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Gene Jones - Film
By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist
www.twitter.com/rychmccain and Facebook (Like Me)
Gene Jones
Hauntingly Portrays Cult
Leader Jim Jones!
Photo
Courtesy of Magnet Release
Film maker Ti West is best know for his
mastery in the horror film genre and true to his craftsmanship he has come up
with another mouth watering gem with his latest offering titled “The Sacrament” which is based on the
final days of The People’s Temple Cult in a jungle buried deep in the South
American country of Guyana. In 1978 Cult leader The Rev. Jim Jones ordered a
mass suicide/murder of over 900 cult members my forcing them to drink a
poisoned cool aid type of drink, poison injections and even gun shots. The dead
included men, women and children as well as Jones himself who was said to have
shot himself. The cult had its start in California and Jones convinced his
members to surrender everything i.e., turning over their house deeds, social
security checks to anything else of value and giving it to the cult. Jones took
the money and purchased several acres of land in a remote jungle in Guyana.
Then he had his select group move there with him where he set up a commune.
Eventually the wheels came off of the wagon.
 |
| "Eden Parish" cult followers |
West made this film in a documentary-style
but kept it very real. As he stated, “I didn’t want to make a movie about
mindless psycho cult members, I wanted to make a movie where people could
relate to the cult members and maybe not agree with everything they say/do, but
understand how and why their lives would lead them to be a part of this
community. I find cults fascinating, personally, and hopefully I can provoke
people to think more about what draws people into that type of bizarre
lifestyle.”
 |
| Gene Jones as cult leader "Father" |
Actor Gene Jones is the film’s cult leader
and is known simply as “Father.” He is the last word on everything in the
commune. Jones gives such a bone-chilling rendition of the real life Jim Jones
that he literally brings him back to life. He even heavily resembles the real
Jim Jones. For those who survived the real life People’s Temple, this may
trigger some very deep emotions as actor Jones is so close to the real thing
like Forest Whitaker was with his surreal portrayal
of Ugandan strong man Idi Amin in “Last
King Of Scotland” that garnered him an Oscar; Jones himself should have the
same honor with an Oscar for this incredible delivery.
When asked if he studied the late Jim
Jones, Jones just shook his head and said “no.” He never worked with Ti before
or for that fact, didn’t even know him so what were the magic ingredients that
fostered his brilliant performance? Jones sits back with his relaxed
personality and explains, “Ti gave me the freedom to go where I wanted to go
which was in the direction of being so damn trustworthy and so avuncular and
nice. A phrase that popped up in my head was ‘I wanted to show you somebody who
was evil but not mean,’ somebody who believed absolutely poisonous things but
was the nicest fellow you ever met.”
Jones certainly achieved that and more
with a performance that will stand the test of time amongst great cinema scenes
and moments. This project will hopefully give Ti West a bigger film recognition
feather in his cap as well.
©
2014 Rych McCain Media/Syndication TM
(You
DID Hear It From Me!)
Twitter@rychmccain and Facebook (Like Me)
