![\"LEGO](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/226\/2014\/11\/LEGO-astronaut.jpg\")
<\/a>Wow, what an eventful 2014 we\u2019ve had so far here at Looking Closer. And we\u2019ve only just arrived at November.<\/p>\nHistorically, November and December are the busiest months of the year on my blog, because it\u2019s time to start reviewing the most\u00a0impressive music, movies, and more.<\/p>\n
But before we get caught up in all of that excitement, I need to stop, glance back over my shoulder, and appreciate just how much your readership and support have enabled me to do\u2026 in spite of the fact that I\u2019ve been working full-time in an office job, and chasing challenging deadlines for my MFA in Creative Writing graduate studies.<\/p>\n
Did you miss any of these highlights? Don\u2019t worry. They\u2019re not going anywhere.<\/p>\n
So here we go: An enormous \u201cThank you!\u201d to those who contributed this year, making many of these posts possible. You\u2019re invited to contribute to the coming months and 2014 by donating to Looking Closer. $2.50 \u2013 $200 \u2026 any amount will help me cover films, music, conferences, and more.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s review\u2026<\/p>\n
Much to my surprise, this is the most popular film review I\u2019ve ever published\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n The LEGO Movie<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n I would have preferred to show up in The New Yorker\u00a0<\/i>because of my novels or my film reviews, but instead\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2026 I was featured in <\/a>The New Yorker<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>for shining a light on the flawed ideals that drive Ted Baehr, Movieguide, and The Christian Film and Television Commission\u2019s\u00a0\u201cChristian Oscars\u201d event.<\/p>\n By the request of InTouch Magazine, I presented 12 steps to more rewarding moviegoing\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cViewer Discussion Advised<\/a>\u201c<\/p>\n Invited by Christianity Today<\/em> to share thoughts on how I\u2019ve changed my mind about a movie, I wrote about\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHow I Got Dead Poet\u2019s Society<\/em> Wrong \u2014 and How a Great Professor Changed My Mind\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Invited by Fuller Seminary to reflect on Pacific Northwest politics and the film\u00a0Battle in Seattle,<\/em> I wrote\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cA Personal Reflection on the Pros and Cons of Protest\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n When a reader asked me to recommend some good movies for her kids, I suggested\u00a0My Neighbor Totoro<\/em>, for one\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201c30 Must-See Movies for Kids<\/a>\u201c<\/p>\n Invited by Seattle Pacific University\u2019s Response<\/em> magazine editor to comment on films that the Academy Awards overlooked, I wrote about Frances Ha<\/em>, for one \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cSeven Films That Oscar Forgot<\/a>\u201c<\/p>\n In a year of great losses to the world of film and theatre: R.I.P.\u00a0Philip Seymour Hoffman<\/strong><\/p>\n The Actor, The Philosopher, The Master, The Wrestler<\/a><\/p>\n And R.I.P. Robin Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWho Among Us is Thirsty?\u201d: A Reflection on the Loss of Robin Williams<\/a><\/p>\n Quite a bit of discussion and debate surrounded Darren Aronofsky\u2019s Noah,<\/em>\u00a0so I weighed in with this two-part revew\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Part One<\/a><\/p>\n Part Two<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 with a survey of powerful insights from other reviewers \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n A commentary and a variety of notable reviews of Noah<\/em> by some of my favorite film-lovers.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 and with this Kindlings Muse podcast Discussion of\u00a0Noah<\/em>\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n featuring\u00a0Dr. Jeff Keuss, Dr. Christine Chaney, Jenny Spohr\u2026 and me.<\/a><\/p>\n This was a year full of poorly made, dismayingly narrow-minded, even hostile \u201cChristian movies\u201d that presened an ugly, arrogant, deeply-flawed version of the gospel\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n God\u2019s Not Dead<\/em>, But Is He Shaking His Head?<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking such misguided movies, I looked closer at the reviews of\u00a0Left Behind<\/em>\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n So, how is it? According to film reviewers \u2014 Christian or otherwise \u2014 it\u2019s pretty much a disaster<\/a>.<\/p>\n And I reminded readers that well-made movies won\u2019t be . . . Left Behind<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The official Facebook page for Left Behind<\/em>\u00a0is giving a forum to\u00a0Christians who call down all kinds of hellfire and brimstone<\/a> on those \u2014 including their fellow Christians \u2014 who have issues with the movie. Ah, what a moving portrait of the Gospel at work. Meanwhile, well-made films that take Christianity seriously continue to draw praise from critics, no matter their worldview.<\/p>\n Responding to Alissa Wilkinson\u2019s comments on Gone Girl<\/em>\u00a0and Christian perspective, I wrote\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n The Christian Message of Gone Girl\u00a0<\/em>\u2026 (Not Really)<\/a><\/p>\n I asked: What are your favorite examples of great music transforming great images at the movies?<\/strong><\/p>\n You shared your favorites.<\/a><\/p>\n When somebody told me that the gap between\u00a0critics\u2019 views and moviegoers\u2019 first-impressions shows that critics are out of touch, I responded\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Whom Should We Trust: Critics\u2019 Reviews or Audiences\u2019 First Impressions?<\/a><\/p>\n I noticed with some admiration that Aragorn has a few things to say about his favorite Peter Jackson movie:<\/strong><\/p>\n (It Isn\u2019t The Return of the King<\/em><\/a>)<\/p>\n It seemed like a good time to remind people that comedy and faith are not\u00a0exclusive\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Part One<\/a><\/p>\n Part Two<\/a><\/p>\n I pointed out, not for the first time, that the Oscars don\u2019t mean much to me\u2026\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Not Gonna Bow: Notes on the Oscars<\/a><\/p>\n And then there are the reviews and commentaries on film, television, and music\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Television<\/strong><\/p>\n Movies<\/strong><\/p>\n Music<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022<\/p>\n\n
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If you appreciate this post and enjoy Jeffrey\u2019s work exploring the territory where art, faith, and culture intersect, you\u2019re invited to \u201cPut Your Name in the Credits.\u201d Cast your vote for \u201cKeep Looking Closer Alive.\u201d Make a donation. Offer whatever you feel moved to contribute. All donations will be applied directly to that materials, events, and experiences that make the blog happen. That\u2019s a Looking Closer promise.<\/h6>\n