Sight (2024) Angel Studios/Drama RT: 100 minutes Rated PG-13 (violence and thematic material) Director: Andrew Hyatt Screenplay: Andrew Hyatt, John Duigan and Buzz McLaughlin Music: Sean Philip Johnson Cinematography: Michael Balfry Release date: May 24, 2024 (US) Cast: Terry Chen, Greg Kinnear, Natasha Mumba, Fionnula Flanagan, Mia SwamiNathan, Raymond Ma, Wai Ching Ho, Garland Chang, Donald Heng, Leanne Wang, Jeffrey Pai, Ben Wang, Sara Ye, Kelvin Luo, Natalie Skye, Peter Chan, Danni Wang, Jayden Zhang, Kiana Luo.
Rating: ** ½
Even though there’s no way he could have known it at the time, a famous catchphrase from the late, great comedian Flip Wilson definitely applies to Sight: what you see is what you get.
Sight is the latest movie from Angel Studios, the faith-based outfit that has graced us with titles like Cabrini and Sound of Freedom. They make no bones about what to expect from it. It’s exactly what it looks like, an inspirational BOATS (Based On A True Story) drama about a good but troubled man trying to help somebody who might be beyond helping but he tries anyway. It’s very straightforward and predictable with no surprises or unexpected developments. It’s the cinematic equivalent of comfort food.
Directed by Andrew Hyatt (The Blind), Sight tells the story of Dr. Ming Wang (Chen, Snakes on a Plane), a renowned eye surgeon who came from humble beginnings in China circa the Cultural Revolution. He faced many challenges in his life, but he’s about to face his greatest one yet. One day, Sister Marie (Flanagan, The Others) shows up at his office with a little Indian girl named Kajal (SwamiNathan) in tow. She wasn’t born blind; she lost her sight when her stepmother poured acid into her eyes because blind kids make more money begging on the streets of Calcutta. Now she’s in America. Sister Marie asks Ming to help the girl regain her sight and even though it doesn’t look hopeful, he agrees to take her on as a patient.
Ming may be successful, but he’s anything but happy. He can’t let go of the past. Growing up in China, he witnessed a horrible uprising by young men who shut down all the schools. One particularly nasty fellow, Lao Bin (Pai), singles out Ming because he refuses to join them. He wants to follow in his father’s (Heng, The Art of Racing in the Rain) footsteps and be a doctor. This pisses Lao Bin off to no end. He retaliates by dragging away Ming’s closest friend Lili (Ye) right in front of him. She’s never seen or heard from again. He’s been carrying the guilt of not being able to save her since that awful day. This is obviously why he’s so determined to help others, little Kajal in particular.
Perhaps the only thing about Sight that isn’t predictable is that Ming doesn’t go looking for Lili. No, this is his personal journey to finally reconcile the past with the present. As one character points out, “the present is made possible by the past”. It made Ming the fighter he is today. It gave him the strength to return to school and eventually leave his home country to attend college and medical school in America. He would go on to open a successful practice with his friend and partner Misha Bartnovsky (Kinnear, As Good as It Gets) whose main task appears to be reminding Ming that he is mortal.
Angel Studios is primarily known for making religious movies that aggressively push their agenda. The biggest offender is last year’s After Death, a sermon disguised as a documentary about near-death experiences. I felt duped. They’re also known for soliciting donations before the end credits roll. Viewers are asked to scan a QR code and make a donation towards buying tickets for folks who can’t otherwise afford them. I will grant that Sight isn’t quite as religious as their previous films. Faith plays a smaller part in this film and it only comes in during the third act. Even then, we’re not given a clear idea that Ming allows Jesus into his life. As for the latter thing, I can say only this. Wouldn’t it make more sense to ask viewers to make donations to Ming’s practice?
In general, Sight is fine for what it is. It’s not perfect. It tends to meander. The narrative could have used some tightening up. The writers should have spent more time on the present, developing the bond between Ming and his young patient. It would have been interesting to hear more about the science of the surgery he plans to try. His past, told via flashbacks, is compelling stuff and I understand that it’s necessary to show it as it provides context to Ming’s character. At the same time, it’s distracting, but not as much as the subplot about Ming’s family in America. For whatever reason (comic relief perhaps?), his younger brother is one of those tech slackers who always has a can’t-miss idea that would likely miss if Ming agreed to back it. It’s not an easy fit in the narrative.
Chen is okay as Ming. It’s an uneven performance; he doesn’t always convey his emotions. Kinnear is a little better as the partner. Some of the movie’s best scenes are the ones showing their different approaches to problems. The best performance in Sight comes from SwamiNathan. She is adorable as Kajal, a happy kid who inspires others with her courage and kindness. I know, it sounds corny as hell, but it works.
I don’t think…. nay, I know we’re not looking at a potential summer blockbuster with Sight, but I believe its target audience will like it. Sometimes that’s the best you can hope for.
