“What do I say here?” – That was me talking to friend Sean, after we staggered out of the new film from Todd Field (In the Bedroom). The guy is brilliant. Along with Terence Malick, arguably the most metaphorically astute and Flannery O’Connoresque filmmaker working today. He gets that sin is the fundamental sickness in society, and that holiness is just going from moment to moment with the grace that is out there. In the Bedroom was a profound film... Read more

Note to Sorkin: We know what you are doing. You think if you create a Christian character, and make her cute and smart, that you are then covered to say every nasty rotten, bigotted thing you want about Christians. It doesn’t. You can’t. For the record, we know what you’re doing. It’s called… ..to?ken?ism? /?to?k??n?z?m/ Pronunciation[toh-kuh-niz-uhm] –noun1. the practice or policy of making no more than a token effort or gesture, as in offering opportunities to minorities equal to those... Read more

…the other day. About Gen X and the Millenials. I was up late watching a documentary on MSNBC about homeless teens in Portland, and I was marveling at their lack of interest in anything that might be a normal human life. And then it popped into my head: they know it’s all over and they are waiting for the call to battle. They are just killing time waiting for something to die for. It’s not that they don’t understand modern... Read more

I don’t have time to do a full review here as we are in the last weekend of the Writing Program. However, I do want to give a thumbs up to Columbia Pictures’ Monster House. It’s a very clever story. Really clever. (I offer it as a beginner’s textbook to those who thought that Lady in the Water was a good story. More on this later…) My only question watching it was whether it is too creepy for the kids... Read more

Sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong century. I don’t tend to think that things that lots of other people today laugh at are funny. A case in point is the indie movie now in theatrical release called Little Miss Sunshine. I just listened to fuzzy Gene Shalit give it a rave on Today as being an inspiring, delightful family romp (or words to that effect). This film was all the rage at Sundance this year. I... Read more

This fall, I will be teaching a course called Theology for Hollywood at both the Los Angeles Film Study Center, and at Azusa Pacific University. If I think about it, I will post the syllabus as I think it is quite novel and maybe somebody else out there would like to spread the faith. One of the elements of the course is to have the students watch a movie every week about art, beauty and artists. I need a few... Read more

Dear Barbara, I have a question about a statement you made in your comments about Superman Returns. You said, “Maybe that is more like real life. Certainly it is. But stories are supposed to be better than real life.” I had a discussion with someone about this who says that real life is the best thing there is, so a story should be like real life. I said that I thougth the point was that because our vision is marred... Read more

When I walked out Lady in the Water, I walked into the last hour of The Devil Wears Prada in the theater next door. At the time, I was just trying to flush my brain of Shyamalan’s murky mess, but I’m so glad I did. This is the best film I have seen this year. I mean for me as an adult move-goer. Now, maybe it is that the arena of Devil – the fashion world – is the evil... Read more

He has lost his mind. As Mark Shea is fond of saying, “Sin makes you crazy.” I don’t presume to know the complete condition of Shyamalan’s soul, but clearly, egomania has taken hold and so he has lost his grip on reality. In this case, the demanding and wonderful realities of the essentials of narrative filmmaking. I remembered, somewhere in the first ten minutes of Lady in the Water that I had pledged back in the last ten minutes of... Read more

My sister sent around this report on my nephew’s broken arm. So far, the prognosis looks very good. Thanks to all of you for praying. ———————- John-Thomas had surgery yesterday on his elbow and is recovering well. He had three pins put in and is experiencing some pain but the cast, which reaches from his shoulder to his fingers, has helped. We go back Monday to make sure pins are in the right place and haven’t moved. I pray to... Read more