Don’t miss “Cesar’s Last Fast” if you are here in SoCal. It is inspiring beyond words. My review is coming … It’s a documentary about the life of Cesar Chavez that uses his final fast – 36 days- as the framework and lens for the storytelling. Read more
Of all the possible genres and subgenres of cinema, my favorite is that of “food.” If you ask most authentic food movie aficionados they will head their list of favorite food films with “Babette’s Feast” “Big Night” and for me “Pieces of April” “Mostly Martha” and “Ratatouille.” Now director Roger Gaul is serving up his version of a food movie but I fear, in fact, I am certain, it will never be a classic. It’s about a Spanish restaurant, on... Read more
I got an email today from The Sundance Institute – it is offering people five films – handpicked – to watch for Earth Day – today. Click here to access the films – though you may have to register first. As a disclaimer I haven’t seen the films but knowing the quality of Sundance documentaries I’ll let you be the judge. If all else fails, see Rio 2, a stunning fable for Earth Day. Read more
It is never easy to define, much less critique, a Wes Anderson film. They are filled to the brim with quirky characters who march a crooked but adventurous journey to the finish line. The Grand Budapest Hotel is the most bizarre caper of them all. It is 1985, and the once stately hotel in the Republic of Zubrowka—somewhere between Germany, Hungary, and Russia—is worn and sagging. We travel back further in time to its former owner, Mr. Moustafa (F. Murray... Read more
By now, most people know that I am not a fan of the “Christian” movie genre when these films are more about teaching than storytelling and making sure audiences get “the message” rather than trusting them to use their own moral and religious imagination to savor the story. These films might be movies, but they are certainly not art. In response to the film “God’s Not Dead,” I wrote an essay called “How movies can save people,” and I make... Read more
A small but loving gesture from one sibling to another brings hope to a struggling family. This is the last episode in our Lenten Film Series and we hope you have enjoyed it! Here is my interview with Australian director Anna McGrath where she speaks about her inspiration for the film. Click here to access the entire Lenten Film Series and the questions for reflection and conversation Read more
Over 21 million hits so far (amazing if April 7, 2014 is the actual date it was posted) of Irish priest Fr. Ray Kelly surprise song at the end of the nuptial mass for Chris and Leah O’Kane. Inspiring and beautiful. I know some liturgists have voiced their dismay at the non-liturigcal nature of the song or its use within the mass but it’s done now and it was a beautiful gift for the couple. All is grace. Here... Read more
Major KUDOS to CBS’ “60 Minutes” tonight for their cover story on Pope Francis’ first year. It was reverent and used accurate terminology! I loved the piece with Pope Francis’ friend Rabbi Abraham Skorka and their soccer rivalry. This is a gift from CBS and “60 Minutes” for Palm Sunday … Thank you. Click here to see the segment on Pope Francis. And blessings for Holy Week and for Passover to our Jewish brothers and sisters. Read more
If you get cable or satellite TV check out the UP Network for more than 20 Bible films (including The Passion of the Christ – edited for TV) they started airing on April 7 and will continue through Easter. The UP Network used to be GMC, the Gospel Music Channel. It is a Christian network and has now expanded into family friendly films (some of them are actually good), reruns of favorite shows like “Touched by an Angel” and “7th... Read more
CBS announced today that when David Letterman retires in 2015, Stephen Colbert will replace him. Colbert’s “The Colbert Report” is one of Comedy Central’s best shows, right up there with Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show.” In fact, Colbert worked as a “correspondent” on Stewart’s parody of a news show before getting his own political, ultraconservative, talking-head satire pulpit in 2005. Colbert has always shamelessly admitted he is a practicing Catholic and, as far as I know, hosts the only... Read more
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