Since Justice Anthony Kennedy recently announced his plans to retire from the United States Supreme Court, both pro-life and pro-choice supporters have been animated.
Pro-life advocates hope the balance of the highest court in the land will swing decidedly right with President Donald J. Trump’s conservative pick to replace Justice Kennedy, Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Those who support abortion fear another conservative presiding at the Supreme Court might play an instrumental role in overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade case. With the national spotlight on abortion, it’s fitting that the following three films about this controversial practice are set to hit theaters soon.
“Unplanned”
In October of 2009, Abby Johnson stepped down from her position as clinic director of the local Planned Parenthood located in the vicinity of College Station, Texas. Johnson, whose decision to leave Planned Parenthood led to a national pandemonium, had been employed by the clinic for eight years. The film “Unplanned” is based on her memoir Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader, an Amazon bestseller. In her book, Johnson acknowledged she thought her work with Planned Parenthood was initially “wonderfully rich and satisfying.” She was proud of her team due to their efficient distribution of types of contraception that negated the need for more costly abortions.
Johnson’s views on abortion changed when a visiting physician requested she assist him in the examining room. This mind-numbing experience eventually led to a secret meeting with neighboring pregnancy help leaders, a revealing local television interview, and a legal gag order from Planned Parenthood. In 2014, Johnson disclosed that Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon, writers of the highly popular movie “God’s Not Dead” had signed a deal to turn her story into a major motion picture. The film is scheduled for release on February 22, 2019.
“Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer”
In 2010, authorities in west Philadelphia became alarmed by the growing number of complaints about an abortion center. Philadelphia and FBI investigators were shocked at the discoveries they made while raiding Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s offices. Among other things, they found baby body parts stored in jars and unhygienic exam rooms that smelt of blood. Gosnell was later convicted of more than 200 counts of breaking Pennsylvania abortion laws, and three counts of murder. He now resides in a state prison where he is serving out three life sentences. A scripted version of Gosnell’s grisly story is slated to hit theaters on October 12, 2018.
Nick Searcy, who starred in “The Fugitive” and “Cast Away,” is directing the film. In the movie, Dean Cain will play the lead detective in the Gosnell case. Cain previously starred as Superman in the 1990s television show “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.” He also occasionally appears as a guest host on the weekend addition of “Fox and Friends.”
“Roe v. Wade”
The upcoming film “Roe v. Wade” will revisit the events immediately before the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States.
Nick Loeb and Cathy Allyn are co-writers, co-producers, and co-directors of the movie, which began shooting near New Orleans on June 15, 2018.
Loeb revealed to the Hollywood Reporter that “no one has really told the whole truth about Roe v. Wade in a film. When I delved into this, I discovered conspiracy theories, fake news, made-up statistics and a whole lot of people involved who switched their positions from pro-choice to pro-life, including Norma [McCorvey, the ‘Jane Roe’ of Roe v. Wade].”
Loeb, who only recently became pro-life, and production partner Allyn reportedly researched the case for two years utilizing 40 sources including numerous books and court transcripts.
The film’s website labels it “the real untold story of how people lied; how the media lied; and how the courts were manipulated to pass a law that has since killed over 60 million Americans.”
Besides co-writing, co-producing, and co-directing the film, Loeb stars in it. He plays the well-known abortion doctor Bernard Nathanson, the author of the 1996 book The Hand of God. The film utilizes the book as a primary source of quotes and scenes. In addition to Loeb, the movie stars Oscar winning actor Jon Voight, Stacey Dash, Robert Davi, and Greer Grammar — the daughter of pro-life actor Kelsey Grammar.
~ 1776 Christian
