The Third Miracle (1999)

Ed Harris and Anne Heche star in Agnieszka Holland's provocative mystery that explores the spiritual phenomenon behind miracles, and the doubts and desires of a priest who has lost his faith. Father Frank Shore is a church-appointed spiritual detective whose job it is to investigate claims of miracles. An investigation leads him to a woman who challenges his beliefs.

A Story About Finding Faith When All Seems Hopeless

It takes 3 miracles to "make" a person a saint. But what happens when the priest who is proposing a woman for sainthood has his own doubts of faith?

This energetically powerful film will take you into priest Frank Shore as he is challenged to not only accept the miracles as possible, but also to prove their validity to others who doubt them even more than he does.

Open your eyes, ears, and heart, otherwise you may not even notice
when the third miracle passes. June 11, 2008

One of the Best

I have been watching and rewatching this film since it was released. This movie became one of my favorites after seeing only the first 30 minutes of it. The story frollows a priest struggling with his own faith as he acts as postulator for the cause of a woman whom the people have petitioned Rome to make a saint. Ed Harris (as Father Shore) was perfect for the part, the viewer truly believes that he is a priest struggling with his faith while being surrounded in a cause for the faith. Anne Heche was also the perfect choice to play the daughter of the woman to be cannonized. If you are looking for a film to lose yourself in and become a part of this is the one. January 3, 2006

Great film on Faith

How nice to see a film involving priests that show the priesthood and the Catholic religion in a positive light. Great story from a great book. September 1, 2005

More than Catholic; and existential exploration of faith and reason

I'm Protestant, but this is one of my all-time favorite films. This story, which features a Catholic priest who is struggling with his faith and then must investigate miracle claims of a woman nominated for sainthood, is probably enriching viewing for any Catholic. But Father Frank is representative of people in many faiths and walks of life who must choose what to believe and how to live his life in the midst of tremendous uncertainty and high costs. Does he give up his faith and his life work as a priest because of his uncertainty? Who would he be if he walked away from the faith that has become his whole identity? If he did, would his new secular life be free of the doubt that now agonizes him? If he didn't, would his whole life become a lie? Roxanne, played by Anne Heche, has rejected Catholicism and the memory of her saintly mother, yet also wrestles with doubt, this time from outside the church. Roxanne is a counterpoint and a temptation to Frank, and her own conflict is not fully explored, yet it forms an important context for Frank's choices and what they do and do not promise him.

As someone outside the Catholic church, this film does two things for me. First, it makes me think about my own journey of faith. What do I believe, what do I reject, why, and what price would I pay for my convictions? But it also makes me think about Catholicism, the similarities and differences with my own faith, and why I understand that Catholic church and its doctrines the way I do.

Although the plot and the central conflict of this film are heavily Catholic, the strength of this film is in its fine character acting and the integrity with which it explores the struggle with faith, reason, and identity. If these are ideas that matter to you, or if you wonder what it might feel like to be the kind of person to whom they do matter, this is an interesting and valuable film. The religious themes are unique, honest, and spiritual, without being proselytizing or heavy-handed. A good film for anyone who enjoys being reflective about faith, whether or not they are among the Catholic faithful. August 3, 2005

too good to miss

This movie is a well-kept secret!! This is not an action movie. People are not shot up and cars blown up. There is no sex. This is just a great movie with some of today's finest actors/actresses. Ed Harris, a priest and postulator for the Catholic Church, is sent to review a woman's candidacy for sainthood. He must verify that she performed 3 miracles. The audience sees the good and bad sides of the Catholic Church. Harris, who is struggling with his own faith, is only able to verify 2 miracles until he and the audience realize at the end that this woman has been responsible for a third miracle, that of restoring his faith and purpose for living. Anne Heche is excellent as the woman's daughter. July 31, 2005

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