Yesterday during the James D. Kennedy Coral Ridge Broadcast, Ted Baehr once again slandered Christianity Today and my colleagues in Christian film criticism. And in the meantime, he either got the facts wrong, or he lied… you decide. From a friend who heard the broadcast: Ted Baehr (who starts the broadcast by taking credit for The Passion, Chronicles of Narnia, Madagascar, and other films) notes that he gave The Passion a “movie of the year” award last year. Then he... Read more
I’ve never thought of Looking Closer as a trend-setting site. But Entertainment Weekly has noticed that apparently my haircut is starting a wave of variations. I’m so proud to be influencing culture. I’d like to thank the Academy. I’m sorry, guys. You only wish you were this sexy! Oh, and by the way, that photo is of me trying to survive the trailer for Failure to Launch. Man… that title is such a gift to critics who have to write... Read more
Andrew Sarris (The New York Observer) on Sophie Scholl: The Final Days: Another surprise — perhaps as much for you as for me — is that in her last days, Sophie doesn’t emerge as some kind of secular saint, but rather as a deep believer in her mother’s Protestant Lutheran faith. Hence, when the German prison chaplain comes to give her the last rites, she explicitly beseeches him to entrust her soul to God’s mercy — this despite the agnosticism... Read more
James Wolcott warns us about V for Vendetta: V for Vendetta may be–why hedge? is–the most subversive cinematic deed of the Bush-Blair era, a dagger poised in midair. Unlike the other movies dubbed “controversial” (Fahrenheit 9-11, The Passion, Munich, Syriana), it doesn’t play to a particular constituency or polarized culture bloc, it’s working on a deeper, Edger Allen Poe-ish witch’s brew substrata of pop myth. Cultural conservatives will loathe it without seeing it (they love not having to leave their... Read more
My friend Rik Swartzwelder, director of the award-winning short film “The Least of These,” wrote and co-produced this marketing parody of the commercialization of The Passion of the Christ. And… yikes, it stings like a cat o’nine tails! Watch… The McPassion!!* (Caution: Some may find it irreverent. But I’d argue that the film isn’t making fun of Christ. It’s making fun of just how tactless and clueless many modern marketing endeavors can be.) And prepare for The Second Helping!! Before... Read more
The Big Lebowski and Annie Hall aren’t exactly titles you’d expect to see featured in a film festival for Christians. Craig Detweiler asks… “Why not?!” Read more
Prompted by my earlier recommendation of the Jane Hirschfield book, a reader asked me for a “top ten list” of favorite poets. I can’t offer a list of my favorites in order of preference, but I can easily come up with a list of writers whose work I whole-heartedly recommend to you… poets that Anne and I read often and with gratitude. Here they are, in no particular order… (more…) Read more
Let me just say that I have never been afraid of clowns. Until the Olympic closing ceremonies. Was that creepy, or what? (more…) Read more
Michael Knepfer has figured out that confounding Half-Shot #9. The film is Harold and Maude. This means that the next Half-Shot will have two hints: Reverend (for The Cubicle Reverend, who won Half-Shot #8) and Michael (because Michael won this round.) So stay tuned… Read more
Linford Detweiler has just sent out his latest update on Over the Rhine. It’s full of good stuff: The Olympics, New Zealand, an update on the new live album, and upcoming tour plans. Oh, and according to Linford, spring is coming. I’ve just wrapped up a new interview with Linford (my fourth!), and it’ll be published in the next issue of SPU’s Response magazine, which will be available in mid-March. Read more
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