This is our last category for the Plugged In Movie Awards. It should be—and not just because it’s the last thing some of our readers might think Plugged In would do! It is the category that stretches us the most, and will make you think the hardest. It’s our Diamond in the Rough category.
Clichéd as it is, we chose the name for this category with quite a bit of forethought. We wanted it to do most of the heavy lifting when it came to explaining why Plugged In was applauding movies that had sometimes serious content concerns. We wanted it to instantly resonate with a word picture most people would understand. To instantly communicate that if some ragged edges had been smoothed off these films before they were released, then the jewel inside would have sparkled with even more brilliance. But that even with the scuffs and gouges, it still managed to carry quite a bit of light with it.
Vote for your favorite on our FACEBOOK PAGE or right here on our blog. Note that you’re more than welcome to vote and speak your mind anonymously, but if you want it to count, you’ll have to JOIN our blog community and use your forum name. We’ll announce our winning picks right alongside yours on Feb. 14 during that day’s Official Plugged In Podcast. The following day we’ll publish the details on this blog.
Remember, in this category in particular, our nominees aren’t perfect films. But they’re all movies that have merit—capable (we think) of inspiring you and/or making you think. So please read our linked reviews carefully before watching any of them.
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
The Impossible (PG-13): The members of the Bennett family—Henry, his wife Maria and their three boys—are all set to enjoy their holiday at an ocean-side Thailand resort during Christmas. It’s all sun, surf and seasonal cheer … until a 90-foot wave roars in and obliterates everything. Based on a real family’s struggles during the devastating tsunami of 2004, this is a well-acted and often emotionally wrenching story. The realistic scenes of death and devastation, and brief glimpses of 
torn, naked flesh are difficult images to see, making this a rough ride both visually and emotionally. But through all the horror, The Impossible speaks powerfully of self-sacrifice, the anguish of loss and the strength of familial love.
Les Misérables (PG-13): Based on Victor Hugo’s novel and the blockbuster musical of the same name, this is the epic opus tale of Jean Valjean, a beaten-down man who spent 19 years of his life in prison for simply stealing a loaf of bread. Once released, though, his life is changed forever by one small act of mercy and his heartfelt recognition of God’s forgiveness. This musical film powerfully depicts the struggle between law and grace in a fallen, heartless world. And the all-star cast often makes that redemption tale soar with raw emotion and beautiful song. But director Tom Hooper’s realistic and gritty Paris of the early 1800s is also a filthy land of squalor, befouled humanity and sore sensuality.
Life of Pi (PG): This gently gorgeous movie is perhaps the most problematic of this list’s unpolished gems. While most films are scuffed with language or sex or violence, this one suffers in its soul. Pi, the multi-religious protagonist, suggests that faith can be a patchwork thing: It doesn’t matter what you worship as long as you worship it; faith is “real” as long as it helps you. These themes are incompatible with true Christianity, which is both literally true and quite exclusive. But Pi’s spiritual squishiness doesn’t automatically preclude spiritually mature audiences from being elevated by his stunning, and moving, journey—a journey that serves as a riveting rumination on grace, submission and the incomparable beauty of faith. “God,” Pi says, “I give myself to you. I am your vessel. Whatever comes, I want to know. Show me.” And in the end, God—even if Pi doesn’t truly understand Him—shows him mercy and wonders beyond belief.
Lincoln (PG-13): Nobody’s perfect—not even the United States’ greatest president. In this Oscar-nominated tour de force, we see Lincoln as a more complex personality than most of our history books show. This homespun secular saint was also a masterful, even conniving politician, as liable to persuade opponents through the twist of an arm or an under-the-table bribe as a shake of the hand. But can we forgive his techniques, considering his aim was nothing short of freeing millions of people from slavery? It’s that lingering question that makes this film a true diamond and, at the same time, leaves it in the rough. It might launch a thousand fantastic discussions, but its “end justifies the means” ethos (along with some bad language and harrowing war imagery) make it a sometimes troubling—but reasonably true and gratifyingly inspiring—history lesson.
Trouble With the Curve (PG-13): Gus Lobel and his daughter Mickey haven’t exactly been in sync as of late. She’s an up-and-coming lawyer, and he’s an isolated old codger of a baseball scout. But when it comes out that Gus is losing his eyesight—and if he’s not careful his job—there’s only one person who can help him. Like father like daughter, Mickey knows baseball like Gus knows baseball. And maybe that will be enough to see them through. Baseball, romance, a dad/daughter reconciliation, loads of scratch-and-spit humor and a grumbling, gruff old Clint Eastwood. What more could you ask for in a movie? Well, maybe just one little thing: fewer foul language curve balls.
Explore our other Plugged In Movie Awards nominees in these categories:
Best Movie for Kids
Best Movie for Teens
Best Christian Movie
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