Imagine if the "Lord of the Rings" series ended with the fellowship reaching the mines of Moria, Loegolas and Gimli decided to be friends . . . and that's it. That's essentially what we get in disastrously disappointing denouement to "The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided." The less interesting subplot of the fictional Steed family is wrapped up satisfactorily (in fact, for the first time in the trilogy I really cared about these characters. The Joshua/Nathan story, merely a tepid, uninspired LDS "Legends of the Fall" in part I, is now deeply moving). But the strength of "W & G" (best displayed in the second film, easily the best of the series, aside from it's slapdash ending) is it's portrayal of early LDS Church history. in particular, Jonathan Scarfe's portrayal of Joseph Smith is a performance for the ages. When these films center on Smith and Andrew Bown's Brigham Young, they're to notch. Sadly, despite some compelling scenes for Scarfe and Bowen early on, the film then tries to end too abruptly, leaving the best parts of the story untold. It's as if producer/used car salesman/anti-Christ Larry H. Miller suddenly ran out of money and decided to wrap things up in a half-heartedly fashion. He bolts from the ending so quickly you'd think he's discovered the film contained gay cowboys.
"A House Divided" demonstrates how this series flirted with great film-making, and sadly, fell just short. I still remain a tremendous fondness for these films and their moving portrayal of events which i hold sacred 9and yet are presented in a way as to be compelling to people of all religious creeds), and am glad they were made. Jonathan Scarfe is the screen's definitive Joseph Smith. It's just a shame that lack of money and other concerns led to the most anti-climactic ending since "X-Men: The Last Stand." See it, it's well worth it. But it ends at least another hour to tell the best parts of the story.
Two and a half stars out of four (could have made three and a half, as did "American Zion", without the dumbfounding fizzle-out at the end).
