On Movies & Media

Brian Volck Discovers "There Will Be Blood"

Brian Volck saw There Will Be Blood for the first time on DVD. That's too bad, as it was a riveting big-screen experience. But Volck does not appear to have suffered much. He was, to borrow the term my friend Brandon Fibbs employed when he first saw

Sam Phillips

Josh Jackson Interviews Sam Phillips

Josh Jackson interviewed Sam Phillips recently, right at the beginning of her tour of Borders bookstores. I'll be talking with her again soon for a special assignment I've been given. Can't wait. Here's Josh's conversation, at Paste of course.

On Movies & Media

God and Hollywood: Have Movies Improved Since "The Passion of the Christ"

One week ago, beer-drinkin' believers gathered at Hale's Brewery in Seattle to discuss The Passion of the Christ, "faith-based filmmaking," and whether Mel Gibson's movie heralded a new era for Christian filmmaking (as so many believed it would), or a new

On Movies & Media

Statler and Waldorf - Heroes for Critics Everywhere

Were these the most influential role models of my childhood? Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for discovering this.

Overstreet's Books

Back Through a Screen Darkly...

As recent posts have raised some of the same questions that prompted me to write Through a Screen Darkly, I think I'll provide links to... The Introduction Chapter One: How a Camel Made a Grown Man Cry (PDF) Chapter Two: Viewer Discretion Advised I wrote this in order

On Movies & Media

Reader Mailstrom, 6/17

I'm chronicling memorable messages from the daily maelstrom of Looking Closer email. Most of these letters are real. Some of them may be amalgams of a variety of messages. Some of them are what I read between the lines of the things readers really wrote. Each installment of

On Movies & Media

Stan Winston, Designer of the Terminator, Dead at 62.

Did you flinch when Edward Scissorhands reached out? That was Stan Winston. Did your stomach turn when The Thing tore apart its victims? That was Stan Winston. Did you feel for that dying Triceratops in Jurassic Park? That was Stan Winston. Did you tremble when the Terminator turned its fierce,

Music Reviews

My Favorite Music Reviewer Speaks

Andy Whitman, my favorite writer at Paste Magazine, delivered a lecture at the Trinity Arts Conference last week. I missed it. My work schedule prevented me from attending, and it hurt to miss out. Nobody writes about music with more passion than Andy. And few can draw from such a

On Movies & Media

Focus on the Family's Ted Slater Tells Christianity Today to "Repent"; Peter Chattaway Responds.

Same song, second verse. The following has been revised and "clarified" by request: Slater's still going on at Focus on the Family's Boundless.org about how Christianity Today needs to "repent" for "enjoying" "soft-porn." I'm

On Movies & Media

The Movie That Harry Can't Tell You About. Plus: Win a Wall-E poster!

Is this the year that an animated movie will win the Oscar for Best Picture? Here's hoping... Harry Knowles at Ain't It Cool... ... I wouldn't say PIXAR has done it again, because honestly... They've never ever made a film this great before.

Christianity Today

Focus on the Family says "Christianity Today Relishes Sexual Perversion." Call That What It Is: A Lie.

Once a month, I talk with Kim Ketola about movies, faith, and culture on her "Along the Way" radio program. She runs a great show, and isn't afraid to ask tough questions. This week, Kim and I talked about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the

On Movies & Media

Tim Russert of NBC News Dead at 58

What sad, shocking news today... Russert, NBC News' Washington bureau chief and the moderator of Meet the Press, has been as busy as anyone in offering thoughtful coverage of the campaign primary circus of 2008. I'm stunned and saddened by this.

On Movies & Media

Reader Mailstrom - 6/13

I'm starting a new column, chronicling stand-outs from the daily maelstrom of Looking Closer email. Most of these letters are real. Some of them are amalgalms of a variety of messages. Some of them are what I read between the lines of the things readers really wrote.

Concerts

Wednesday Night's Trip to Borders was Pretty Cool

I've waited 22 years for this fanboy photo. Thanks to my friend Don for snapping this.

U2

U2's New Album Arrives Early

I'm listening to U2's new album right now! It's called Viva La Vida. You can stream it for free right here. U2's collaborations with Brian Eno have always been fruitful, and I'll be enjoying this for the rest of the

Looking Elsewhere

The Browser, 6/12: Coldplay's Chris Martin on Obama; Spike Lee's next.

The Browser: News & links to raise your eyebrows & furrow your brow. Chris Martin: The Rolling Stone Interview Coldplay's main man says: [Do you think he can win?] I do. But I think that, really, the fair thing would be, in electing the American president, to let

On Movies & Media

The Kindlings Muse Reviews "Prince Caspian," "Indiana Jones," "Mongol," and More

For all of those people who wrote to me asking, "What do you think of Bella? Isn't it great? Don't you love it? Isn't it the best movie of the year?" Well, I've finally delivered a review. It's

Concerts

Tonight: Join me at Sam Phillips' free show!

7 p.m. Borders Bookstore Redmond Town Center 16549 NE 74th St Redmond, WA 98052 Phone: 425.869.1907 I'll be there.

On Movies & Media

UPDATED: Is Paul Newman battling lung cancer?

UPDATED: Yesterday, many news sources were reporting that a close friend of the great actor Paul Newman had revealed that Newman was suffering from lung cancer. Today, reports are spreading that Newman's friend is denying that report. Still... it's easy to see why fans everywhere were

On Movies & Media

The Browser, 6/9: Nicolosi likes "Sex and the City"; Neil Jordan's "Ondine"; Brooks on leadership

The Browser: News & links to raise your eyebrows & furrow your brow. * "Sexcess" Let's give her credit... it's a clever post title. (I was rather proud of mine too: "Sex and the CT.") Moviegoing superdelegate Barbara Nicolosi casts her vote in

The Innocence Mission

The Innocence Mission... in space!

This is too cool. "Good morning Discovery and a special good morning to you today Karen," NASA astronaut Shannon Lucid radioed up to the shuttle. "Good morning Shannon and everybody in Houston," replied Nyberg, who is the 50 th woman ever to fly in space and

On Movies & Media

Change We Can Believe In... At the Movies

The Passion of the Christ inspired speculation—in Christian and mainstream media—that things might be changing for Christians in Hollywood. Some used stronger language, declaring that the gate of Hollywood were swinging open wide for faith-focused filmmakers. Some Christians began to speak with an Obama-level fever for

On Movies & Media

"You reviewed WHAT??"

Mark Moring responds to a chorus of angry readers regarding why Christianity Today Movies bothered to post a review of Sex and the City. Mark's response is calm and thoughtful, which is the best way to respond to hysteria and outrage. (And this isn't the first

Quotable

The New Quotes Page!

Inspired by my friend Jen Zug, I decided it was time for a Quotes page. Submit your own favorite quotes in the comments there, and I'll consider posting it.

Sam Phillips

Paste reviews Don't Do Anything

Will I see you at the Borders bookstore in Redmond, Washington next Wednesday? Sam Phillips will be there, playing songs from her new album Don't Do Anything. And if you need any more persuading to pick up a copy, here's a review in Paste: The difference