'Oh My God' review: Searching for the common thread in religions around the world

November 26, 8:10 PMAtlanta Movies ExaminerRyan McNally

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“Brother will kill brother,
Spill blood across the land.
Killing for religion,
Is something I don’t understand.”
-- Megadeth, “Holy Wars”

What is God? In the new documentary Oh My God, director Peter Rodger attempts to find some answers to the religious questions that mankind has been wrestling with for centuries. Is there a common thread to the God worshipped in various spots around the world? And why has the topic of God become politicized, with countries going to war with one another over religions that allegedly preach peace?

Credit Rodger for aiming high. And he doesn’t skimp on travel in pursuit of his quest, filming in 23 countries over three years, venturing to remote locations such as Bali, Kenya and the ancient ruins of Guatemala. We hear from Rabbis, Christian Fundamentalists, Catholic Priests, Buddhist Llamas, Hindu Swamis, Zen Masters, Muslim radicals and Shamans regarding the essence of God. Rodger also sprinkles in insights from celebs and B-listers, most notably heavyweight actors and musicans such as Hugh Jackman, Ringo Starr and Seal.

Oh My God is beautifully shot, with Rodger and his team capturing exotic images aplenty. What a pity the gorgeous cinematography doesn’t serve a more compelling documentary. You’d think that a movie about the meaning of God would lend itself to esoteric, contemplative scenes that take the time to linger over the important questions being raised. But instead Rodger and editor John Hoyt structure Oh My God like a nonstop action film or in-your-face music video. Words of interviewees are often cut together and juxtaposed in such a rapid-fire fashion that they’re stripped of context and meaning. The ideas just don’t have time to breathe.

Making matters worse is the abrasive score by Alexander van Bubenheim, which often meshes poorly with the imagery and dialogues. During one regrettable sequence, scenes of a volunteer nurse tending to the poor and ill are backed by a blazing guitar solo that sounds like it was pulled from an ‘80s hair metal ballad (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Just when you think it can’t get worse, the next supposedly philosophical segment is cut to a pulsing dance club beat that mixes the words of the interviewees into a techno-flavored soundtrack. Ouch. Elsewhere, uninspired New Age music ups the cheese factor.

For a brief while, Oh My God settles down and finds its focus in the timely topic of the Muslim faith. In one compelling sequence, Rodger contrasts an extremist Muslim’s reading of a passage in the Koran with a differing opinion from a more moderate cleric. In another, Rodger’s experiences on the Israel-Palestine border provide compelling, thought-provoking material.

Unfortunately, it’s not long before Oh My God is off to the next locale, and shortly thereafter the film starts tripping up again on stylistic overkill and haphazard structure. While Rodger’s aim of presenting so many opinions is admirable, there isn’t adequate time to present them all in the depth the subject matter deserves, and the artistic choices he makes muddles the film further. Rodger’s goal is to leave it up to viewers to come to their own conclusions, but Oh My God isn’t likely to further your understanding of religious matters.

Grade: C

Oh My God trailer:



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"Oh My God" opens in Atlanta on Nov. 27 at Landmark’s Midtown Art Cinema.