On Books & Writing

A Good Year for Poetry

Anne and I read as much poetry, perhaps more, than we do fiction. Of the poets writing and publishing today, we have many mutual favorites. But there are two poets in particular who, when they release new material, send us rushing to a nearby independent bookstore to grab a first

On Movies & Media

Half-shot #9: Making it easier.

More than 20 guesses, and still no winner on Half-Shot Contest #9. Okay, here's a little more of the picture... If you love movies, I'm pretty sure you know this film.

On Movies & Media

Interesting letter of the day

Got the daily bundle of letters in response to the Brokeback Mountain reviews, but I also received one that was quite unusual. I don't usually post the complimentary letters because I don't want to appear to be glorying in somebody's appreciation. But this one

On Movies & Media

Half-Shot Contest #9

I still haven't found a good half-shot related to the term "reverend." (And since the last winner was The Cubicle Reverend, I should be able to find SOMETHING related to that name.) So, until I find one, here's another half-shot for you.... Any guesses?

On Movies & Media

Disney back to drawing!

"TRADITION, TRADITION, DA-DA-DA-DA.... TRADITION!" Disney returns to hand-drawn animation! Thank goodness. There's a beauty and a personality to hand-drawn cartoons that CGI just can't replace. Don't get me wrong, I love what can be done with digital animation. But to let it

On Movies & Media

First Impressions of "Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story"

Just saw Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull story, which really lives up to that title. It's a Charlie-Kaufman-like leap into the absurd, as we are drawn into the comical lives of the filmmakers and stars trying to make a movie of this "unfilmable" novel. Maniacally

On Movies & Media

Julia Jentsch on Playing Sophie Scholl

Cinematical has an interview with Julia Jentsch, the actress who deserves an Oscar nomination for her performance in Sophie Scholl: The Final Days. (Alas, the film is only nominated for Best Foreign Film. It deserved a screenplay nomination and a Best Supporting Actor nomination as well.)

On Movies & Media

Thanks to Jennie Spohr

Jennie Spohr is wrapping up an impressive endeavor over at Seattle's University Presbyterian Church. The film festival she hosted, entitled "Dreams of Our Childhood," inspired quite a few moviegoers to look at films with greater discernment, to appreciate more fully the possibilities and the power of

On Movies & Media

What Would You Show in a Film Festival About "Calls to Conscience and Action"

Having just seen Born into Brothels again, I'm inspired to consider what other films have done such a great job of making us care about wrongs that need to be righted in the world. If you were to host a film festival in hopes of inspiring viewers to

On Movies & Media

Updates on Paul Thomas Anderson and Brett Ratner projects

THERE WILL BE DANIEL DAY-LEWIS! While the list of films I cannot wait to see in 2006 has grown rather large, none of them match my eagerness for the next Paul Thomas Anderson film -- There Will Be Blood. So any news about the next film from the director of

The greatest Bush impersonator in the world?

Steve Bridges may be the best George W. Bush impersonator in the world. And he made quite a splash at the Jeff Foxworthy Roast hosted by Comedy Central. Here's a video that shows off what he can do. [UPDATE: LINK REMOVED because they added pornographic images to the

On Movies & Media

The New York Times' Stephen Holden praises "Sophie Scholl: The Final Days"

The film has opened in New York, and Stephen Holden is impressed. Even the Village Voice admits it's an admirable achievement. And now, Steven D. Greydanus is sounding the trumpets and heralding Sophie Scholl: The Final Days as an A+ motion picture. He calls it: ...one of a

On Movies & Media

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005)

This review was originally published at Christianity Today. * A number of big names — Dame Judi Dench, Keira Knightley, Charlize Theron, and Reese Witherspoon — were Academy Award nominees for Best Actress in 2005. And Witherspoon, the winner for her role in Walk the Line, certainly deserved high honors. But could it

On Movies & Media

Specials: Sophie Scholl. Casting news. X-Men ends.

Friday's specials: Well, I saw The New World again last night. Went with Anne and my new friend Mark Shea. We all basked in the glory, even though the beauty of Malick's film was completely lost on the row of teenagers sitting behind us who talked

On Songs & Albums

Andy Whitman on CCM ... 16 years ago.

Andy Whitman's music blog is one of my favorites, and today's entry is especially interesting. (Opus, I see, has noticed it as well.) It's a commentary on Contemporary Christian Music written 16 years ago. And it's still oh so relevant (if you&

On Movies & Media

McSweeny's on "Crash." Bad "Star Wars" Valentines.

McSweeny's writer Brendan Lloyd has just posted the shortest, and yet most memorable, commentary on Paul Haggis's Crash I've yet seen. And speaking of funny... The Worst Valentines in the World.

On Songs & Albums

Grand Theft Bono

Check out Jack Thompson's "open letter" to Bono, warning him to dodge an oncoming bus.

Looking Elsewhere

Specials: Ford's Firewall collapse. "Christian is the new gay." Gilliam's next.

Friday specials:CAN THE DECLINE OF HARRISON FORD'S CAREER GET ANY MORE DEPRESSING? Michael Atkinson on Firewall: "The post-Die Hard genre is on its last legs, and the movie is as tired in its bones as [Harrison] Ford, who at 63 has crossed the line from robust,

On Movies & Media

2006 Faith and Film Critics Circle Nominations

Bookmark this blog entry! The Faith and Film Critics Circle (FFCC) - more than a dozen Christian film critics taking films seriously as works of art - are already busy suggesting and considering films for next year's FFCC Awards. The cool thing about the FFCC awards ... YOU are

On Movies & Media

The Da Vinci Challenge, the NY Times Coverage, and Wellborn's Perspective

[UPDATE: The Da Vinci Challenge site is suddenly out of service. Is it a glitch? Or was it shut down for some reason?] The New York Times has already noticed a new Web site, just launched today, created by Sony Pictures and Grace Hill Media called The Da Vinci Challenge,

On Movies & Media

The Da Vinci Challenge, the NY Times coverage, and Wellborn's perspective

[UPDATE: The Da Vinci Challenge site is suddenly out of service. Is it a glitch? Or was it shut down for some reason?] The New York Times has already noticed a new Web site, just launched today, created by Sony Pictures and Grace Hill Media called The Da Vinci Challenge,

On Movies & Media

Half-Shot Contest #8: Your hint might be "Nick" or "Alexander"

What film is this half-shot from? Since Nick Alexander won our last contest, you'll find a hint in either his first or his last name... but not both. (And Nick, as the most recent winner, you're disqualified from this round. Isn't winning a drag?

On Movies & Media

2005 Faith and Film Critics Circle Awards!

The Faith and Film Critics Circle have chosen the winners of their 2005 film awards! Who are these folks who voted? 1. Steven D. Greydanus - Decent Films 2. Ron Reed - Looking Closer, Christianity Today Movies 3. Peter T. Chattaway - Canadian Christianity, Christian Week, Christian Current, Christianity Today

On Movies & Media

Half-Shot Contest #6 - winner!!

Congratulations, Nick Alexander! Pearl Harbor is, indeed, the film, in which Josh Hartnett plays Danny. This means, of course, that either "Nick" or "Alexander" will be your hint for the next Half-Shot. Stay tuned....

Looking Elsewhere

More specials: Ten mistakes. Frodo onstage. Pixar rats out. Paste. Porn. Lips. And James Cameron.

More Tuesday specials: MUST READ At Town Hall, Erik Lokkesmoe powerfully sums up ten... count them, ten... big mistakes that conservatives tend to make when they meddle (or fail to meddle) in the arts. (Thanks for the link, Bubba.) YES, BUT DOES BILL THE PONY GET TO SING A SOLO?