New Showbiz

You are here:
Heart of the Beholder

Heart of the Beholder

2005

R

Director

Ken Tipton

Runtime

106 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Based on the true story of a family who opened the first videocassette rental stores in St. Louis in 1980. The family was ruined by a corrupt prosecutor who had been blackmailed by a religious group because the family refused to remove Martin Scorsese's controversial film, "The Last Temptation of Christ", from their stores.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.8/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisnormative identities. While the plot defends controversial art, which often intersects with queer themes, specific character identities remain unconfirmed.

Gender Representation

Fair

The story centers on a family-run business, implying a domestic structure. While gender hierarchies are not detailed, the conflict suggests characters may operate outside traditional submissive roles.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

Set in 1980s St. Louis, the film appears to follow the demographic norms of that era. There is no evidence of diverse casting or non-Anglo-Saxon majority characters.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The narrative offers a strong critique of religious hegemony and institutional corruption. It prioritizes secularism and individual agency by framing religious groups as coercive forces against a family.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence within the narrative to suggest the inclusion of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Strengths

  • Provides a sophisticated critique of the intersection between religious authority and state power.
  • Champions individual agency and secularism against coercive institutional dogma.
  • Explores complex themes of systemic corruption and the defense of controversial expression.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks visible or explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities and non-cisnormative characters.
  • Shows limited evidence of racial or ethnic diversity within its 1980s setting.
  • Provides no discernible representation of characters with disabilities.

AI Analysis

Heart of the Beholder is a drama centered on a family's struggle against systemic corruption. The film's strength lies in its thematic depth, specifically its critique of how religious institutions can exert undue influence over legal and state powers. However, the film lacks clear evidence of identity-based diversity. The representation of race, gender, and LGBTQ+ identities appears limited by the historical setting and the specific focus on a singular legal and religious conflict. Ultimately, the work functions more as a social critique of institutional power than a diverse character study, making it a specialized narrative rather than a broad representation of various social identities.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.