize it’s a movie, and we also realize it’s supported by many women,” Ruth Glenn, executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, told Time. “The thing that concerns us about Fifty Shades of Grey is that anytime people are operating in that lifestyle, it should be a choice.”
All this hubbub just sparks more interest in the movie, of course. Even if not everyone flocks to Shades, (prognosticators are expecting maybe a $60 million opening weekend), lots of folks will be thinking and talking about it this weekend.
I’m sure that, once I see the movie, I’ll have something to say about it, too. Maybe. Until then, though, keep me in your thoughts and prayers, if you would. This doesn’t sound like a movie to take lightly.
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