Leanne Benfield Martin interviewed me last week, and today she has published the first part of that two-part interview.Thanks, Leanne! … [Read more...]
Looking Closer’s Film Forum: “Jindabyne”
April 29, 2007 by
Jindabyne is the first dramatic feature film I've seen in 2007 so far that has greatly impressed me. My review will be up at Christianity Today when it opens wider than the current limited release. But for those of you who have a chance to see it, make sure you do: It's riveting, complex, and deeply rewarding if you have the patience for it. I've been reading several reviews that get to the reasons for my enthusiasm. It's not as satisfying as Ray Lawrence's 2001 drama Lantana, but there is a … [Read more...]
Looking Closer’s Film Forum: “Fracture”
April 29, 2007 by
Fracture Ryan Gosling. Anthony Hopkins. You would think those would be two great reasons to run out and see Fracture. And yet, the current reviews have discouraged me from rushing out to see it. See for yourself... In The National Review, Peter Suderman says it's "another plodding exercise in legal proceedings and implausibly mangled plotlines. Primal Fear and Fallen were at least diverting, but this time around, Hoblit and his writers didn’t even have the decency to learn why the genre works … [Read more...]
Is It “Ark Week”?
April 29, 2007 by
What is going on? I just posted a story about a guy who built an ark, and now I'm reading that Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain) is building one too! Aronofsky and Noah go way back. When the writer-director was 13, he won a United Nations competition at his school in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn; it was for his first poem, a little effort about the end of the world as seen through Noah's eyes. "That story has interested me ever since," he says, squinting through his … [Read more...]
Over the Rhine’s “Failed Christian” and Great Songs of Doubt
April 28, 2007 by
I've heard a few grumblings and some speculation about a song called "Failed Christian" on the new Over the Rhine collection Live from Nowhere, Vol. 2.Seems to me that whenever an artist sings about struggle or doubt, many Christian listeners get nervous that this means the singer has "lost his/her salvation" or something like that.Frankly, I admire songwriters who are willing to share their moments of stumble, of trouble, of question, of failure as well as their moments of transcendence … [Read more...]
Many Thanks to the Chesterton Society
April 27, 2007 by
I had a marvelous time discussing the power of cinema with those who attended the Chesterton Society's Seattle gathering last night in the Falcon Lounge at Seattle Pacific.Thanks to Kirk Kanzelberger for the invitation and the warm welcome, to Mark Shea for the generous introduction, and to the directors (Peter D. Beaulieu, Ph.D.; James R. Felak, Ph.D.; Tomás A. Gahan, J.D.; Brian R. Glenney; Timothy J. Simunds, Treasurer; and Andrew A. Tadie, Ph.D.) for making these gatherings possible. And … [Read more...]
Christians as a “Niche Market”? (Or… What I Learned at the Biola Media Conference)
April 26, 2007 by
My overview of the volatile conversations and debates at the Biola Conference is now published at Christianity Today Movies. As Hollywood continues to catch the "faith wave" by making and marketing more movies to Christians, some of the industry's major players gathered at a conference in Los Angeles last weekend to discuss the pros and cons of the relatively new trend. While some are excited about the potential of these efforts, some are also frustrated about the "bad art" that has already … [Read more...]
Terry Gilliam Today
April 24, 2007 by
Terry Gilliam considers the state of his career, the critical rejection of Tideland, his continuing hopes to bring Don Quixote to the screen, and his next project. … [Read more...]
Chesterton on Thursday, Harvest Logos Books on Saturday
April 24, 2007 by
This week, I have two more Seattle appearances to talk about Through a Screen Darkly.I'll be at the Seattle gathering of the Chesterton Society on Thursday to give a presentation and sign books. You'll find a description of my presentation, and the location of the Society, on their website.Then, on Saturday, I'll be speaking and signing books at Harvest Logos Bookstore at 5 p.m.I hope to see some of you there. … [Read more...]
Ten Highlights of My Visit to the Biola Media Conference
April 23, 2007 by
This weekend at the Biola Media Conference, I had a great deal of fun, and a lot of challenging conversations. I will be writing quite a few thank-you notes.Let me tell you just a few of the highlights:- Waking up in the hotel room, watching the world slowly come into focus, and seeing a black widow spider hanging almost within reach. It moved under a table, where it had a web already built. I called the hotel front desk and said, "I have a lot of experience killing big poisonous … [Read more...]
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