90 Minutes in Heaven

Seasoned filmmaker Michael Polish directed this faith-based move adapted from a 2004 memoir by Don Piper (Hayden Christensen). Piper, a Baptist minister who was pronounced dead in an auto accident but miraculously recovered, revealed after a long rehabilitation that he underwent a heavenly journey before returning to the land of the living. Although the film features better-known talent (Kate Bosworth plays Piper's supportive wife) than many similar films, this is another one that preaches to the choir, who might not be bothered by the fact that the dialogue is trite and the performances wooden. Dwight Yoakam turns up briefly as a shady, good-ole-boy publicity-seeking lawyer, and while his acting is rudimentary, he at least brings a touch of levity to the otherwise deadly-earnest proceedings. When the audience finally gets a glimpse of Piper's vision of the afterlife, it turns out to be a pretty dull affair—smiling deceased folk from his past, dressed in their Sunday best, greeting him as they walk toward the pearly gates, bathed in the glow of an otherworldly light. The effect is both distinctly underwhelming and ploddingly pious. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD/ Blu-ray extras include a “making-of” featurette (10 min.), “Meet the Real Pipers” (10 min.), and a company promo (3 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus digital and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for an unremarkable movie.] (F. Swietek)