You know, my review of Fight Club is quite ancient now, and I’ve learned a lot about writing since then. So I think it’s odd that the film critic… or should I say, the fake film critic Michele Schalin, who also has a business called Josiesque Designs, chose that review to plagiarize. (more…) Read more
Sketch comedy artists like Will Ferrell face a challenge when they make the leap to the big screen. Can they come up with an idea that is substantial enough to last the length of a feature film? If they do, can they succeed again? (more…) Read more
I’ve just posted the question on Facebook: What are the most colorful movies you can think of? (more…) Read more
A few weeks back on my Facebook page, I said I’d have news for fans of Madeleine L’Engle. A little later, I posted that I’d soon be reporting on a new film based on a book by one of my favorite writers. Well… are you ready? (more…) Read more
“Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.” That’s how C.S. Lewis famously stated the question each man and woman must answer about the Messiah, the savior from heaven, whose initials are J.C. Others have since paraphrased him: “Liar, lunatic… or lord?” In the new space fantasy adventure by Pixar filmmaker Andrew Stanton, that question comes up again. This time, the people of Mars must decide what to make of their... Read more
In 2010, I had the privilege of leading the Film Seminar at the Glen Workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I was a student posing as an instructor, a film enthusiast more interested in learning about movies from classroom discussion than in expounding upon my own movie-going experience. Still, it caught me by surprise to learn that the “workshopper” with the most cinematic expertise was enrolled not in my seminar, but in the songwriting workshop. … (more…) Read more
Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting the man who designed my blog. Dave Von Bieker and his wife Christie visited me at Seattle Pacific University. I gave them a tour of our beautiful campus, introducing them to the good people at Image, and paid a visit to Laura Lasworth at the SPU Art Gallery. Dave is developing a vision for blessing artists in Edmonton, and it was exciting to hear about that. I have no doubt he and Christie will... Read more
At Seattle’s Harvard Exit theatre last March, I witnessed a rare and wonderful thing on the big screen—a thoughtful portrayal of devout Christians putting their faith into practice. I was caught off guard. I’ve developed a serious allergy to “Christian movies.” They usually turn out to be big-screen sermons with very little storytelling imagination and hardly a trace of poetry or visual composition. Moreover, they’re often misguided fairy tales that imply a relationship with Jesus will lead to answered prayers,... Read more
On Friday night, in Calgary, AB, I’ll be speaking about the Oscars, the movies Oscar overlooked, and taking the road less traveled to a life of rewarding, life-changing, “dangerous” moviegoing. On Saturday night I’ll be flying home to Seattle. On Sunday night… (more…) Read more
I’ll be speaking about “dangerous moviegoing” on Friday night in Calgary, AB… (more…) Read more
Looking Closer
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