"Christian" Entertainment

A collection of 44 posts

The Weekender

Weekender: Fourth Weekend in January — Dark on Power of the Dog; Wilford on Licorice Pizza

After a few "Weekenders" away, here are a few highlights from the last few weeks.

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.

On Movies & Media

Concussion: another Christian football movie?

Facing the Giants, When the Game Stands Tall, Woodlawn ... ...Concussion? I've been hopeful about Concussion. It's a film about a problem that I care about very deeply. But I certainly didn't anticipate what I recently read about it in The New Yorker. Ian Crouch

On Movies & Media

Woodlawn: A step in the right direction?

So I've already received one note from a fan of so-called "Christian movies" who pointed to some positive reviews of Woodlawn in the mainstream press, and who then implied that this negates my protests about the Christian movie industry. (The Rotten Tomatoes "score" — which

Film Review

War Room (2015): A guest commentary by Anonymous

The following post-viewing commentary on War Room was submitted by a Looking Closer reader and a Christian friend whose passion for excellence in the arts is an inspiration to many. And he has an incisive sense of humor. You've been warned. I'm honoring this friend'

Journal

Simone Weil on pagan mythology

Here's Simone Weil writing — in Waiting for God — on how, by resisting Christ in her pursuit of the truth, she came to realize that he is the truth waiting for her within everything — even pagan mythology: ...After this I came to feel that Plato was a mystic, that

Film Forum

War Room (2015): A Looking Closer Film Forum

When War Room, the latest movie by the Kendrick brothers (who also made Facing the Giants), scored the #1 spot at the box office — on a very weak moviegoing weekend, with little in the way of competition — the film's media campaign became celebratory, as if this was some

Journal

The "Most Christian" Movie of the Year?

In Selma — and I'm pretty sure about this — there is more gospel quoted, more gospel celebrated, more gospel embraced and openly lived out than in any so-called "Christian movie" released in 2014. (Except the one that was, you know, a Jesus movie.)

Film Forum

Saving Christmas (2014): A Looking Closer Film Forum

Featuring a guest review by my new friend N. D. Wilson, author of Boys of Blur, Death by Living, 100 Cupboards, and more.

Film Review

Ragamuffin (2014) - A Guest Review by Martin Stillion

"... if the goal of Ragamuffin is to get viewers to reconsider the life and music of Mullins, who’s been dead these seventeen years ... : I have some of his stuff playing on YouTube right now. If the goal was for the film to be a work of art in itself, then there’s a lot more work to be done."

On Movies & Media

Well-Made Movies Won't Be... Left Behind

Today, Matt Zoller Seitz, editor of RogerEbert.com, defended The Good Lie, a movie in which the central characters are Christians, as "a good movie." Why did he feel the need to defend it? Well, the success of The Blind Side inspired some backlash — opposition to movies in

Film Forum

Left Behind (2014): A Looking Closer Film Forum

This post will be updated over the next few days, so check back as this thrilling — dare I say rapturous? — cinematic occasion unfolds!

On Movies & Media

The Song "Shares the Weaknesses of Most Faith-Based Films"

I've received two emails this week asking for my opinion of The Song. This is what I can offer... The Song told me what it was in the advertisement that appeared for it in the sidebar of my blog. (By the way: Almost everything that is advertised in

Film Forum

When the Game Stands Tall (2013): A Looking Closer Film Forum

"When the Game Stands Tall" is getting a lot of attention in evangelical Christian culture because it's a match made in evangelical Christian movie heaven: It's about football, and it stars Jim Ca-jeezus.

God's Not Dead

God's Not Dead (2014): A Looking Closer Film Forum

Now, two of the finest film critics in Christian media agree: There's something quite contrary to the spirit of the Gospel at the heart of the smash-hit "Christian Movie" God's Not Dead.

On Movies & Media

Wait... how did I end up in The New Yorker?

I've just been informed that Sam Sweet at The New Yorker has published a piece about "The Christian Oscars." I play a supporting role — not in the "Christian Oscars" (thank goodness) but in the article. I'm as surprised about this development as

On Movies & Media

Grace Unremarkable

Here's another example of how Christianity Today is refusing to join the "circle the wagons" mentality of so much Christian media, and instead engaging art with critical discernment and an insistence on excellence.

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

Why I Want to Be George R. R. Martin's Neighbor

There is a place... a magical place... where J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, George R. R. Martin, Patricia McKillip, and J.R.R. Tolkien stand side-by-side...

"Christian" Entertainment

Gregory Wolfe on the Art and Legacy of Thomas Kinkade

Today in The Wall Street Journal, Gregory Wolfe considers the work of Thomas Kinkade: Why it appeals to so many people, what it means, what it denies. This isn't Wolfe's first piece on the popular painter. His first great editorial on the subject was published in

Overstreet's Books

Into the wilderness

I recently received an email from a young woman saying that she wanted to read my novels, but that first she needed to know if we believed the same things. I'm still reeling from that question. And yet, if I'm honest... ...I remember that way of

Lectures

IAM Encounter 10: How Then Shall We Tell Stories?

I hope you enjoy this presentation of my visit to Encounter 10, the 2010 arts conference hosted by International Arts Movement. This talk was my response to a question posed to me by the IAM team. I had the privilege of sharing thoughts in response to the question "How

On Movies & Media

Washington Times on "Christian movies"

Reporter Bekah Grim of The Washington Times wanted to know why I don't get excited about "Christian movies." So I took a long, deep breath, tried to remain calm, tried to avoid R-rated language, and I told her. (Note: The article says I used the word

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 opened

On Movies & Media

NPR: "The New Christian Film Industry!" Christianity Today: "Make It Stop!"

NPR recently ran a story about the (supposedly) exciting new "Christian movie industry." The story contained this quote: "I think we're going to see significant production houses that will be funding $200 million films done by Christians," he predicts. "We're going