The Hippie Preacher
Genre: Drama/Biography
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writer: Alex Conn
Cast: Wyatt Russell, Kyle Chandler, Laura Dern, Emile Hirsch, Ben Schnetzer, Jack Kilmer, Moises Arias
Plot: We open with shots of beautiful Southern California. A text comes across the screen says 1968. We see a group of hippies who are on a road trip. They decide to go to a park to drop acid. Lonnie Frisbee (Wyatt Russell) is one of the hippies and when he drops acid he sees Jesus on the cross and Jesus caring for the poor and healing the sick. Jesus says who is without sin shall cast the first stone. Jesus then calls on Lonnie to be a leader and to lead the young in the way of me.
At a motel the three hippies Jesse (Jack Kilmer), Louis (Moises Arias) and Lonnie discuss what happened on their acid trips as they pass a joint around. Jesse talks about how he saw a childhood bully from 6th grade and then he saw the evils of war. Louis talks about how he saw his dad and the evils of war. They both ask Lonnie what he saw and he is initially reluctant to say but he says he saw Jesus. The two hippies laugh. Lonnie discusses how he always thought Jesus was a million miles away but right here he was here and he wasn’t a judgmental Jesus like the Jesus our parents taught us about. Jesus was the embodiment of love. Lonnie recalls how in the vision he saw Jesus giving love and then being crucified for it. Lonnie says that isn’t what Jesus did what we’re trying to do. As hippies we are trying to bring love into a hate filled world. We are trying to end the Vietnam War which is killing thousands and thousands of ordinary young Americans and thousands of civilians and we’re trying to fight for rights for black people. As they are going to their motel rooms Jesse and Lonnie kiss and they go to bed together.
Lonnie in the motel starts reading The Bible in his motel room. He is astonished by the kindness of Jesus and that he wasn’t what he thought it was. He sees himself baptizing people and helping people go the way of God.
After they all gather to continue their road trip Jesse asks Lonnie if he’s done with that Jesus shit and Lonnie says it was just an LSD trip it probably meant nothing.
When his friends aren’t looking he sees a church and he goes into the church listening to the sermon delivered by the pastor. Some is of the congregation give him the stink eye because of his long hair and beard but overall appearance. This church is Calvary Chapel. Lonnie talks to the preacher after the service and he says that he’s passionate about the word of the Lord and Greg (Ben Schnetzer) says get a bath.
Lonnie goes back to his group and says that he’s found his purpose. Jesse says he’s not some righteous prophet, he's just a hippie homosexual like him. Lonnie ignores him and Lonnie breaks up with Jesse as the rest of the group leaves. Jesse gives Lonnie the finger.
Lonnie goes to a beach and talks to hippies about Jesus. They give standard answers like the KKK is religious or my parents raised me religious and I rebelled against it. Frisbee says that Jesus Christ isn’t your parent’s Jesus Christ. The hippies are put off by Frisbee at first until Frisbee further explains himself. He was the ultimate rebel and in many ways the ultimate hippie. He challenged the Roman authority and he was crucified for it, how radical is that?
He says that on Sunday there is this great church it’s called Calvary Chapel and the man Chuck Smith (Kyle Chandler) is really passionate about the word of Jesus Christ.
Lonnie goes to the motel and he feels good about what he accomplished. There is a montage of Lonnie going to beaches and communicating with hippies and bringing them to God.
On Sunday there is an abundance of hippies at the church. Chuck is doing a sermon about how Jesus is the ultimate love and that he forgave the sinners and he died for our sins. All that Lonnie brought to the church. After church Lonnie talks to Chuck and he says that he brought all these hippies to the church. Several of them say to Chuck that his service was beautiful and it was far out. One hippie named James Durbin (Emile Hirsch) comes up to Lonnie and Chuck and he says that he has never really saw the Lord in that way before. Chuck asks Lonnie if Lonnie would like to come to his house at 4 pm. Chuck gives him his address.
Chuck and his wife Kay (Laura Dern) are discussing Lonnie Frisbee and how his hippie nature and passion for the gospel could help revitalize their church. We hear a knock on the door. It is Lonnie Frisbee. He has no shoes on and helps himself to snacks.
Chuck invites Frisbee to sit down and talk. Chuck talks about how the numbers for the church are going down with the youth. The gods that the kids worship are rock stars and political activists. Lonnie has shown that he can communicate the word of Jesus. The morality and the blessings of The Bible are lost in the modern day youth.
Chuck offers a job to Lonnie Frisbee by asking him to go to beaches and communicate the word of God the way he did in a way that hippies and the youth as a whole will get. Tell them how Jesus was a rebel against tyranny that will resonate. Frisbee says that I won’t let you down. Chuck even offers Frisbee a chance to stay with him before he finds a permanent residence. Chuck says that if he gets enough youth to come out to his church that he could be a preacher one day. Lonnie smiles at that idea.
In private Chuck and his wife Kay discuss having Lonnie work for them and Kay worries that Lonnie might spread liberal propaganda and distorting the word of the Lord. Not only would that alienate the congregation but it would be blasphemous. Chuck says there’s a chance Lonnie can save these kids from the free love hedonistic garbage . He can save these kids who desperately need saving to find salvation. Kay sees something in that but he says that if Lonnie talks about the Vietnam War or progressive free love bullshit he’s gone. Chuck Smith tells Lonnie that he forgot to mention that he can’t mention anything about Vietnam or any sort of progressive agenda. Keep it non political but still make sure the rebellious Jesus message comes out.
That Sunday at church there are way more hippies. Chuck Smith tells the congregation that these are his new friends and how these people are ready to hear the word of Jesus Christ.
Chuck Smith does a relatively conventional sermon where he talks about the magic of Jesus Christ. Smith describes how Jesus can find you if you’re lost and can heal you when you’re sick. Chuck also congratulates Lonnie Frisbee on bringing in these young people and showing them the word of God.
Chuck congratulates Lonnie for bringing in the youth. Chuck and his wife are there and he says Lonnie is a real miracle. His wife asks if she and Lonnie can talk 1 on 1.
After this a young man named Greg Laurie comes and he thanks him for showing the word of God to him. He really appreciates it. Greg asks Chuck if he could help Lonnie with his preaching. Chuck says it’d be great to have an assistant but Lonnie prefers doing it alone.
At the house Chuck says why were you so mean to Greg. Lonnie says when I feel the spirit I can’t collaborate with someone. I can’t collaborate. Chuck says but Greg and you would be preaching the same gospel. Chuck says that you aren’t making any changes to the ideas aren’t you and Lonnie says no. Chuck says that if you teach any commie bullshit that he will throw him out of this house and he will leave the church in shame.
Lonnie talks to James and James says he’s having trouble saying this but that he’s a homosexual. Lonnie hugs James. James says he doesn’t know how Chuck will handle it. Lonnie advises James to stay quiet about it until he can talk to Chuck about it. James reluctantly agrees after Lonnie admits he is a homosexual and he’s been one since he can remember. Lonnie says God loves everyone no matter who they are. He created you for a reason and James says that Jesus will show you the path if you are faithful to his word.
Lonnie and Chuck go out to lunch and Chuck says that Lonnie although he is a party boy has shown that he can connect with the youth in the way Chuck has never been able to on his own. Lonnie says that several of the people he has brought to Jesus have talked to Chuck about getting baptized and we are going to do that on Saturday. Chuck says that that’s a great sign of you being a good communicator. Chuck offers Lonnie to be a preacher at Calvary Chapel. Lonnie says to Chuck that he hasn't been baptized either. Chuck laughs and says we will baptize you too.
We cut to the baptism on Saturday. Chuck makes a speech about how it’s great that a younger generation is hearing the word of God. Chuck says that his mission ever since he went to Bible College has been the same. It is to teach the word of God to the people who need it. God doesn’t care the length of your hair or the length of your beard or the fact that you say far out. The hippies laugh. God cares about the generosity that you give to your fellow human beings. That you help people in need. Chuck says that I believe that this generation needs the word of Christ and that he is happy that these great young people are seeing the light of Jesus. He calls out the emptiness of sex, drugs and looking up to John Lennon instead of Jesus Christ. He calls out Lonnie Frisbee who he calls his great friend and jokingly his roommate. Chuck announces that Lonnie will now become a preacher at Calvary Chapel. Everyone claps but Chuck says that first he needs to be baptized. Everyone laughs.
We see Lonnie in the ocean with Chuck and Chuck asks Lonnie if Jesus Christ is his lord and savior and Lonnie says yes. Everyone claps.
The rest of the hippies get baptized as well and Greg Laurie comes up to Lonnie after the baptism session and says that he heard about him getting a slot as a preacher. Greg then compliments Lonnie’s style of preaching and he says that we can really expand this movement and help kids in the “bareness” of drugs and promiscuous sex. Lonnie agrees with this. Greg asks Lonnie if he’s been doing drugs since he found God and Lonnie says that he hasn’t. Greg says that that’s good as we as young people have to be good role models for our fellow young people.
Chuck talks to Lonnie afterwards and says that this is your victory. You brought these lost young people to Jesus Christ. Chuck asks if he’s been talking to Greg and Lonnie says he has. Chuck comments on how ambitious Greg has been since he came to me. Lonnie says he’s a real go getter. Chuck says that he’s asked Greg to teach a Tuesday night Bible class and Lonnie is doing Wednesday.
The next day Chuck tells Lonnie that he is in the process of bringing in rock musicians for the church services. Chuck says that will bring even more young people to the savior. Lonnie says that he envisions a more liberal Christianity that can speak to the issues these young people have.
Jesus Christ was a pacifist maybe emphasize that and maybe de emphasize end times and maybe even be more welcoming to homosexuals and African Americans. Chuck says that I am not Martin Luther King Jr. He says I’m not a liberal. He says he’s voting for Nixon for crying out loud. That he brought you here for a purpose to get young people in the door and that’s it. We have to be faithful to the gospels and the gospels clearly say homosexuality is a sin. In fact the next sermon is about the evils of homosexuality Chuck says that if he keeps pestering he will be fired.
Chuck gets ready the next day for the sermon. He introduces the rock band on stage playing Christian rock and after that he has a sermon about promiscuous sex specifically homosexual sex. He points to Leviticus “If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense.” Chuck says that maybe in the new world order homosexuals aren’t put to death but they are put to death in the eyes of God. Lonnie is in the pews and he is watching and he is thinking about the sex he has had. He envisions going to Hell. He envisions meeting Satan. These visions are as vivid as the acid trip in the beginning. Lonnie sees if James is in the pews and is grateful he is not.
Lonnie and James meet at a restaurant and James asks how was church today? Lonnie said it was beautiful as Chuck is an incredible preacher and public speaker. James asks Lonnie if he wants to have a walk on the beach and talk.
Lonnie and James are walking on the beach and James is talking about how he was in a Catholic family but he never connected to the word of Christ. It felt phony to him and he felt that LSD trips and rock concerts were his form of spiritual enlightenment but then I found Jesus through Calvary Chapel and Lonnie. Lonnie is tearing up. James asks how did he come to Jesus?
Lonnie said it came to me on an acid trip. I saw Jesus and I saw how he stood up for people and then he told me that I was on a mission to spread his word and then I read The Bible and I connected to it and that’s been my mission in life. James kisses Lonnie. Lonnie says that he has to go and he has to work on his lesson for Bible study on Wednesday. James says he will be there.
We cut to the Bible study on Wednesday night. It is packed with hippies including James. Lonnie is teaching the part of The Bible that he saw on an acid trip. The time Jesus said ‘’who is without sin cast the first stone.’’ James is in the audience.
James and Lonnie are talking after The Bible Study and Greg comes up and he says congratulations it was a great speech and that Lonnie is really helping to connect kids with Christianity. James says that would like to come to my room? Lonnie sees visions of Hell and he declines the offer saying he is too tired.
Frisbee goes to Chuck and says that he deals with homosexual tendencies and he is trying to pray for it to go away. Chuck says that he understands and asks if he has acted on his urges and Frisbee says no. Chuck says that God gives each individual challenges that he or she has to overcome. Chuck suggests that Lonnie go to his room and pray.
Lonnie goes to his room and prays and asks to see how he can overcome this challenge. Lonnie says that he has quit drugs and promiscuous homosexual sex but he still has attractions. Lonnie is visited by Chuck and Chuck says that he thinks Lonnie should step away from Calvary Chapel for a bit and figure himself out a bit. Chuck says that he’s a talented communicator of the lord’s message. Chuck says that if he ever needs any spiritual guidance call me.
Lonnie looks at a map and decides to go to Florida. He goes to James Durbin’s apartment and before he leaves for Florida he breaks up with James. He says that homosexuality is a sin and I should have never engaged in sinful activity. James says that he thought that Lonnie was preaching a new kind of Christianity but this is the same bullshit that my parents taught me. Lonnie is just a conservative preacher but with long hair and beard. It’s all image and not substance. Lonnie says that he is leaving for Florida to find spiritual enlightenment.
The film cuts to January 1993. Lonnie who still is sporting long hair and a beard preaches about the end times and how the pure of heart will live in paradise with Jesus but the non pure of heart will parish. He is also back at Calvary Chapel. He faints. He goes to the doctor who diagnoses him with AIDS; he is told that he has two months to live. The doctor suggests he get his affairs in order. He is shell shocked and goes back to his apartment.
Lonnie visits Greg who has become a prominent preacher. Greg tells Lonnie about his new church Harvest. It’s going to be a very large church with rock music and Greg says isn’t it great that the Jesus freaks have all the power now. Greg says we were both hippies and now we’ve been saved by the love of Jesus Christ and we’re spreading his word and we graduated from the life of drugs and promiscuous sex.Lonnie is unusually quiet but Greg offers him a beer. Lonnie accepts.
Greg asks Lonnie what do you think the future of Christianity is. How do we attract the kids like we did in 68. Greg credits Lonnie as being the catalyst for the Jesus movement. Lonnie says I think it’s just the message of who Jesus Christ is. Kids have a preconceived notion of Christianity as the thing their parents made them go and they don’t see the beauty of Jesus.
Lonnie tells Chuck and Kay and Lonnie lies and he said that he did party on Saturday and have church on Sunday. Kay point blank asks if Lonnie is a homosexual. Kay is crying and yelling and says that Lonnie should be fired. Chuck asks to speak with Lonnie alone.
Chuck asks if Lonnie has been performing homosexual acts. Lonnie reluctantly admits to it. Lonnie bursts out crying and he says that he had temptation and that he sinned. He said that he asked God for forgiveness. Lonnie says that he is dying. He only has two months left to live. Greg struggles to look at Lonnie but Lonnie cries and Greg reluctantly hugs him.
Chuck is disturbed by this news but how do we explain this to the congregation. Chuck says you’re a top preacher at Calvary Chapel. All of the hippies from years ago look up to you as you showed them the light. Chuck asks if he has told Greg yet. Lonnie says that he talked to Greg recently but he could not tell him. Kay says that if Lonnie asked for forgiveness from Jesus and he doesn’t do it again he should be fine with the lord but he should not preach anymore as he has not followed the path of a godly man.
Lonnie waits outside of Greg’s church. After church Greg sees Lonnie. Lonnie asks if Greg wants to go to lunch with him and Greg says yes. They go to the restaurant and Lonnie is crying and Greg asks what’s wrong and Lonnie admits that he has AIDS.
Greg is really bewildered by this and he asks how he got it. Lonnie said that he succumbed to temptation for homosexual sex. Lonnie said that he already has asked God for forgiveness and to lead my last few months in a godly manner and to make the lord proud.
Lonnie asks for spiritual guidance during these last few months. Greg says of course I’ll give you spiritual guidance. You can come to my church whenever you need.
Lonnie goes to the same park he went to at the beginning and a group of kids are dropping acid and he asks to drop acid with them. He sees visions but they are not the same as they were in the beginning of the film. He sees visions of sex with James Durbin and how he did kinda like him.
Lonnie who has James’ phone number still calls him up and James responds and Lonnie says he is sorry and James reluctantly agrees to have a drink with Lonnie. Lonnie is visibly happy. Lonnie goes to the bar.
Lonnie sees James and they talk and James asks Lonnie if he’s still at Calvary Chapel. James asks Lonnie about Chuck Smith and the fact that he thought the world would end in 1981. Lonnie laughs and says yeah Chuck can be kinda crazy sometimes but he has been a father figure to me. He helped deepen my faith in Christ. Lonnie says that he has something to tell James and Lonnie tells James that he has AIDS. James asks how he got it. Lonnie says probably in Florida. James asks if his Christian friends like Chuck and Greg know and Lonnie says yes. Lonnie says that he only has a few months left in life and he wants to end his relationships on a good note.
James says that he’s sympathetic to his condition but he can’t do this whole Jesus shit anymore. James says that he’s an atheist. James says Christianity is just a way for the bourgeoise to oppress gays and women. Lonnie looks like he wants to defend Christianity but he doesn’t. But he doesn’t and James says that he wishes him well in his fake afterlife.
The next morning Lonnie is preaching to the church about love and how Christ is all love. He ends his sermon by saying he is dying. He doesn’t say AIDS. But he says it’s only a matter of weeks at this point. But he concludes it by saying that he is going to a better place and that he loves everyone here. Lonnie cries. Everyone claps.
The film then cuts to Lonnie in his apartment drinking soda and watching TV and all of a sudden he faints. We cut to Lonnie in the hospital and Chuck Smith visits him and they talk. Chuck says that although Lonnie succumbed to the temptations God sent an imperfect vessel for others to hear the word of God. Chuck says that before he dies that he would like to pray with him. They pray. Chuck, as Lonnie is dying, assures that he is going to Heaven even though he sometimes succumbed to temptation as he was the most talented preacher and communicator for Jesus Christ he had ever seen. Lonnie finally dies and ascends to Heaven.
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