By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Faith-based movies traditionally have a loyal following. Over the last few years several religious films like ?War Room,? ?Breakthrough,? ?Miracles from Heaven,? Overcomer? and ?God?s Not Dead? among others, did considerably well at the box office.
The latest Christian movie generating some buzz is
?Tulsa.? The independent film was released Aug. 21 in limited Regal Cinemas and will open in additional California Regal Theaters starting Sept. 18. ?Tulsa? is also available On Demand.
?Tulsa? is loosely based on a true story about a former marine and biker named Tommy Colston (Scott Pryor, ?Blackbear?) who is struggling with a personal tragedy. Tommy finds solace in drinking and popping pills. He?s a motorcycle and auto mechanic who runs his own repair shop. He was living comfortably before tragedy struck and he got behind on bills and other things.
Just trying to keep afloat is Tommy?s biggest concern.
It was anyway until he?s thrown for another loop by a local social worker (Nicole Marie Johnson, ?Little?). Jaylene (Johnson) tells Tommy that there?s a 9-year-old orphan girl named Tulsa (Livi Birch, ?Redeeming Love? and TV?s ?Lovecraft Country?) whose foster mother was arrested. The little girl has a picture of Tommy and her now deceased mother. Tulsa believes Tommy is her long-lost dad and wants to come live with him.
Jaylene even knows Tommy and admits her hands are tied and Tulsa has nowhere else to go. Until they get the paperwork finalized, Tulsa needs to stay with him.
Initially it seems like a horrible idea since Tommy?s apartment is not suitable for a little girl and because he doesn?t know how to take care of kids. Plus, he?s not even sure if this is really his daughter.
He doesn?t have much of a choice. So, just like that little Tulsa is on board and happy to be reunited with her ?father.? Tommy is far from thrilled. Tulsa is bossy and demands Tommy clean up the place and more importantly clean up his act. She even goes so far to dump his alcohol, pills, and cigarettes.
While Tommy tries extremely hard to keep Tulsa out of his way, her bubbly personality wears him down and eventually warms his cold and empty heart. Tulsa recites bible verses, sings?Birch?s music is featured in the film along with Christian singer/songwriter Josh Garrels.
The cute 11-year-old pulls out all the stops to get Tommy to go to church and make him realize he can kick his addictions if he?d just get out of his own way. Once Tommy comes around, he sees how much this little girl changed his life and he decides to be a true father to her for as long as he can.
In addition to starring in ?Tulsa,? Scott Pryor directed and co-wrote the film with Gloria Stella (?Blackbear?) and Ty DeMartino (?A Christmas Tree Miracle?).
?Tulsa? boasts solid performances from familiar faces like John Schneider (TV?s ?The Have And The Have Nots? and ?The Dukes of Hazzard?), Cameron Arnett (?Overcomer? and ?I Still Believe?), Cedric Greenway, (TV?s ?Black Lightning?), B.J. Arnett, (?The Challenger Disaster?). It?s a real heart warmer filled with faith, hope and love.
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Look At This Trailer For
"TULSA"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics? Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.