Much has been written about Martin Scorsese’s films and hopefully we can expect more of both. Theologians and religious studies professors often drool over the theological over/undertones in his work. His early struggle of whether or not to enter the priesthood should add complexity to his work and our viewing of it. In The Word Made Flesh: Catholicism and Conflict in the Films of Martin Scorsese, Michael Bliss discusses Scorsese’s films from Who’s That Knocking at My Door to The... Read more
Thanks to Alexander Carpenter of the Beatitudes Society and The Spectrum blog for steering me toward this great article from Christianity Today. A couple of these films have been reviewed on PopTheology, and despite our negative review of Knocked Up, I happen to agree with McCracken’s take on it. I appreciate this writer’s willingness to look beyond the offensive elements of these films to find a deeper, life-affirming message. Check it out at: Pro-Life Cinema Read more
Robert Redford’s Sundance Channel has become the first cable network to intentionally devote a portion of its weekly primetime broadcasting to “green programming. Most of the programs are documentary in nature but all focus on the effects of global warming on our planet and what we can do to curb those effects. A more “practical” program is Big Ideas for a Small Planet. Last week’s episode was entitled “Pray” and focused on faith-based responses to global warming. (more…) Read more
Here are some clips from Michael Moore’s Sicko that feature former labour MP Tony Benn and his thoughts on democracy and healthcare. Read more
For his most recent film, Sicko, Michael Moore turns his skeptical, investigative eye towards the health care system in the United States. The result? Yet another film that poses the ever-strengthening question: is the United States really the greatest country in the world? For the religiously-minded viewer, we might again question just how “Christian” our nation really is. Either way, Moore has released another significant film and, I would argue, one of the most spiritually significant films of 2007. (more…) Read more
While it’s nice to find images of truth, beauty, redemption, etc. in popular culture, it’s also a blessing to be reminded of their presence in the “real world.” I found this article while looking for good news for my other website, www.makegoodnews.com. I hope you take the time to read it. Murderer’s Path to Redemption Read more
Most people give me a funny look when I tell them my area of study. Their questions echo Nathanael’s comment to Phillip in John 1:46, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth” but take on a decidedly more modern flare. “Can anything good come out of Hollywood or our television sets?” I often respond like Phillip, “Come and see.” More than likely, my response is, “You should go see….” Thankfully, in recent years, there has also been an increase in... Read more
Mark my words, Brad Bird can do no wrong…cinematically speaking of course. Following the success of The Iron Giant (see May 7 post), Bird scoffed at the potential of a “sophomore slump,” making The Incredibles, another box-office hit and critical success. Bird could have phoned-in a third installment, but took on, possibly, his greatest challenge thus far, making a film about a rat that cooks for humans. Not surprisingly, Ratatouille is one of the better films of the year and,... Read more
I seem to be encountering a string of films that, on the surface, have loads of potential but, unfortunately, don’t quite live up to it. On first viewing 16 Years of Alcohol I thought this might be such a film; however, on further reflection in light of Jurgen Moltmann’s theology of hope, I realized that this is, in fact, a film about the difficulty of maintaining hope in a world where, “Sometimes, for some people, things don’t work out as... Read more
Filmed on location in the rainforests of Costa Rica, The Blue Butterfly offers stunning close-ups of insect and reptile life as it tells the story of an entomologist who grants a dying boy his last wish. However, something seems amiss in this cinematic adaptation of an inspiring true story. Could it be a wildlife narrator? (more…) Read more
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