Go see August Rush. It is lovely. The dialogue is a little lame at points, and the voice-over is over the top, and they have some draggy second act problems, but the story is so good, that you forgive them all of that. August Rush is a fresh, inspiring and spiritual story that leaves you believing that God is in the universe, that people are all basically searching for love, and that the best thing is to be a profound... Read more

Go see it. Haven’t laughed this hard at a movie in years. My sister and I were crying with laughter at a couple points. It is smart and at moments hilarious and consciously uncynical. And when Disney is on the dock at the last judgment, they will just show this film and say, “The defense rests.” More hopefully this weekend. Just wanted to give a heads up. Read more

I can’t decide if Dan in Real Life is a chick film, or if the Cyrano de Bergerac-style suffering of the male protagonist will translate well for male viewers as well. I’m thinking it will, because for anybody with normal levels of humanity, there is a lot to like in this movie. But, I have to get one thing out of the way. Even though the movie exteriors are all in the unbelievably gorgeous and cinematic state of Rhode Island... Read more

The tragic story Into the Wild now in theaters, is the kind of movie actors love. I know this, because several actor friends raved about the movie to me. Actors love this kind of movie first of all because it was directed by an actor, Sean Penn, and any time an actor directs, it is like the entire acting universe exhales a long, melodramatic, self-justifying, “See, we can have thoughts too!” (Hahaha…Just kidding!) But this is also the kind of... Read more

There has been a lot of talk around Hollywood this past week about the best way for Christians to spend their money to see a positive impact in the culture. I have been to no less than three events this past week on this subject, and about three more in the last month. And it’s great. A dream really. For too many years, we Christians in the business have been operating in a parallel universe from the rest of the... Read more

I found this through a link at Pewsitter. Actress Jessica Alba has vowed that she would ‘never’ strip naked for a film – because her Catholic background does not allow her to do so. The 26-year-old actress revealed that she wouldn’t think twice before turning down a role that requires her to go nude, as she believes it is important to abide by her strict religious beliefs. “I will never do a nude scene in a movie – not ever.... Read more

Sigh. On Monday, the Hollywood Buzz woman, Nikke Finke noted on her site, Also, Roadside Attractions’ little known PG-13 Bella opened in only 165 theaters to make $1.3 mil this weekend but surprisingly had Friday’s 3rd best per screen average ($8,026). “Think there are some distribution guys around town wondering right now what the heck a Bella is?” an insider on the film boasted to me… So, then, I just got copied on this following email from a friend of... Read more

And because it’s Halloween, I thought it would be appropriate to do a piece on the real servants of darkness that lurk on every corner of Hollywood Blvd. in front of lovely restored buildings and huge complexes. Scientology, the omnibus cult that, in the Church’s pastoral absence, has filled the spiritual void in so many creative people here, has made Hollywood its Vatican. One estimate I read says Scientology owns 60% of the land in Hollywood, including this place, right... Read more

If we must have a cinematic bandwagon, I propose that we have it for The Assassination of Jesse James. Based on the novel by a devout, brilliant, and very-talented Catholic novelist Ron Hansen, the film is truly Catholic. That is, it has matter (profound truthful content) and form (technical and artistic mastery). It is therefore sacramental in the way that art should be. Anyone who is walking out of Bella theaters full of wonder and delight, I’m happy for you.... Read more

So slight that a gentle breeze might tip it over, “Bella” is a film about selfless love that wants to be loved too much. Manipulative pic trades in fairy-tale views of New York life alongside briefly sustained emotional confessions, which may partly explain its victory as Toronto fest’s aud winner. Mexican-born helmer Alejandro Monteverde’s debut will be remembered as a curious case of a mediocre film that wows crowds… Daily Variety I have been getting loads of email asking (and... Read more