Hoover Street Revival: Life, Death & God in South Central L.A.

As a basic audiovisual record of Bishop Noel Jones' passionate sermons in the Greater Bethany Community Church in South Central Los Angeles, Hoover Street Revival will be appreciated by anyone who understands the importance of spiritual faith in our nation's most impoverished and violent neighborhoods. As a documentary film, however, it is a lamentable failure, repetitious, and devoid of structure—the kind of film that gets made when a privileged, well-meaning amateur (in this case Sophie Fiennes, sister of British actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes) enjoys the advantage of access to a professional crew while lacking the talent required to shape countless hours of material into a meaningful narrative. As the most charismatic Christian leader in his community, Bishop Jones (brother of disco-era soul diva Grace Jones) is certainly a worthy subject, the head of a congregation—led by the energetic choir Voices of Judah—filled with enough religious fervor to rival members of any Deep South Baptist revival you've ever seen. But Hoover Street Revival, which has been described as "non-journalistic," is a mess, intermingling scenes of intense sadness (the aftermath of a drive-by shooting and a grieving mother's pain) and joyous elation (during Jones' sermons) without exploring any of the greater truths that the film barely touches upon. And given the hints of Jones' narcissism (his fawning entourage includes one toadie who ties his shoes for him), it's doubly disappointing that the film fails to effectively explain why so many of his flock are passionately devoted to Jones. DVD extras include commentary by Jones, an interview with Jones and Fiennes, and featurettes about Bethany's Gospel music and three women featured in the film. Not recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Shannon)