O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)

March 29, 2013 By 3 Comments
o-brother-where-art-thou

It's been more than 12 years since O Brother, Where Art Thou? opened. But the movie is on my mind on this Good Friday in 2013. I've been giving a lot of thought to the films of the Coen Brothers lately, and revisiting many of their films, due to a surprise invitation from one of my favorite film reviewers: Matt Zoller Seitz. He's asked me to join him in exploring some intriguing questions: Are the Coen Brothers moralists? Do they believe in God? Do their films present a compelling vision of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: , 3 Comments

Sorry! (A Temporary Blog Malfunction)

March 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Sorry

If you've been checking this blog recently, then you may have seen something strange: Old blog entries suddenly reappearing as if they were brand new, with no explanation. I can explain what's happening, but only in part... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Leave a Comment

Why I Want to Be George R. R. Martin’s Neighbor

March 21, 2013 By 21 Comments
Is this a "Christian castle"?

This article on "Christian fantasy" by novelist Lars Walker confesses something that may surprise his readers: I don’t read much fantasy, and I read almost no Christian fantasy. I’ve been burned too many times. You buy a book, hoping to experience over again the joys great fantasy can provide (for me, the Mines of Moria, the Ride of the Rohirrim, and the resurrection of Aslan provided the greatest moments of joy I’ve ever experienced in literature), and what do you get? Wannabees. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , 21 Comments

Like Someone in Love (2012)

March 15, 2013 By 1 Comment
likesomeoneinlove-poster

A call girl, a scholar, and a mechanic drive across town. Sounds like the setup for a joke, right? And it is, in a way. Like Someone in Love is a comedy. A twisted comedy, but it made me laugh. It was the laughter of recognition — "when you laugh but you feel like dying," as the song goes. It hurt to laugh for all of the sadness and folly that made this scenario possible. As far removed as this story is from my own experience, I laugh as I watch it because I know how these characters … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Film Reviews Tagged With: , 1 Comment

Oz the Unfortunate and Underwhelming?

March 15, 2013 By 4 Comments
Oz the Great and Powerful

Should I throw myself into the latest Oz tornado? I'm reluctant. And most of the reviewers I trust — even those who are big fans of L. Frank Baum's Oz stories — are frustrated with Sam Raimi's Oz the Great and Powerful. If you're looking for guidance, I recommend, above all, Steven Greydanus's review. He writes... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , 4 Comments

Musical Highlights of 2013, So Far…

March 9, 2013 By 3 Comments
amok1

I've been hearing voices. They've been haunting my earphones, roaring through car stereo speakers, rumbling in the hardwood floor of my living room, rattling the windows of my house. Thom Yorke. David Bowie. Zach Williams. Ashley Cleveland. And more. They've given me a spirit-lifting soundtrack for a new year, helping me move on from the madness of the Oscars, fueling my engine as I engaged the the debate over the movie called Amour, and painting new pictures for me as I invest long … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , 3 Comments

Quentin Tarantino, America’s Competition Addiction, and Movies That the Oscars Overlooked

March 6, 2013 By 1 Comment
jamie foxx django

Strange territory. That's where I found myself this week. In four new articles, I wrote things that made me feel a little lonely. I was writing from a foreign country, far away from the preferences of the general moviegoing audience. And yet, I wasn't feeling much kinship with other film critics either. Art will do that to you. If you're paying attention, it'll lead you to new ways of thinking that make your friends look at you with concern. This story stars a gunslinging hero, some … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , 1 Comment

In Defense of “Amour”

February 22, 2013 By 26 Comments
Amour2

Last week, an Anglican priest I have never met called me to discuss a movie. Not a common occurrence. But, God bless him, this brave fellow is leading discussions of 2012's Oscar-nominated films in a class held at his church. And he's stumbled onto a film that is proving more complicated than others. In fact, he's encountered some rather intense condemnation of that film from fellow Christians. The film is Michael Haneke's film Amour. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Film Reviews Tagged With: , , 26 Comments

How “Downton Abbey” Should End

February 18, 2013 By 1 Comment
Maggie Smith

I don't care to know how Downton Abbey really ends, because I can't think of a better ending than this one... - Dame Maggie Smith wakes up with a cry. Kelly Macdonald is there, having just brought a tray of breakfast. Emily Watson is there too, with Dame Maggie's newspaper. "Oh my," says Maggie, flustered. "I've just had the longest and most melodramatic dream!" … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , 1 Comment

Valentine’s Day Special: Are These the Top 25 Films About Marriage?

February 14, 2013 By 9 Comments
princess bride bishop

Will you be celebrating Valentine's Day at the movies? If so, what will you watch? Perhaps you'll watch something romantic. Or, if you're like me and Anne, you'll just watch what sounds good. (I think she may be interested in checking out Skyfall, now that it's available online; or maybe an old favorite that involves both fantasy and true love, like Ladyhawke or The Princess Bride.) It won't be hard to find a film about love. It won't be hard to find a film about dating or romance. But it is, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 9 Comments