It may be a hopeful sign for the future of civilization that this historical epic is opening on roughly 10 times as many screens nationally today as (the unscreened-for-critics) “Piranha 3DD.”
So it may seem a bit churlish to complain that debuting director (and special-effects vet) Dean Wright takes far longer than necessary (nearly 2 1/2 hours) to recount the forgotten (at least in the US) Cristeros revolt against Mexican President Plutarco Calles (Rubén Blades), who declared war against the Catholic Church in 1926.
Andy Garcia is solid as a retired agnostic general who is recruited, for cash, to lead the rebels, and is ultimately inspired by the sacrifices of a young martyr.
Less notable participants include Peter O’Toole as a doddering priest who declares “there is no greater glory than dying for Christ,” and Eva Longoria of “Desperate Housewives” fame as Garcia’s worried but devout wife.
The sometimes painfully sincere and slow-moving “For Greater Glory” clearly aspires to be inspirational, but history won’t cooperate. The Cristeros triumphed not because of their faith, but because the United States exerted diplomatic pressure to protect its oil interests in Mexico.