Actor Jim Caviezel pushed back on media criticism of the Angel Studios film "Sound of Freedom" after it unexpectedly skyrocketed into the cinemas, even surpassing the blockbuster films like "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" across the US.
"They're scared. Quaking in their boots. And it's because the public is listening to their hearts, which is what this film tells you to do," the actor said.
Caviezel, who was widely known for his role as Jesus in the Mel Gibson film called "The Passion of the Christ," complained their production and film were "being shafted by mainstream media" and "not getting any coverage" due, in part, to speculations by The Guardian and Jezebel that the film was associated to QAnon, an online group often linked with promoting fringe conspiracy theories. Both the film and its producers explicitly denied engaging in such.
Nevertheless, Caviezel was content that the film was being viewed by two million people in its opening weekend, the same number as the two million children being trafficked across the globe, which is the film's main topic.
"Sound of Freedom" was initially pitched to 20th Century Fox, but was shelved after Disney acquired the studios in 2019. Angel Studios, the same distributors behind the biblical program "The Chosen," picked up the project.
Child Trafficking is Appalling, Caviezel Says
"Sound of Freedom," written and directed by Alejandro Monteverde, is centered around the story of Tim Ballard, a US Homeland Security agent who rescued two young children from human traffickers in South America.
In 2013, Ballard started the non-profit group Operation Underground Railroad, which according to its website, "directly responds to international government requests to develop intelligence and assist to carry out rescue efforts."
Because of Ballard's connections with then-US President Donald Trump in 2019, Vice News published scathing reports about the organization in 2020.
"Sound of Freedom" was rated by Rotten Tomatoes at 79% and gained mixed reviews from multiple publications.
Despite the common ground topic that human trafficking is the height of immorality, which Caviezel concurs as an "appalling" matter and a "moral depravity", fans and critics squabble about the choice of Caviezel as the main actor and his purported political stance.
"It's really funny when they don't like my politics because my politics are the Constitution of the United States," he said. "I want everybody to be under the Constitution of the United States with inalienable rights, including unborn and born children. They have a right."
AMC Squashes Rumors of Cinematic Sabotage
Meanwhile, AMC theaters this week refuted rumors that "Sound of Freedom" has been sabotaged in theaters.
Angel Studios head of theatrical distribution Brandon Purdie said while they understood the sentiment that AMC theaters "have made it difficult for fans to see Sound of Freedom in local AMC theaters," they have been "an outstanding partner for Angel Studios.
"[I]n fact, as a result of the movie's performance and consumer demand, AMC has agreed to add additional screens for Sound of Freedom this weekend," Purdie added.
