Sound of Freedom movie review
Because this is a movie review all pictures used in this legal under the terms of the fair use agreement of 1976.
Sound of Freedom, a movie released November 3rd, 2023. Released by Angel Studios it’s a contemporary adventure movie based on the story of Tim Ballard. He was a former Bureau of Homeland Security agent on a mission to help end child trafficking.
This movie generated quite a bit of controversy when it came out. This was due to the fact it addressed a subject that makes a lot of people feel uncomfortable. But sometimes we need to address these ugly topics to find solutions. And human trafficking is a serious issue that needs to get dealt with.
At my local movie theater this film got a limited release. Which is sad because this is a good movie to watch. Many suspect that political motivation was why this film got such a limited release. And that's such a shame because a movie's success or failure should be on its ability to tell a story and the market. It should never get based on petty political ideology.
Now a couple of things before I get into the review. I need to address some of the accusations made by some of the critics of this movie. I also need to address the critics themselves.
Criticism number 1, this movie is white supremacist. To debunk this argument, it’s necessary to address the hard to miss elephant in the room. The fact that a majority of the movie’s cast are Hispanic. Actual white supremacists hate Hispanic people and anyone different from them. So, why would a white supremacist film have a majority Hispanic cast?
Also, why would such a film have some shooting done in Columbia in South America? Since Columbia is majority Hispanic that accusation makes no sense. Thus, based on the evidence this holds true. The charge that this film is racist is nonsense.
The second major accusation is that this film is full of Q-Anon symbolism. It is true Q-Anon raises some valid points. But there’s a lot more that comes out of this group that's rather sketchy. An example of this is there’s a secret ring of child molesters who run the world. This is an idea that should get taken with a hefty grain of salt.
Also having seen Sound of Freedom a good response to such an accusation is, "Um…where?"
This movie does place emphasis on the evils of child trafficking. But the accusations of Q-Anon symbolism are sketchy at best, flat out rubbish at worst.
The third major accusation is the movie is making the problem worse. This is an accusation many would disagree with. Sometimes uncomfortable subjects need to get addressed. It's the only way to begin to find solutions to them. Dismissing a problem won’t make it go away. Child sexual trafficking is a subject that needs to get addressed now!
Now the final major accusation of the movie is this. It's a sensationalized version of Tim Ballard’s story. Of course it's sensationalized! It says on the DVD and Blu-Ray box covers and at the beginning of the film, based on a true story. Meaning that while it’s based on fact it’s for the most part fiction.
It’s part of the moviemaking process. It’s called escapism, escapism…look it up!
So, after debunking all this nonsense it’s safe to say the most vocal critics of this movie are in one of two camps. Those who have never seen this movie and make stuff up to get clicks and views on the Internet. Or the second camp which is people who have seen this film. Yet they've chosen to leave out details that would provide proper context. All to generate views and clicks by creating a false narrative.
Whichever camp it is it’s a clear indicator of this truth. These vocal critics are bad faith actors whose views and opinions should get ignored.
Now with that said, on with the review and critique of Sound of Freedom.
The movie opens in Tegucigalpa, Honduras in the year 2013. Roberto Agullar as played by Jose Zuniga is a poor father living in said city. He has two children Rocio played by Cristal Aparicio and Miguel played by Lucas Avila. They receive a visit from a lady named Katy Giselle played by Yessica Baroto. The former beauty queen claims to want to sign the children up for a child modeling agency.
To an educated person that would set off alarm bells in a hurry. Unfortunately, Roberto is poor to the point he has no internet so there’s no way for him to do research. This is already looking dire!
Giselle convinces him to bring his children to a photoshoot for a child modeling agency. Yeah, this doesn’t smell of set-up at all! Roberto takes his children to the photoshoot. But then he has to leave due to what Giselle calls “Stage father” issues.
As fair as the point was there’s a sense of dread as the father leaves. When he returns, he finds his children and the equipment for the photoshoot gone. A horrified Roberto races out of the building his children abducted. Oof this is a case of who didn’t see this coming?
The scene shifts to Calexico, California. Homeland Security Investigator Tim Ballard is on the move. Jim Caviezel plays the part of Ballard. He and his partner are about to raid the home of someone in possession of child pornography. It’s hard work and it’s taking a toll on Ballard’s personal life.
His partner Chris is in even worse shape, that is he’s thinking of transferring. Understandable because child porn is disgusting!
They raid the house of the suspect and find a whole bunch of illicit material there. Yet Ballard’s partner laments they can’t nail more predators as most are outside the United States. Chris’ words stick with Ballard.
He interrogates the prisoner they brought in, one Ernest Ostinsky. Ballard gains the child predator’s trust by claiming to be like him. Sometimes to do what's right psychology has to get used to delve into some dark places. Over the course of several weeks Ballard gains the pervert’s trust. Finally, Ostinsky sets up a meeting with a trafficked child via a man named Earl Buchanan.
That boy is in fact Miguel one of the abducted children from the movie's beginning. Well, isn’t that a surprise?
Tim manages to rescue Miguel and arrest the child trafficker. He convinces the boy to tell him about the horrible things he went through. The boy then begs Tim to save his sister who is still missing. Miguel then gives Tim his sister’s locket. It’s one dedicated to Saint Timothy, a companion of Paul.
The boy has a tearful reunion with his father. But Tim isn’t satisfied since Rocio is still missing. The search for her takes Tim to Cartagena, Columbia. There he meets up with Vampiro, as played by Bill Camp. Vampiro is a former Cali Cartel accountant.
But he turned into a rescuer of children after an encounter with an underage prostitute.
Tim decides they should try something like what got used to take down a child sex club in Thailand. Since Cartagena is a party town in Colombia it would fit in. He comes up with a sting operation to get some of Giselle’s children. Vampiro brings in Jorge, as played by Javier Godino. He's a Columbian police officer who’s trustworthy.
Vampiro also enlists a worthy citizen Paulo Delgado, played by Edurado Verastegui.
But things take a disheartening turn for Tim. His supervisor Frost, as played by Kurt Fuller orders him to shut down and come home. He explains he doesn’t have the authority for such an operation. Tim then consults with his wife Katherine, as played by actress Mira Sorvino.
He resigns his position in Homeland Security and goes ahead with the search for Rocio. Sympathizing with his situation Frost calls in some favors at the U.S. Embassy in Columbia. They assist the effort as best they can.
Jorge acts as a middleman for the operation. Tim and Vampiro pose as sex traffickers about to set up a member’s only hotel for such people. Giselle agrees to sell them 54 children. Other than a few tense moments the operation goes down nice and neat. Giselle and her people get arrested for selling 54 children.
Thus, the police begin to dismantle her operation. The children realize and celebrate their new freedom.
But Tim and company make a horrible discovery. Rocio is not with the children Giselle brought in. Well, there’s a contingency if ever there was one! Interrogation of one of Giselle’s people reveals another terrible truth. Rocio got sold off by Giselle's people.
She got sold to a man named El Alacrin or The Scorpion. This character gets portrayed by actor Gerardo Taracena.
The Scorpion is a leader in the FARC. They’re also known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia. They’re a rebel group entrenched deep in the Amazon natural area. From there they have their captives mash coca leaves. Which they use to make and distribute cocaine.
Tim and Vampiro go on an undercover mission into the region as U.N. Doctors. Can Tim save the little girl and bring her back to her father?
Tension and intrigue abound as the story comes to its conclusion. And it offers up a look into a dark subject that few are comfortable talking about.
To be fair this isn’t a blockbuster, it’s a low budget movie. But nonetheless it makes up for it with tension, drama, and the actors playing their parts well. Jim Caviezel puts in a solid performance as Tim Ballard. Jose Zuniga is very sympathetic as Roberto.
Bill Camp is fantastic in his role as Vampiro. A flawed man seeking to save his soul by doing what’s right. Havier Godino turns in a solid performance as Jorge. And Cristal Aparicio and Lucas Avila turn in great performances as Rocio and Miguel.
The story was very well thought out. This is a case of where Angel Studios took a chance on talking about a tough subject and it paid big dividends. High praise to Angel Studios for taking a risk like this.
There is one problem that I had with this movie though. No disrespect intended but this movie didn’t address one subject. Sometimes parents will sell their own children into sex trafficking. It’s disgusting but extreme poverty can lead to morals taking a back seat. This is sad but it's also true.
So, a solid cast with great performances and a solid story on child sex trafficking. Angel Studios did a great job with this movie. I must admit their tactic of Pay-it-forward funding is unorthodox. But if it works then go for it. So, Sound of Freedom gets a solid B from me.
This concludes this review, see you next time movie goers!
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