On January 18, 1989, Texas Pastor Don Piper was on his way home from speaking at a conference. It was pouring rain, and he was hit by a semi-tractor truck as he crossed a bridge. The truck crunched his car like an artichoke. Pronounced dead by first responders and the coroner, Piper lay in the car for an hour and a half waiting for the Jaws of Life to enable them to remove him from the wreck.

90 Minutes in Heaven, a film adapted from the Don Piper’s best-selling book, concerns his real- life experience of spending 90 minutes in Heaven.  Pastor Dick Onarecker (Michael Harding), arrives on the scene, insisting that he pray for the victim even though the professionals have tol him the man is dead. What happens when Dick Onarecker makes his way through the trunk of the car and lays his hand on Pastor Piper is better understood by seeing it than reading about it.

Don ends up in a hospital with more injures than most other people could live with. He’s in horrific pain. The family falls to pieces. His wife Eva (Kate Bosworth) wants to be there every day for her husband but needs to keep her teaching career, especially since finances will be a major problem for them now. Because their young children require attention and normalcy, Eva agrees to let her parents take them to their home 250 miles away and put them in school there.

Hayden Christensen  (Star Wars: Episode 111 – Revenge of the Sith) gives an astounding performance in the role of Don Piper. I think it’s his best performance yet. As Don continues to toss and turn in bed, he seems aloof to his wife, family and doctors. As explained to me by the real Don Piper in an interview, it’s because of his memory of the peace and comfort he felt while in Heaven. He does not want to live if his life is going to be so impaired and such a burden to his family.

Bosworth (Still Alice, Before I Wake) is also great as Eva, a wife who can’t understand why the husband she once knew no longer wants to breathe or have visitors. At one point fellow Pastor Perkins (Fred Dalton Thompson) begins to visit. Initially he mentors and prays for Don, but eventually he lashes out at how he’s behaving and hurting his family. This is somewhat of a wake-up call for Don.

Finally at home, Don gets back on track as he adjusts to life with the Fixator, a device -- with large pins sticking out through his clothes -- that is supposed to create new bone tissue. 

Reactions to this film vary between believers and non-believers. The fact that Piper was dead for 90 minutes can be supported by those in attendance at the accident. Piper’s story about being in Heaven -- explained in the film -- can only be sworn to by Piper himself.  There are many such stories in our world today, but it’s up to individuals to believe or not. Still, it’s a brave and fascinating story, at times eliciting empathy and sorrow but also joy for those who have faith.

As a film critic, I understand the importance of setting aside my own opinions about films involving things I don’t agree with or enjoy -- such as drugs, violence, loud sci-fi experiences. I try to look at each story on a different level. Christian films and DVDS are really hot presently because they are doing well at the box office. Yet some film critics seem to lash out with  ridiculous statements -- often vulgar -- about something they don’t indulge in or believe. Examples:

“It’s totally unconnected from God and religion.”

“The film seems relatively uninterested in doing more than preaching to the choir.”

I believe these critics fail to see the underlying story. Hence, Don’s reactions were not those on the surface with having to deal with constant pain, but the feelings in his soul that his situation was causing pain and misery to a family he could not take care of for a long time.

What I see is a true story of what happened to a real family. It inspires hope, patience and love. I like what several viewers said at the screening I attended, as follows.

“This is a movie of humanity and faith, which mainstream reviewers probably know nothing about.”

“Very powerful movie. Enjoyed it,”

“A great movie, I do not care what critics say anymore!”

And I admire the Giving Films production company for donating all their profits from the movie to charity.

(Released by Samuel Goldwyn Films and rated “PG-13” for intense accident and injury images.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.