I’m going to keep this one quick. I’ve talked before about “It’s My Favorite,” the podcast I co-host with two good friends. As I’ve said, it’s a highlight of my month to meet with Matt and Beth and talk about movies, TV and whatever else happens to be on our mind. There’s always a lot to talk about and talking with them is often the most I laugh all month. Each month, we alternate episodes. On our “main flavor” episode,... Read more
Last year’s “Krisha” was one of the most astounding directorial debuts I’ve seen. A disorienting, visually and aurally spectacular domestic drama told through the lens of a thriller, I was immediately a fan of writer-director Trey Edward Shults. The film’s unnerving tone made me eager for his return behind the camera with the full-fledged horror movie, “It Comes at Night.” Be careful what you wish for. Shults’ sophomore effort cements his reputation as a visual maestro, capable of creating a dread-soaked... Read more
I had fun with “The Mummy,” but I don’t know that I can defend it. Universal’s attempt to reinvigorate its stable of horror icons is a mess, with a weak plot, paper-thin characters, and Jake Johnson stumbling in from another movie altogether. But Tom Cruise is as charismatic as always, there are some decent action beats, a knowing sense of humor, and Russell Crowe devouring the scenery so rabidly that I’m sure it left him with indigestion. It’s a silly... Read more
Today, it was announced by Yahoo that Sony is going to make “clean” versions of some of its most popular titles available for the whole family. The company’s “clean version” initiative will offer family friendly versions of select movies, basically allowing them to choose the airline version of a film when they purchase the movies on select digital platforms. The movies include: 50 First Dates Battle Of The Year Big Daddy Captain Phillips Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Easy A Elysium... Read more
Few shows have provoked as much rage in me as Netflix’s “The Keepers.” I started watching Netflix’s seven-part docuseries on Labor Day and finished it this past weekend. As a fan of true-crime podcasts and television shows, I found myself riveted by each part of this murder mystery, but also chilled and enraged at its depiction of Christianity perverted by lust and power. It’s essential viewing, but it’s not for the weak at heart. Righting the wrongs of “Making a Murderer”... Read more
If, like me, you have an insatiable addiction to pop culture, this a great time. It seems like every week, there are numerous different options hitting various streaming platforms, much of it very high quality. Right now, my wife and I are halfway through the third season of “Kimmy Schmidt” and “The Keepers” on Netflix, both of them excellent. I want to savor those shows, but I’m also aware that I still have new episodes of “Master of None,” “Fargo”... Read more
The funniest moment in “Baywatch” happens at the end of the opening credits. Head lifeguard Mitch (Dwayne Johnson) is starting his day when he spots a swimmer in peril. In super slow motion, he runs down the beach, dives into the ocean and rescues the man. He emerges from the water like a superhero, the victim cradled in his arms as the music swells. As Johnson gives a powerful stare to the camera, the title — all in caps — rises triumphantly behind... Read more
I’m a product of nineties youth group culture. I was raised in the Baptist church. For the first 12 years of my life, we attended a very strict one, the kind that prohibited dancing, drinking or attending movie theaters. The only music I was allowed to listen to was Christian rock. Even though we moved on to a more relaxed church when I hit middle school, my parents still encouraged us only to listen to music from that subgenre. My... Read more
In their book “The Sacred Romance,” Brent Curtis and John Eldredge discuss the rut that many people often find themselves in. Yearning for lives of adventure and romance but finding that those very things require risk, many settle for what the authors call “less-wild lovers” — distractions that temporarily pacify desire without requiring too much. There are two forms these “lovers” often take. The first is addiction — drugs, pornography, materialism — that give the rush you’re looking for without asking for... Read more
As you read this, I’m on a week-long vacation with my family. As such, I’m taking a bit of a social media break, aside from making sure posts hit Facebook and Twitter accordingly. But I didn’t want to leave you content-less, so I have two posts hitting this week. This first is lighter and fun. The second, which posts Thursday, is a deep dive into one of my favorite films. There’s a bit of a vacation tie-in to these posts.... Read more
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