On Movies & Media

Leave No Trace (2018)

From the director of Winter's Bone, Leave No Trace is a powerful portrait of a father and daughter that asks us what price we're willing to pay in order to live with integrity and freedom.

On Movies & Media

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

If you're here to read a review of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, I happily refer you to Steven D. Greydanus at Decent Films, who gives it a 'C+' — a higher grade than I'd anticipated.

On Movies & Media

The Rider (2018)

You've probably seen history's first "motion picture." Today, it looks like the first animated GIF, but in 1878 is must have seemed like sorcery: a bright window appeared on a dark wall, revealing a horse and rider in full gallop — a man and an

On Movies & Media

Incredibles 2 (2018)

Incredibles 2 suffers a bit from a predictable twist and from themes that get, like Elastigirl, bent out of shape. But it's still the most sensational action movie of the year so far.

On Movies & Media

First Reformed (2018)

The most invigorating subject of discussion at the movies this year is also a difficult and, for me, frustrating film.

Ocean's 8 (2018)

Ocean's 8 should've been a blast. It's a missed opportunity in so many ways.

On Movies & Media

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

If I told you that Frodo first met Samwise Gamgee in a mud-wrestling match behind a Hobbiton tavern called "Half-Pints," would you believe me? Of course not. Why? Because it's a dumb idea, and one too lazily contrived. It fills in a detail that's

Film Forum

Pope Francis: A Man of His Word — a Looking Closer film forum

Can a documentary about the Pope give us a complex, nuanced, truthful vision that is more than just a vehicle for a message?

Journal

Three qualities of beauty

I think I might just scrap all of my syllabus explanations regarding how I grade essays and short stories in my writing classes. I'll just replace those with this passage from Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose: For three things concur in creating beauty: first

Film Review

Prospect (2018)

Anne and I have just returned, delirious with amazement, from a rainforest on a distant planet. That is to say... my wife and I have just enjoyed the privilege of attending a filmmakers' hometown preview screening of Prospect. Granted, this kind of movie isn't for everybody: It&

On Movies & Media

Game Night (2018)

For friends and weekend parties, Game Night is bound to become a movie-night favorite.

Interviews

The Theology of the Coen Brothers? A Conversation Between Matt Zoller Seitz and Jeffrey Overstreet

Originally titled "O Coen Brothers, Where Art God?", this is my conversation with Matt Zoller Seitz about theology, Raising Arizona, morality, Fargo, good and evil, The Big Lebowski, and so much more.

Film Review

Ready Player One (2018)

Spielberg gets lost in nostalgia, serving up a flashy but frustrating contradiction.

On Movies & Media

Praising Paul, Apostle of Christ

Justin Chang and Steven Greydanus are impressed with "Paul, Apostle of Christ."

On Movies & Media

Movie's Not Christian — and Vox's Not Dead

God's Not Dead, but he sure is misrepresented! Here's Alissa Wilkinson on just how misguided this series of films really is.

Film Review

Isle of Dogs (2018)

Wes Anderson's latest is the most visually enchanting of his career. For me, it's also the most frustrating.

On Movies & Media

An American who deserves a parade

A trailer for a movie about a man who made America great by being a humble, loving, welcoming American.

Music Reviews

The Decemberists record the a-pop-alypse

Basking in the bright colors of a bold new sound, the Decemberists will lift your spirits at the end of the world.

Journal

The Breadwinner's gun-wielding coward

Nora Twomey's Oscar-nominated animated film The Breadwinner is now streaming on Netflix in the U.S. And I am so glad. The timing of its streaming debut was perfect for my teaching plans this week. I teach an academic writing class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, in which

On Movies & Media

Black Panther (2017): Post-Panther Questions

A Letter to the Wakandan High Council (or Wakandan Royal Court, or whatever you wise and troubled royalty — who sit around Black Panther's throne like you're inspired by Jedi Council meetings in the Star Wars prequels — call yourselves) Dear Wakandan Royals, If you are willing to

On Movies & Media

Wingfeather climbs from bookshelves to screens

When my novel Auralia's Colors was first published, it was promoted by the publisher, WaterBook Press, alongside the first novel of another fantasy author like myself: Andrew Peterson. That book was titled On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. And so began The Wingfeather Saga: a

On Songs & Albums

Jóhann Jóhannsson: Arrival and Departure

This is unreal. This morning, I sat down to write in a quiet corner at the back of the Roy Street Coffee shop, opened my laptop, put on my headphones, and pressed "Play" on Jóhann Jóhannsson's strange and mysterious score for the Denis Villeneuve film Arrival.

Film Review

Paddington 2 (2018)

[This review was originally published at Good Letters, the official blog of Image.] As immigrants fall to the fury of fearmongers, could it be Paddington the bear (a household name for families who cherish children’s books) who reawakens the heart of England to compassion, cooperation, and community? As if

On Movies & Media

Overstreet's Favorite Films of 2017: The Top Ten

It's that time at last: Time to offer reflections on the ten films released in 2017 that mean the most to me. (I posted a countdown of #30–#11 earlier this month.) It was a great year for women in film — both behind and in front of the

On Songs & Albums

Wheels on fire

Hansard sings of hope and vision on Between Two Shores.