On Movies & Media

Hello, "Goodbye"

A.O. Scott's review of Ramin Bahrani's third feature Goodbye Solo has reached out from my laptop screen and grabbed me by the eyeballs. Here are a few snippets: Solo (Souleymane Sy Savane), the driver, is a Senegalese man living in Winston-Salem, N.C., working

On Movies & Media

"Wise Blood" is Coming to Criterion

This may be the only thrilling opportunity I have to tag a post with both "Flannery O'Connor" and "The Criterion Collection." So here goes... The Criterion Collection is already wondrous beyond all measure, but do they really have to show off like this? They&

Film Lists

Browser: U2 speaks. Filmmakers & Critics Pick Favorites. Buddy Miller.

Here's one of the best U2 interviews I've seen, filmed in Fez. It's not a very professional interview -- the interviewer asks redundant questions and keeps getting interrupted. But the band seems relaxed, in good humor, and full of surprising answers. You'll find

On Movies & Media

Wild Things!

They make my heart sing! I recently listened to an archived interview by Terry Gross with author Maurice Sendak. It brought back memories of the strange emotions I felt as a child whenever I read Where the Wild Things Are. That I feel those same feelings watching this trailer is

On Movies & Media

The Return of Majid Majidi

For a short while, Majid Majidi was my favorite Iranian filmmaker. But then again, for a while, he was the only Iranian filmmaker that I could name. I'm still a beginner when it comes to international cinema, but while I've found other Iranian artists whose work

On Movies & Media

Subtitles Matter.

I have a favorite t-shirt. It's from the Flickerings film festival. It's bright red, and on the back it says "So many subtitles, so little time." I have friends who groan when they learn a movie is subtitled, and some of them lose

On Movies & Media

"Knowing" Remarks from Ebert and... Well... Others

Roger Ebert bothered many film critics and moviegoers when he turned in a four-star review of Alex Proyas's new film Knowing. Today, he's defending his rave review. Meanwhile, Christianity Today's review was posted last week -- more high praise. But that review inspired backlash

On Movies & Media

Pixar's "Up" at Cannes; Pete Docter Talks Faith and Filmmaking

I'm happy to see Pixar's new film opening on the kind of platform that the studio deserves. Up is opening the Cannes Film Festival with a presentation in Disney Digital 3-D on Wednesday May 13th, 2009. That marks the first time an animated film has

On Movies & Media

From the Writer of "X-Men 2"... "Dante's Inferno"

Yes, it's true: Dante’s InfernoSuperman ReturnsX2: X-Men United The property is a modern interpretation of the famous poem written by Dante Alighieri in the early 1300’s. The narrative poem describes Dante’s imaginary journey through the nine circles of hell where they see sinners being

On Movies & Media

Velveteen Trouble

You may remember my brief note about the direct-to-DVD adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit, posted a while back. Now, my friend and colleague Greg Wright has seen the film, and turns in a very positive review. Wright writes that the movie I honestly recommend giving this gentle G-

On Books & Writing

The Sixth Annual Denise Levertov Award

This just in: Join Image journal and acclaimed writer Eugene Peterson for the 2009 Denise Levertov Award lecture and reading, and a celebration of Image’s Twentieth Anniversary. Peterson, a contributor to Image and author of the bestselling The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, will give a reading and

On Books & Writing

Artists, Ministers, Pastors: Don't Miss This Retreat

Few places I know are as nourishing to the spirit and the imagination as Laity Lodge. It's hard to believe the place exists. Located just outside of Kerville, Texas, it's a handsome lodge with its own library of inspiring spiritual literature, set over a winding river

U2

U2 Medium, Rare + Lillywhite!

UPDATE: Here's Steve Lillywhite talking about No Line on the Horizon at NPR. If you're a U2 fan, you're in for a treat. Fan club members will receive a two-disc set of rarities called U2:Medium, Rare and Remastered. Here's the

On Movies & Media

To Be and To Have (2002) and The Class (2008)

This two-part review of The Class and To Be and To Have was originally published at Christianity Today. It is reprinted here with permission.

Overstreet's Books

Auralia geekery

Many thanks to the folks at Faith and Geekery, especially Aaron, for their kind words about Auralia's Colors. As a refreshingly different entry into a genre that has earned many of the popularly-held stereotypes about it, Auralia’s Colors is worth reading, and not only if you’

On Movies & Media

The Class (2009)

This two-part review of The Class and To Be and To Have was originally published at Christianity Today. "Carpe Diem." Remember that? That's what Professor Keating (Robin Williams) told his class of troubled youngsters in Dead Poets Society. "Seize the days, boys. Make your

On Movies & Media

Today's Favorite: Breakthroughs in Big-Screen Visual Artistry

The Wizard of Oz enchanted audiences with a wonderland of color that made moviegoing more vivid and exuberantly engaging. When Star Wars opened in 1977, it represented a giant leap forward in the art of visual effects and sound effects. Tron gave us an aesthetic experience through computers that was

On Movies & Media

Will One More FilmBlog Unleash the Apocalypse?

Every thirty seconds, a new film blog is born. And every day, one of those is about movies "from a Christian perspective." The more film blogs there are, the more I'm losing interest in participating in them or reading them. The more I discover and enjoy

Overstreet's Books

Browser: Melody. Cylons. Vampires. Favorite Albums. Migraines. Radiohead. David Bazan. U2.

Suzanne Vega answers the question, "What's a melody for?" And I rise to my feet to applaud. 2. The original Starbuck hates the new Battlestar Galactica, and has interesting reasons. But Jason Morehead is brave enough to stand up and fight him like a man. Or

Concerts

A Concert Stage With No Backdrop

U2's upcoming tour is going to be something concertgoers haven't seen before. Check it out here. Be sure to use the different "cameras" listed in the corner.

On Movies & Media

"Watchmen": Five Reviews from Critics that Matter to Me (They Disagree)

Post your review, or a link to your favorite, below. Here are five from voices that matter to me: * Robert Davis * Steven D. Greydanus * Russ Breimeier * Andrew O'Hehir * Roger Ebert

U2

U2's Best Performance in 2009 So Far...

Okay, now that you've seen the best, here's a bonus. And now, check out Cathleen Falsani's wonderful meditation on the album. Okay, one more.

Jim Jarmusch

"Raven's Ladder": An Update

The new strand of The Auralia Thread will be called Raven's Ladder. I hope you like it. Tonight (all night) and tomorrow morning (all morning) I am packaging up my first draft for the editor. I have that familiar sensation of excitement and nerves and relief and apprehension.

U2

The U2 Late Show Continues...

"Every generation gets a chance to change the world Pity the nation that won't listen to your boys and girls Cos the sweetest melody is the one we haven't heard Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear? The right to appear ridiculous

On Movies & Media

Doing our due Dillinger

The names Johnny Depp and Christian Bale are almost a guarantee of a quality motion picture. The name Michael Mann just about seals the deal. And this Untouchables-flavored trailer only throws fuel on the fire. But then, these two lines have grabbed my attention: "Robbin' banks is