Movie Review — “Hillsong: Let Hope Rise”

The Hillsong United band (stylised as Hillsong UNITED or UNITED) is a worship band that originated as a part of Hillsong Church. Formed in 1998 as part of...

hillsong

The Hillsong United band (stylised as Hillsong UNITED or UNITED) is a worship band that originated as a part of Hillsong Church. Formed in 1998 as part of Hillsong’s youth ministry, the band consists of several rotating worship leaders from the church.

The opening inter title of Hillspring: Let Hope Rise informs the viewer, “This film is intended as a theatrical worship experience.

Directed by Michael John Warren, the filmmaker has taken a very neutral approach to his subject matter.

Warren includes concert footage, complete with onscreen lyrics, and a series of bland interviews with several of the dozen or so members, as well as the church’s founder, Brian Houston.

The documentary follows the band in the period leading up to a major concert at The Forum in Los Angeles as they also feel the pressure to create original songs for a new album.

Many of your favorite songs are performed, and we also get to see how the group interacts with the community at tour stops, particularly in the slums of Manila.

Each worship leader shares stories of their own life, faith and challenges in a mix that may just leave you wondering what you can do for the Kingdom starting today.

Watch the trailer for Hillsong: Let Hope Rise here.

Hillsong: Let Hope Rise opened in theaters September 16, 2016. It runs 103 minutes and stars Joel Houston, Taya Smith, Jad Gillies, Michael Crocker, Jonathan ‘JD’ Douglass, Dylan Thomas, Brian Houston and Bobbie Houston.

aaron@ugchristiannews.com

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