I’m not allowed to– WOOOOO HOOOO!!!! I’m not allowed to say anything along the lines of, oh, say, “Serenity is the best Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back.” So I’ll have to reserve my rave review until September 30th. But I can offer you some advice: If you want to enjoy an incredibly exciting action movie, you’d better get out and rent or purchase the Firefly DVD series and watch each episode. You won’t regret it. The more... Read more
2046 demands to be seen if only because no film (at least, no film *I’ve* ever seen) captures the beauty of its actresses so artfully, with such spectacular style and light. I mean that Wong Kar Wai’s long-awaited follow-up to In the Mood for Love captures the subtle grace of several fine actresses in a take-your-breath-away, “aren’t-women-confoundingly-fantastic” kind of way. Few films have ever concentrated so closely on colors and textures. Cinematographer Christopher Doyle (Hero, Last Life in the Universe)... Read more
Today’s specials: Peter T. Chattaway talks with writer/director Scott Derrickson about The Exorcism of Emily Rose. My own interview will be published at SPU’s Response soon. Favorite line from a film review this week: (From the PullQuote review of Broken Flowers.) “Suffice it to say that Broken Flowers is the sort of film where, at the end, you can’t believe Patricia Clarkson wasn’t in it.” At Books and Culture, Thomas Hibbs examines the popularity of Donnie Darko. Also at Books... Read more
Hmmm. If they could make Alien Versus Predator… then maybe… Stay tuned! I’ve seen The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and later this week I’ll see Serenity. I’ll have reviews of both soon, and we’ll see who wins the Celebrity Death Match between two vicious female contortionists! Read more
I gotta say, I agree with Terry Gilliam, who, in spite of the mess the Weinsteins made of The Brothers Grimm, remains one of my favorite directors. Gilliam, who was J. K. Rowling’s original choice to direct Harry Potter, before the studio gave it to Chris Columbus, says: “I was the perfect guy to do Harry Potter. I remember leaving the meeting, getting in my car, and driving for about two hours along Mulholland Drive just so angry. I mean,... Read more
What if there as a warm, welcoming neighbohood bookstore offering a fireside reading lounge, with exceptional coffee and milkshakes and sandwiches, that featured the finest in contemporary and classic literature and downplayed the cheezy, pop-lit, flash-in-the-pan stuff, and then… upstairs… next to the childrens’ reading-and-playing area… there were comfortable reading chairs arranged alongside shelves featuring the works of Thomas Merton, G.K. Chesterton, Henri Nouwen, C.S. Lewis, Phillip Yancey, Eugene Peterson, Donald Miller, Madeleine L’Engle, Dick Staub, Luci Shaw… It’s not... Read more
Today’s specials: Dick Staub says “I believe…” Wow. Right on. And speaking of inspirational writing… Jeff Berryman has just given a nod to what may be the biggest archive of art-related quotations on the Web. Phillip Seymour Hoffman stars in Capote. More film-related news has just been posted in Reel News by Josh Hurst. Feedback: This letter came in to Christianity Today this week and made my day: The Brothers Grimm. Too few movie reviewers give such attention to critical... Read more
Looks like the system finally beat them. Looks like they finally did say “die.” About 20-or-so years past their prime, Petra is over. If you feel like reminiscing through your tears, go here. P.S. And if you are one of those offended by this post, for the record, let me confess that I still own several Petra albums and I used to be a big fan of Greg Volz when he was singing. Read more
Yes! The Six-Fingered Man is on the move… I could almost have guessed that Christopher Guest‘s next story would involve independent filmmakers who make their way to the Oscars. After all, he’s covered small-town theatre, dog shows, and musical reunion tours. What’s the natural next step?For Your Consideration will star the usual suspects AND Ricky Gervais! I hope they make action figures for this one, so I can set them up beside my collection of My Dinner with Andre action... Read more
More specials: A truly troubling clip that seems to be from Joss Whedon’s Serenity. Viewer discretion … no, make that listener discretion advised. Josh Hurst just noticed that Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois is no longer the “best-reviewed album of the year” … at least for now. Who took over the #1 spot? The New Pornographers. It’s the feel-good music video of the summer! Smog’s I Feel Like the Mother of the World, starring a rather notorious actress. There are a bunch... Read more
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