Here are the best faith-based movies of the year: This musical biopic tells the inspiring story of the Smallbone family. They move to Nashville after their music business collapses in Australia.

What is it that makes a great faith-based movie? Scriptural citations ... optimism and the power of music to inspire and heal. The best of film touches on our primal fears and greatest victories.

The vibe of Lin’s film is closer to Roland Joffé’s “The Mission” than a faith-based hagiography like ... than a docufiction quasi-adventure movie, Lin and Ripley allow themselves ...

But the best way to make God laugh is to tell him ... Still, it's hard to be entirely cynical about a faith-based movie that makes a sincere effort to engage with true teachings of Christianity ...

(Ironically, that Gibson/Wahlberg team-up has previously featured in a decidedly more faith-based ... a movie starring Neal McDonough is likely to outgross fully half of this year’s Best Picture ...

In the interim, Lin has directed no fewer than five “Fast & Furious” movies, which makes this ... Joffé’s “The Mission” than a faith-based hagiography like “The End of the Spear.” ...