User Reviews

Atheists out there slam this movie because they think this movie is all about Christianity and cashing in on this tragedy. While yes it has Christian overtones. Rachel Scott was a Christian this was her belief and people need to respect her religion. For Atheists to slam this movie proves they don't get the point to this movie. Recently I watched a Anne Frank documentary at the beginning the director of the talks about Anne which directly Applies to Rachel Scott "The World will never know who was lost or what was lost when these kids were murdered there future was shut down for them but if we imagine what we lost we might belong with those who directly experienced this event more deeply and more humbly" Rachel Scott was a beautiful human being, if everybody was like her the world would be a much better place may she RIP.

Here's the thing, what happened at Columbine was a tragedy. And it was inevitable that somebody would come along and try to make a movie about it. The problem is instead of focusing on the events that took place and led up to the shooting we're instead shown the life of a young girl who was killed in the tragedy.

That all by itself wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing as part of this is based on her diary and what her friends said of her. They even go as far as to portray her as a normal teen who sneaks out of her house to have some fun with her friends and have her drink and smoke.

But they really played up the religious angle which would be fine if it actually had anything to do with the story. The idea is that the killers supposedly asked her before she was shot if she believed in God and when she said yes, they said, "go be with him" and shot her. The problem is, nobody else was around to have heard her say this. All this story is building up to her, when being faced with death, saying she believes in God knowing it would mean her death.

And yet the killers also seemed to go after those that weren't believers. This is why I say this movie has an obvious agenda. And honestly I wouldn't mind so much. Religious movies are a big thing in today's world. The problem is when they decide to play fast and loose with the facts or reality in an attempt to sell their story.

First and foremost, I am not slamming this movie for it being a movie about Columbine. Like many tragedies before and after, a movie was bound to be made about it. The only Praise I would give this, is that it's one of the few movies out there that tries to do it in the point of view of the victim rather than the killer, but that's the only praise I am giving it.

I have never ever seen a biopic movie horrifically bad since the Karla Homolka biopic starring Laura Prepon. You people managed to finally do it and make a movie about Karla Homolka, another exploitive POS biopic that paints a criminal mastermind as one of Bernardo's victims, look decent by comparison.

First let's get this out of the way. The movie's aesop seems to convey that Christianity is the way to go and that people like Eric and Dylan are evil Atheists that don't believe in God. I've looked the actual tragedy up, in no way shape or form was the shootings religiously motivated. Yet here they are shooting Christians only instead of I don't know everyone they could aim their guns at.

Second, at first I felt bad for the families of the victims as well as the parents of the killers being exploited by these people. Only for me to find out later that not only was this based off a book by the victim's mother, but she served as Executive Producer of this POS movie. That means she paid money and had say in what goes on in the movie. She could have told the truth and put more emphasis on Rachel's diaries, but instead, she twists the words and makes her daughter into a martyr all so she can profit off it and spread her overtly Christian agenda. She even went so far as to go on the 700 club, exploiting her daughter's death to get them donations. I'm sorry, but she gets no sympathy from me.

I never even heard of this movie until today and now that I seen it I wish I didn't. If you don't want to see an example of how scummy the human race can be, then don't watch this, because it's too real of an example.

I knew nothing of Rachel Joy Scott until I happened upon this movie, a Netflix recommendation in the Faith & Spirituality category. I have to admit that my initial impression - after watching the first 10 minutes - had nothing to do with the story; the quality of the production and acting distracted me. Not that either are bad, but neither are on par with higher budget films. However, I was soon engrossed in the narrative, which is compelling not just because it's true. If you're open to it, Rachel's story will bring tears to your eyes on more than one occasion, though perhaps not as many as it should. I finally realized that it is the direction - by cinematographer Brian Baugh, an inexperienced director - that's likely the culprit for why I'm Not Ashamed (2016) didn't have the emotional impact that it could have, at least for me.

Masey McLain plays Rachel, a young girl who struggled with her Christianity especially given that her dad (a former pastor, which the movie doesn't reveal) divorced her mother Beth (Terri Minton) when she was 7. Beth had to raise Rachel and her four siblings as a single mother for seven years. Before her mother remarried, Rachel recommitted her life to Jesus while visiting her aunt and cousin (Korie and Sadie Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame) in Louisiana.

Being more outspoken about her beliefs cost Rachel some of her closest friends, but even while knowing it was worth it, she struggled with a teenager's need to be accepted in high school. While some of the story's elements have been changed or fictionalized, the vast majority of it appears to be true according to my research. The character of Nathan 'Nate' Ballard (Ben Davies), a homeless young man that Rachel 'adopts' as her bigger brother - helping him to find Jesus, actually has a different real name.

Most of the film's run-time (just under 2 hours) focuses on Rachel's junior year at Columbine, which ended on April 20, 1999 when Eric Harris (David Errigo Jr.) and Dylan Klebold (Cory Chapman) murdered her and 12 others at the Colorado high school before both committed suicide. Rachel was involved in art and drama. Cameron McKendry plays Alex, who played opposite Rachel in a play. This led the two of them into a relationship that Rachel ended when she feared it might become physical.

Apparently Rachel positively impacted a lot of people through her Christ-following example, some that she was aware of in life and others that she likely didn't know about. While the film does depict the fact that many students decorated her abandoned red Acura with flowers and letters - making it a shrine, it doesn't show her funeral, which was attended by more than 1,000 people; its live television broadcast audience exceeded that of Princess Diana's.

The epilogue does state that Rachel's story has touched millions of lives, but doesn't mention that this is due in large part to family members that wrote books and, most importantly, started Rachel's Challenge, whose objectives are to: help schools and businesses become safer, more connected places to live and learn; stimulate real culture change by actively involving the entire community in the process; change lives by providing culturally relevant social/emotional training; and increase achievement and ensure results by engaging the participants' heart, head and hands in a continuing improvement process.

Anybody that knows me, knows, that I'm not a huge fan of independent faith-based movies; especially from Pure Flix Entertainment. Yet, there are a few movies out, there; I have no problem with. 2016's 'I'm Not Ashamed' is one of those. Directed by Brian Baugh & somewhat based on the journal of real-life student, Rachel Joy Scott, this movie accounts Scott (Masey McLain)'s journey as she struggles of keeping her faith, during her troubling last year at Columbine High School. Without spoiling the movie, too much, while, the trailers might make it seem, like the filmmakers are seemingly using a real-life tragedy like the 1999's Columbine Shooting to promote a stereotypical Christian agenda, as if the whole event was cause by religious persecution. That's really far from the case, once you see the movie, as the movie takes a complex approach to the controversial issues of bulling, showing that, anybody could fall victim to it, Christian or not. While, it's true, that there was still some scenes of her regularly being subjected to mockery, due to her belief to God. Christianity is not really, not the main focus. It's more about her, trying to show compassion than preaching to the choir, when, face with indifferentism. It's also a movie about learning how to sympathy with the people, instead of trying to over-demonize them for actions, you don't believe with. This was something, very rare to see in a Pure Flix movie, whom films like 2014's 'Old Fashioned' & 2014's 'God's Not Dead', are known for being a little too righteous for its own good. Another good thing about this movie is that, the film doesn't make Rachel, out to be, too much of an angelic figure that nobody can related. She still has problems, most teens deal with; whether it's the fear, her not succumbing to much, after high school, her off and on, relationships with lovers, friends and family, her problems with alcohol & weed smoking, or her dealing with suicidal thoughts. It's character development 101. Regardless, I do think, the movie could had cut down on a bit, on the subplot of a love triangle, brewing between her & two boys, Alex Dickerson (Cameron McKendry) & fictional Nathan Ballard, loosely based on, Mark Bodiford-Pettit, as it was going too much into 2008's 'Twilight' fan-fiction, when in truth, while, Scott was somewhat popular, she mostly kept to herself, only, having one serious relationship, before breaking it up, herself, not because of her partner cheating on her, but because she didn't want it to become physical demanding, as she was moving out on her own, with a friend, Alisha Basore after high school. Another thing, misleading, was the idea, that she attended prom with a minor, fictional Asian character, named Kevin (Mark Daugherty). In real life, she went with Nick Baumgart, another Caucasian, student & one of the main targets, for the shooter. Another big misinformation that the movie is trying to spread is the idea that the shooters, Eric Harris (David Errigo Jr.) & Dylan Klebold (Cory Chapman) ask Scott, before killing her, if she believe in God. Based on the many of police reports, I have research & testimony of students around her, at the crime scene, I can personally, say, this, probably never really happen; as in real-life, Rachel was hit four times and was killed instantly. Survivor Valeen Schnurr claims that she was the one questioned as to her belief in God by the shooters & her statements were misdirection by news medias at the time, causing people to believe that the questions were direction to Scott & another victim, Cassie Bernall. Nevertheless, both victims came to be regarded as Christian martyrs by Evangelical Christians, overtime. Because of that, the movie does feel, a bit over-sentimental at times with the symbolism God's light visuals from cinematographer John Matysiak and cheesy Christian music by composer, Timothy William that went along with Scott, at certain points of the film. As for the murderers, I kinda, glad the movie didn't focus, too much on them. While, it's true, that information would help the film, a little more, on understanding, their motives. I really don't think, they really need, any more spotlight. The movie alright went overboard with the foreshadowing to the shooting. In my opinion, their presence should had been even cut, even shorter, as their climatic action would be more shocking. Nevertheless, the movie did right, with not showing anymore of the shooting, after her death, but archive news footage. The abrupt ending had still had enough of an impact to make me, feel a bit, emotional. Nevertheless, the film could had been a little more gritty with the language for a PG-13. Overall: I have to say, the movie was very insightful with its' semi-alright, acting and production values. Still, I can understand, why certain people might hate this movie for even existence. I was kinda turn off, by it, at first. After all, Columbine High School massacre is still, a fresh open wound to some people. In the end, I change my mine, because talking about the event, is the best way to heal. I just wish, the movie wasn't made, to make a profit for the studio-heads. In short, the box office take, should had gone to the victim's families, charities, or preventing gun-violence. Not the big wigs in Hollywood. In the end, while, the movie isn't God-awful. It's should had been a little more well-made. The victims of this tragedy, deserve better.

Rachel was acted like an angel in this movie. I wish there many of like her in the world. what a trajedy.

I don't agree with the reviewers who say that this film is exploiting the tragedy of the Columbine shooting, in fact all it's doing is raising awareness of what happened - but they could've been more authentic and serious about it. I went into this expecting a good film and it turned out to be like a bad Lifetime movie. This was supposed to take place in the 1990's, but aside from the absence of technology there is absolutely nothing 'nineties' about it. Rachael looks like she should have a cellular phone in her hands. The yoga pants and super-straight hair and half-shirts are all 21st century ugly fashions, the way the characters spoke sounded like social media posts... why? How hard is it to create a nineties vibe? Even just a few popular 1990's music hits or a VHS tape of something could've really improved this.

And what's with the super-religious themes? There is one particularly odd scene of Rachael in church, screaming and crying while music plays, shouting about Jesus for no reason. She wears a giant wooden cross around her neck. When her parents' finances go bad, her mom and siblings stand in a circle, holding hands and speaking aloud to God. Is this realistic? Was Racheal's family really like that to the extent that this film portrays? The lines were horrible. Rachael talking in a cutesy voice, saying, "c'mon, Larry, I need my cherry"? Why? I really just don't get it. Is there something special I'm missing here? This film was a complete waste of time and a ridiculous portrayal of a situation that could've been handled on film so much better than this. It seems almost disrespectful, because this film is so lame that it's comedic, and I just didn't understand why the filmmakers would want to create it like this.