On Movies & Media

J. Hoberman on "Children of Men"

The raves are pouring in. Children of Men is the movie that you'll be sorry you missed. Unless, of course, you go see it. Here's J. Hoberman: The 1995 castoff was 12 Monkeys, Terry Gilliam's remake of Chris Marker's La Jetée; this

On Movies & Media

J. Robert Parks Raves About "Children of Men"

I love it when a movie rekindles, and increases, my love and appreciation of what movies can do. Children of Men does that for me. I'm seeing it again tonight, and I'm just giddy with anticipation. Apparently, J. Robert Parks was also rather impressed. I hope

On Books & Writing

Luci Shaw on Remembering Mary at Christmas

My dear friend, the ever-inspiring Luci Shaw, has just published a meditation on Mary at Christianity Today. Enjoy.

On Movies & Media

Alfonso Cuarón: "Narrative is the Poison of Cinema"

Children of Men drops you smack dab in the middle of an apocalypse. You'd better be ready. Alfonso Cuarón isn't interested in explaining everything to the audience. He wants us to struggle to get our bearings. The work of understanding is what makes art an experience

On Movies & Media

Alfonso Cuarón: "Narrative is the Poison of Cinema"

Children of Men drops you smack dab in the middle of an apocalypse. You'd better be ready. Alfonso Cuarón isn't interested in explaining everything to the audience. He wants us to struggle to get our bearings. The work of understanding is what makes art an experience

On Movies & Media

Slant Critics: Two Intriguing Year's-Best Lists.

I'm listening to the critics at Slant Magazine this year. Why? Well, because both of them picked The New World as the best film of 2005, having seen only a hastily fashioned awards-consideration version. Looking at their picks for this year, I'm already agreeing with

On Movies & Media

Morefield Says, Shut Up and Go See the Chicks!

I've just posted Ken Morefield's review of Shut Up and Sing, the new documentary about the Dixie Chicks and the trouble they fell into when one of them said something critical about the President. After musing about the effects of Natalie's challenging lyrics, he

On Songs & Albums

Congratulations to The Beauty!!

One of my dearest, closest friends, Todd Fadel, who I've known since we were... oh... two?... is in a band called The Beauty. (The other fellow in the band is Matt Zimmerman.) They're from Portland. I've been in an improv comedy band with Todd

On Movies & Media

"Apocalypto" - Catholic? Chattaway says "No way!"

You didn't think I'd go another day without posting something about Apocalypto... a movie I still haven't seen... did you? Here's Peter Chattaway responding to those reviews I posted earlier this week that categorized Apocalypto as another film favoring Catholicism. Chattaway says

On Movies & Media

A New Batch of Responses at CT Feedback

UPDATED!!NOW, with even more provocative responses from readers... Here's one of the letters contributed by readers after CT's coverage of The Nativity Story, and there are more where this came from: * A concerned Catholic I look forward to your thoughts, but please, don't

On Movies & Media

"Apocalypto": A Catholic Masterpiece?

Apocalypto is dividing up my friends, colleagues, and my favorite critics more than any movie I can remember since... well... The Passion of the Christ. Thanks to Stuart Buck for sending this along... certainly a different perspective than I've read elsewhere... Apocalypto is a Catholic masterpiece. Its message

Looking Elsewhere

Specials: Gondry's astonishing feet; the great Bob Newhart lives

Is this two-minute video the greatest feet of Michel "Eternal Sunshine" Gondry's career? You decide!! (And no, that wasn't a typo in my headline.) The great Bob Newhart lives on I depend on Mark Shea's blog for insight on many things.

On Movies & Media

Awards! Awards! Awards! (Updated Tues. 12/12/06)

The Boston Film Critics pick The Departed. (Runner-up: United 93) My favorite Boston picks: Best Actress - Helen Mirren, The Queen (Runner-up: Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal) Best Supporting Actor - Mark Wahlberg, The Departed Best Supporting Actress - Shareeka Epps, Half Nelson Best Foreign Language Film- Pan's

On Books & Writing

"Mr. Wilson's Bookshelf": John Wilson Picks the Best of 2006

Here's the annual list of recommendations from the editor of Books and Culture, John Wilson. I've seen Mr. Wilson's office, and it is a book-lover's dream... you would be surprised how many books he's managed to fit in that

On Movies & Media

Give Judi Dench a Nomination for "Notes on a Scandal"

Watch out. Here comes Notes on a Scandal. And what Hannibal Lecter was for Anthony Hopkins, Barbara Covett is for Dame Judi Dench. Yikes, what a nasty bit of business this movie is. Count Barbara Covett up there with Tom Ripley on the chart of Malevolent Devils. She's

On Movies & Media

Family Stories: My Conversation with Alejandro González Iñárritu

This interview was originally published at Christianity Today on November 8, 2006. • Alejandro González Iñárritu has a lot of stories to tell. He packs several of them into each film that he makes. In three critically acclaimed features — Amores Perros, 21 Grams, and the latest, Babel — he and screenwriter Guillermo

On Movies & Media

"Apocalypto": the reviews are in.

So... what did Mel Gibson do with all of that money he made off of The Passion of the Christ? He made Apocalypto. And here's what Christian film critics are saying... Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films): Gibson is a consummate filmmaker, and the action is never less than

On Movies & Media

"Wings of Desire": Stage Play

My favorite film, Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire, has been re-made once before... as a forgettable, cheezy American romance called City of Angels. Now, it's being remade again, night after night, onstage. And The New York Times has a review.

On Movies & Media

The Weinsteins Start Up Their Own "Faith-Based" Film Endeavor

Great. Now the Weinstein Company is developing a faith-based filmmaking line. Since the Contemporary Christian Music has done so much to sidetrack Christian musicians so their music doesn't accidentally end up in arenas where the world might hear it... why not create Contemporary Christian Cinema? That way,

On Movies & Media

Firefly is back. (Sort of.)

With each passing week, it continues to blow my mind that there is nobody out there able to talk sense into a television network and organize the return of Joss Whedon's Firefly. The fans have made valiant efforts. The cast has expressed enthusiasm and love and longing to

On Movies & Media

My talk with The Nativity Story's screenwriter, Mike Rich

My interview with Mike Rich, the guy who wrote The Rookie, Radio, and The Nativity Story, is now posted on the website for Response Magazine. I've interviewed a lot of writers and filmmakers. Few have been as eloquent as Rich. It was a pleasure to talk with him.

National Board of Review

Specials: National Board of What?; Time Out on NY Critics; Battlestar Galactica

"The National Board of Review" - impressive name, no credibility At Hollywood Elsewhere today, Jeffrey Wells links to Roger Friedman's bit about the National Board of (not-so-credible) Review. Who are they to be naming the Best Films of 2006? Find out. And speaking of reviewers.

On Movies & Media

Christian Film Critics Publish "Outrageous, Disingenuous Lies" for God's Glory

This week's Film Forum contains dangerous material. Christians are giving mixed reviews to The Nativity Story. Some of them love it, some of them like it, some of them don't like it. Could it be that a movie might fall short of greatness, even if the

Over the Rhine

Over the Rhine in New York Press

I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be for all the music lovers: The New York Press has an article about the new Over the Rhine Christmas album! And the writer calls it: ...a recording whose charm is exceeded only by its musical dexterity. Karin Bergquist, Detweiler’s

On Movies & Media

Why Is "The New World" on 2005 Best-Lists If Malick Finished It in 2006?

The final cut of Terrence Malick's The New World was not finished until January 2006. It was not shown to critics in Seattle until January 18, 2006. The cut that was shown to Oscar voters in a rather rushed attempt to get an Oscar nomination was not the