NOW IN THEATERS! Based on a true story, Sean McNamara’s Soul on Fire begins in St. Louis when young John O’Leary (Joel Courtney), inspired by neighborhood kids playing with fire and gasoline, decides to experiment on his own. His curiosity turns to horror when his home catches fire, leaving him engulfed in flames. His brother rushes to pull him from the blaze, while his sister repeatedly enters the burning house to throw water on his face. Little John survives but suffers burns over most of his body, leaving little hope for recovery.
As fate would have it, Cardinal’s announcer Jack Buck (William H. Macy) learns about the boy’s condition during his Hall of Fame induction night. Moved by his story, Buck visits John in the hospital and encourages him to keep fighting. Their encounter sparks a friendship that gives John the strength to endure months of painful rehabilitation. His father (John Corbett) and dedicated Nurse Roy (DeVon Franklin) help guide him through the long recovery.
Years later, John grows into a young man still battling the physical and emotional scars of his childhood trauma. He attends college, falls in love, and struggles with insecurities about his appearance. Yet, his determination and the kindness shown by Jack Buck inspire him to turn his tragedy into purpose. But John still has much to learn about himself and the love of those who gave him the bits of wisdom that made him the man he is today.
“…Buck visits John in the hospital and encourages him to keep fighting.”
Look. I’m not the biggest fan of faith-based films, so let’s dive into Soul on Fire. The reason to see this film is John O’Leary’s story. It shows that what others meant for evil, God meant for good. It’s an extreme story of a boy, then a man, who learned that God can use you no matter the choices you made and no matter how deep the hole you find yourself in.
That said, Soul on Fire is your typical biopic. It takes a person’s life and breaks it down into scenes: the scene about this, then the scene about this, then this and this and this. If you’ve never seen a biopic before, this is fine, but when you’ve seen hundreds, like I have, you just want to see the medium elevated a bit.
In terms of acting, the film is anchored beautifully by William H. Macy and John Corbett. They adequately elevate the main cast, particularly Sam Bettencourt and Masey McLain as John and Beth O’Leary. I’ll just say that the supporting cast playing the small roles needed more rehearsal time. You’re really looking for actors who sound authentic in their line delivery, rather than merely reciting lines.
I’m a big fan of Sean McNamara’s Reagan. The acting and storytelling in Soul on Fire needed a bit more oomph to elevate the final product. Yes, I’m a film snob. In the end, O’Leary’s story is one that everyone needs to hear, especially in these divided times.
"…O'Leary's story is one that everyone needs to hear, especially in these divided times."
