Sr. Rose’s Oscar Picks for Best Picture 2013

February 19, 2013 By 1 Comment
Lincoln-Movie-

I think Lincoln should win this category, but don't be surprised if Silver Linings, Argo, Les Miz, or Zero Dark Thirty actually do take home Oscar. A real surprise would be Django Unchained. Argo – The best performance in Ben Affleck’s political thriller is by Alan Arkin who plays a Hollywood producer dedicated to making a great fake movie to provide a cover for a CIA agent, played by Ben Affleck, who poses as a Canadian filmmaker, to rescue six members of the US diplomatic staff from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Analysis, Film Reviews, On Faith and Media, Popular Culture, Social Media, Sr. Rose movies Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Windrider Forum a perfect introduction to Sundance, filmmaking

January 30, 2013 By 1 Comment
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Ever since I was assigned to Los Angeles in 2002, I have wanted to come to the Sundance Film Festival. Colleagues and friends from Family Theater/Angelus Student Awards and Fuller Theological Seminary were making plans to attend and create some kind of event for students. In 2004, John and Ed Priddy, award-winning film producers, in collaboration with the above, began the Windrider Forum. They had discovered The Branch, a Christian church in Park City, and the pastor generously provided space … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Analysis, Church and cinema, Faith and film, Popular Culture, Spirituality and Media, Sr. Rose movies Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

PBS documentaries capture three American history stories: The Revisionaries, Henry Ford, Space Shuttle Columbia: Mission of Hope

January 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment
From left to right: David Brown, Rick Husband, Laurel Clark, Kalpana Chawla, Michael Anderson, William C. McCool, Ilan Ramon (NASA/JPL/Caltech)

  PBS always has something interesting waiting in the wings. This week, it will broadcast a trifecta of significant documentaries. "The Revisionaries" (Independent Lens)  10 p.m. Monday (check local listings) Of all the films I have seen from PBS's Independent Lens series, "The Revisionaries" is the most unsettling. It confirms what I have heard and read over the last few years about the influence of fundamentalist Christians in public education through the narrow focus of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Analysis, Documentary, Film Reviews, TV reviews and notes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Sundance is full of inspirational films and people

January 24, 2013 By 3 Comments
Sundance wall

As the films continue to premiere and the voting for audience awards moves forward, it occurs to me that Sundance is a place you don't want to come unless you are willing to have your worldview questioned. Some will argue that Sundance has a reputation for a liberal agenda, and this is somewhat true if your lens is fixed on the political. But if your lens is made up of human stories about people's ethical and moral choices as well as the subtle religious and overtly spiritual themes, there is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Analysis, Film Festivals, Film Reviews Tagged With: , 3 Comments

Catholic Christian criteria for awarding films

January 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
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  SIGNIS and INTERFILM Criteria for Juries  I have had the privilege of serving on Catholic and Ecumenical Juries at Berlin (2004), Venice (2000, 2010), and Locarno (2006). Here are the criteria that SIGNIS, the World Catholic Organization for Communication, and INTERFILM (the International Interchurch Film Organization), have developed to inform and guide jury members as they discern winning films: The Ecumenical Jury makes awards to films and to filmmakers according to the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Analysis, art, Awards, Film Festivals, Film History, Film Retreat, Film Reviews, Spirituality and Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Want to be a film critic?

January 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
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When I watch films for review I am attracted by two elements: relationships and mystery. Relationships between people, communities, or nations in this universe and beyond, or a mixture of any and all. The conflicts that provide the drama and drive the action can be resolved in so many ways but I am always looking at the human struggle and the human and Gospel values that underpin the resolution of the conflict or the denouement. I am always looking for grace – for the characters and for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Analysis, Film History, Film Reviews, Grace, Media analysis, Pastoral Communication, Popular Culture, Reflections on life and grace Tagged With: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

“Apocalyptic themes in movies”: 12/21/12 and the end of the world … again

December 11, 2012 By 2 Comments
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According to the Mayan Calendar the end of the world is to happen on December 21, 2012: 12/21/12. But it did not happen on all the other dates that have foretold this terrible, cataclysmic event. It is already 12/12/12  and so far, so good. We’re still here. Earlier this year I was invited to give a presentation at a local parish on “Apocalyptic Themes in Cinema”.  I wondered why people are so fascinated by the end of the world and posed the question on Facebook. Angelene Shewfelt, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Analysis, Drama, Faith and film, Fantasy, Film History, Horror, Popular Culture, Science and faith, Spirituality and Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream, PBS, check local listings & Hulu

November 12, 2012 By 11 Comments
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The notice announcing Academy Award winning filmmaker Alex Gibney’s new documentary “Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream” included a photo of 740 Park Avenue, a luxury apartment building in Manhattan. I was rendered completely curious so I replied immediately to the publicist and requested a screener. (Gibney's previous films include "Taxi form the Dark Side" and "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room"). You see, my great aunt lived at 740 Park Avenue for almost thirty … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Analysis, Books, Economics, Media analysis, Sr Rose Faith and Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 11 Comments

Ear Worms: the sound track in my head

October 24, 2012 By 2 Comments
worm-walk

Do tunes every get stuck in your ears? I call sticky tunes ear worms. Here are the worms traveling through air, time, and the culture right now that are pleasing to my ear. What are your ear worms?   Hum (A Prius for Everyone) (Do you know who sings this?) Well, it's a nice idea. I'd like to think everyone could afford a Prius. But they are giving away this tune for free and it's stuck in my head via a Prius worm  Firework Katy Perry What a great song from the pop … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Analysis, Media analysis, Media Literacy/Media Mindfulness, Music, On Faith and Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments