I Can Only Imagine

Here's a film that had no business being as good as it is. The true story behind the best-selling Christian single of all time could have been a sappy, by-the-numbers biopic. Instead, the Erwin Brothers delivered something with genuine grit and emotional depth. Dennis Quaid is revelatory as Bart's abusive father Arthur. He plays the man as genuinely frightening in the early scenes — no softening, no excuses — which makes the later transformation feel earned rather than convenient. J. Michael Finley, a Broadway actor making his film debut as adult Bart, carries the weight of the role with surprising naturalism. The film doesn't shy away from the ugliness of Arthur's abuse or the lasting psychological damage it caused. When the reconciliation finally comes, it works precisely because the film spent so much time establishing why it shouldn't. The scene where Bart hears his father's genuine apology is one of the most affecting moments in any faith film this decade. Grossed $83 million on a $7 million budget — audiences clearly agreed.