I’ve seen Over the Rhine play live fifteen times now. Thursday night’s show was a blast. But Friday’s night’s second show in Seattle was one of the very best performances I’ve seen by any band anywhere. They were on fire. They played: I Don’t Want to Waste Your Time Fever I Want You to Be My Love Let’s Spend the Day in Bed Entertaining Thoughts Nothing is Innocent The Trumpet child Who’m I Kiddin’ But Me Trouble And Can It... Read more
Here’s the final review from the Toronto International Film Festival written for Looking Closer by Ken Morefield of Campbell University. Thank you, Ken, for such thoughtful reflections on what look like very exciting films. – One of the pleasures of attending The Toronto International Film Festival is discovering new films and, perhaps, being part of the buzz that earns them a wider screening. Amir Bar-Lev’s documentary is just the sort of film that I’m glad I saw and hope to... Read more
Come celebrate at one of the Auralia’s Colors book-release parties: TONIGHT: at 7:00 p.m., at The Next Chapter bookstore in La Conner, Washington. And… (more…) Read more
Here’s the set list from last night’s spirited Over the Rhine show at the Triple Door in downtown Seattle: (more…) Read more
“Mr. Overstreet, we’re going to have to postpone your interview by twenty minutes because we just got an opportunity to interview the actor Stephen Baldwin…” Twenty-five minutes later… waiting on hold… “I’m sorry, we’ve run out of time. We’re going to have to talk to you on another day.” Oh well. I could start complaining about the usual supsect… but these things happen in radio. Read more
This review was originally published at Christianity Today Movies in March of 2007. – Jaws introduced us to the shark-cam. From the shark’s perspective, we saw the vulnerable legs of that oblivious swimmer just before the deadly strike. Then, blood stained the water. David Fincher’s new film Zodiac, based on a murder mystery that began in 1969 and continues today, opens with “the incoming mail cam.” We’re drawn into the offices of The San Francisco Chronicle, moving along with a letter... Read more
2007 UPDATE: It’s been more than five years since Zoolander, and the movie still holds up. Glancing back over my original review, I still feel the same way about it. It’s a hoot and a holler, and well worth revisiting. It’s a shame Stiller hasn’t done anything more in this vein… – It may seem strange to use the word “discernment” when talking about a Ben Stiller comedy. But good satire has always exaggerated the good and the bad of... Read more
This just in: For years many evangelical Christians have written about movies primarily as weapons in a culture war. Thank God for Jeffrey Overstreet, who writes about film as an art form. Through a Screen Darkly is beautifully written, and Overstreet’s love of film shines through on every page. My “Theology and Popular Culture” students love this book, which stimulates deep discussions and about film and faith. I also highly recommended this book to youth workers struggling to articulate a... Read more
Campbell University’s Kenneth R. Morefield has just seen one of the films I’m most eager to see this autumn. Here’s his review. (Thanks, Ken!) – There is a polished, poetic plainness to some of Cormac McCarthy’s prose in which his admirers might hear echoes of Flannery O’Connor but which usually leaves me exasperated. At its best, the prose can take on the quality of found poetry, intimating at deep truths that inform surface reality and invigorating tired clichés by reminding... Read more
Just got a note from Linford Detweiler of Over the Rhine: Auralia was my traveling companion all across Europe and the UK. Wow. Congrats on bringing her to life. I came home and immediately began reading The Hobbit — wanted to stay in a world somewhat reminiscent of Auralia’s. So I’ll be taking Gandalf to the West Coast for old time’s sake. See you soon, Linford. Kinda freaks me out to think that Auralia toured the UK with OTR. Wow. Life’s... Read more
Looking Closer
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