Conversations with God 2006

Peter Debruge, Miami Herald: I don't doubt that Walsch's book has touched people. I don't even question whether he actually spoke to God. I just wish the movie itself shared some of his miraculous message with audiences. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: The film treats its subject to a hagiography rather than a dramatization. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: Writer Eric DelaBarre and director Stephen Simon deliver Walsch's apotheosis without any trace of irony. But their treatment of his misfortunes has some of the ring of truth, even though the movie lingers far too long over its own epiphanies. Read more

Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times: Conversations with God is a bad film about good things that many people will find enlightening. Its message is admirable, its filmmaking as bland as a communion wafer. Read more

Kathy Cano Murillo, Arizona Republic: It's inspiring to see how Walsch conquered the odds, but at times Conversations With God feels like a subliminal advertisement for the book. Read more

William Lobdell, Los Angeles Times: OK, Lord... For starters, since when do you talk like Dr. Phil? Read more

John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press: The movie claims the 'God inside me' concept is rooted in compassion, but it plays like nondenominational narcissism to me. Read more

Jason Anderson, Globe and Mail: Although Stephen Simon's film has the mawkish trappings of an inspirational tale, its unseemly emphasis on monetary matters makes Walsch seem less interested in the spiritual possibilities of his celestial networking skills than their financial benefits. Read more

Tim Grierson, L.A. Weekly: What's most glaringly missing in this self-promotional marketing tool is, of all things, God, who gets only a bit role as Walsch's muse in a few scenes. He really oughta fire His agent. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: What He does want, according to Walsch, is for us to have jobs we really like, and to make money. Lots of money. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: One of Walsch's precepts is that you should never make a living doing something you hate. If I'd known that, I might not have felt obliged to sit through every excruciating minute of this sanctimonious infomercial. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: The 'God' in Conversations with God acts like a psychotherapist and talks in the buzz-phrases of self-help speak. Read more

Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle: If God did start speaking to some random homeless guy, wouldn't he come up with some better material? Read more

Teresa Budasi, Chicago Sun-Times: Spirituality is big business, especially on the printed page, but in movies we like the Big Message in the form of metaphor or allegory rather than a hammer over the head. Read more

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star: A terminally muddled movie, uncertain as to whether it's promoting Neale, God, Mammon, Putnam Books or the capitalist exploitation of spiritual need. Read more

Ronnie Scheib, Variety: The story of Walsch's travails never strains credulity, though helmer Simon's predilection for spiritual vistas with light breaking through clouds, arrested close-ups and endless long dissolves often skirts kitsch. Read more

Luke Y. Thompson, Village Voice: It's an agreeable enough tale right up until God butts in and starts talking; even if you can swallow the premise, it isn't particularly cinematic to watch a guy endlessly scribbling on legal pads. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: There's nothing particularly objectionable about the film (other than its inert movie-of-the-week structure) until Walsch takes his God-spokesman role too far in the final act. Read more