It’s not just Christian film critics who are troubled by the way Jesus Camp portrays evangelicals. Some of the mainstream critics are actually patient enough, thoughtful enough, and fair enough to notice that the film is grossly unfair to Christians. (more…) Read more
Beck‘s last album, Guero (not counting the album of remixes that came after it), was a smorgasboard of so-so songs with a few flashes of genius. According to Stephen Thomas Erlewine (in what must be the longest unbroken paragraph published this week), Beck’s new album The Information is significantly better than that. There’s a greater sense of craft here and while craft isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Beck, it’s what happens when an... Read more
I haven’t seen anything but the trailer for Catherine Hardwicke’s The Nativity Story yet. And I really don’t have any particular expectations about the film itself. When I saw Hardwicke’s Thirteen, which starred Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood, I was quite impressed with the performances of her cast. Whether that was just the cast being brilliant, or whether it had something to do with Hardwicke’s direction, well, that will probably become more clear as we see more of Hardwicke’s... Read more
“Hollywood.” In the media… especially in the Christian media… the word “Hollywood” gets thrown around a lot. “Hollywood is anti-Christian. It is always producing projects that lampoon, criticize, and ridicule Christians.” “We need to clean up Hollywood.” “Christians should not have anything to do with what comes out of Hollywood.” Meanwhile, in the middle of Hollywood, you’ll find Christians are working hard to create good films, to deliver excellent performances, to write superlative scripts. And they’re not necessarily stuffing the... Read more
“Christian.” What is it? Is it an adjective? * * * * * * * * * * * * * Is “a Christian” someone who prayed a prayer asking Jesus into their heart? What if that person forgets about that prayer, and strays? Is it someone who continues in a dedicated fashion to pursue and develop a relationship with Christ? The word began as a label that others put upon the disciples of Christ, a teasing sort of label:... Read more
Jeff Sharlet at The Revealer reviews Jesus Camp and says, “I can’t recommend it strongly enough. Jesus Camp turns out to be perhaps the best work of journalism — or art — dealing with contemporary Christian conservatism.” Let’s say that he’s right, and Jesus Camp really is the best work of journalism dealing with contemporary Christian conservatism. (more…) Read more
One of the seductions that bedevils Christian formation is the construction of utopias, ideal places where we can live totally and without inhibition or interference the good and blessed and righteous life. The imagining and then attempted construction of such utopias is an old habit of our kind. Sometimes we attempt it politically in communities, sometimes socially in communes, sometimes religiously in churches. It never comes to anything but grief. Utopia is, literally, “no-place.” But we can live our lives... Read more
Here’s The LA Times on the hubbub over Jesus Camp, and how the subjects of the film are responding to it. When Fischer arrived home Tuesday after a few days touring with the filmmakers, her e-mail inbox was loaded with hate mail. She spent the next two days writing lengthy explanations to the most common accusations — “How dare you brainwash those kids!” and “Are you raising up Christian terrorists or another Hitler Youth movement?” — then posted them on... Read more
One of my youngest friends, Akemi Takashi, daughter of my former coworker and dear friend Kathy Takahashi, is a very big deal today in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. If you’re a filmmaker looking for a good, inspiring story, you won’t find a more engaging youngster than Akemi. (more…) Read more
Today, Jeffrey Wells considers three things that will guarantee your movie will be unpopular. And, although it really depresses me to say it, this is probably true. (more…) Read more
Looking Closer
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