Still basking in the greatness of the Glen Workshop. Just had tearful goodbyes with several of the fiction writers with whom I formed strong bonds this week. Things are wrapping up in a hurry now. Sigh. I could live with this community, and it would bear many resemblances to my idea of heaven. (more…) Read more
Jeffrey’s review of Broken Flowers was published at Christianity Today in August 2005. Read more
Just a quick post, and then I’m off to do homework for tomorrow’s workshop. Last night, I had the overwhelming thrill of introducing Over the Rhine before their concert at the Glen Workshop. I barely got the words out around the lump in my throat, but it went well. The concert was, of course, sublime. It was just Linford and Karin this time, but they did a fair number of songs from “Drunkard’s Prayer” and the best peformance of “Jesus... Read more
Ha! I found an available computer at the library at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, so I’ll just give you these juicy tidbits about my week so far. – I’m in a week-long fiction workshop with Erin McGraw, an author I hadn’t yet discovered, but now you can call me a fan. She read from an upcoming work tonight, and it was extraordinary. She’s married to the poet Andrew Hudgins, and Anne and I had the pleasure of enoying... Read more
I’ve been away for a couple of days, preparing for my presentation at Seattle Pacific University University’s UR (University Relations) Staff Retreat. The retreat was yesterday, and I had the incredible privilege of talking to about 75 SPU staff members about my history as a moviegoer, the development of Looking Closer; the changing dialogue within Christian communities on the subject of film, Christian liberty, and conscience; the different ways in which we watch and should watch movies; the different ways... Read more
Today’s specials: Michael Leary on Napoleon Dynamite. Twitch scoops an intriguing collaboration between The Brothers Quay and Terry Gilliam. Wow. Sounds promising indeed. Go here for news and stills. The trailer for Natalie Portman‘s new film with the makers of The Matrix: V for Vendetta. What did I say about The Island being built out of parts stolen from other movies? Read more
“We’re about to fall 70 stories!” “Don’t worry. We’ll walk away from it.” There are a few spoilers in the following thoughts on Michael Bay’s new movie. So, if you really want to spend your hard-earned money on this massive waste of time, space, and other resources, you may want to turn back now. I would use the word “obscene” to describe Michael Bay’s The Island… for the way that its story is made up almost entirely of ideas stolen... Read more
J. Robert Parks says he’s found one of the best films of the year. A few days ago, my friend Garth asked what I was reviewing this week, and I replied “The World.” He was confused at first, and I hastened to add “The World” was the film’s name. “That’s a pretty broad title,” Garth joked. It is, and yet I’m not sure I could think of a better one. The movie stars Zhao Tao as a young woman named... Read more
Robert Altman is, officially, the director of the big screen version of Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. But reports from the set, according to MNSpeak, suggest otherwise. Apparently, Paul Thomas Anderson (Punch-drunk Love, Magnolia) is shouldering a good deal of responsibility. MNSpeak says, “the producers of the film probably insisted that Altman commit to a “backup” director because of his age … and some say [Anderson is] basically running daily production of the film. […] Between cuts, Robert belts... Read more
Woo hoo!!! I’ve just been informed that I have the enormous privilege of covering The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for Christianity Today. And since I’m enormously skeptical about the whole affair, rather than a blindly loyal “Narniac” who’s already calling the film a “classic” before seeing it, I hope I will give it a fair shake for all of you. The season of the witch can’t come soon enough…. Read more
Looking Closer
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