Christianity on the Big Screen

A collection of 28 posts

Knives Out

Wake Up Dead Man — a review in progress

Rian Johnson's third film in the Knives Out series is not only my favorite of the series — it's one of the most provocative films about Christian faith I've seen in many years.

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.

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"

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

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.)

On Movies & Media

Will Unbroken inspire you to "hate your enemies"?

How many movies that promise to "inspire" you actually inspire you? I don't mean "Do they make you feel good?" Inspiration changes people. It motivates them. It spurs them into action. In my experience at the movies, 9 out of 10 that promise they

Film Review

Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014): Or, "Moses and Errin'"

Dear Ridley Scott, My name is Aaron. I'm the brother of Moses. In the Holy Scriptures, when Moses balks at God's call for him to go and free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, claiming a lack of eloquence, God gets aggravated and assigns me to travel

Film Review

Calvary (2014): An Overstreet Film Forum

“I don't think it will be winning any awards from the Christian world," writes Alissa Wilkinson. “It takes place in a universe very like ours.”

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!

Jim Caviezel

The Passion of the Christ: Revisited

Would I now disagree with the review I wrote ten years ago? Would I flinch to read what I wrote back then?

Inside Llewyn Davis

O Coen Brothers, Where Art God? A Conversation with Matt Zoller Seitz

"Do the Coens believe in God? Can we even say that for sure? Do they believe in the non-rational, the supernatural? Or are they just pranksters pulling our chains and hoping to spark conversation pieces like this one, while they sit there snickering?" To explore these questions,

On Movies & Media

The Passion of the Christ - A Letter to Christians about Mel Gibson's Film

This commentary is a follow-up to my review of The Passion of the Christ. Most Christian press publications will lavish praise upon Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. They will celebrate the arrival of a film rich with spiritual power, rendered with riveting and even excruciating detail.

On Movies & Media

Psycho, Killer, Bigot, or Saint? Christians in the Movies in 2008.

It's 2008, and I'm still waiting to see if any brave filmmakers out there will dare to introduce a Christian character who isn't a mass murderer or a psychopath. No, I'm not looking for a "Christian movie" with an altar

On Movies & Media

Morefield on "Negative Caricatures" of Christians at the Movies

Commenting on yesterday's entry about "positive portrayals" of Christianity on the big screen, my friend and colleague Ken Morefield gets inspired and blogs a strong opinion on the subject. Thanks, Ken! Among his sharp observations, I see that I'm not the only one to

On Movies & Media

Name 20 recent films that portray Christianity in a positive light

I frequently receive mail from readers who argue that we should ignore "Hollywood's output" because of the ways in which Christians are negatively portrayed. If I dare answer by suggesting that some of these portrayals are actually fair -- even deserved -- I am quickly swamped by email

On Movies & Media

A Few Predictions About "The Nativity Story"

I haven't seen anything but the trailer for Catherine Hardwicke's The Nativity Story yet. And I really don't have any particular expectations about the film itself. When I saw Hardwicke's Thirteen, which starred Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood, I was quite

On Movies & Media

A Few Predictions About "The Nativity Story"

I haven't seen anything but the trailer for Catherine Hardwicke's The Nativity Story yet. And I really don't have any particular expectations about the film itself. When I saw Hardwicke's Thirteen, which starred Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood, I was quite

On Movies & Media

Regarding that "Facing the Giants" post...

My comments on the tempest over at Dick Staub's CultureWatch set off a bit of a tempest here. But since I haven't seen the film (I only meant to comment on the way other people are upset about criticism of the film), I was happy to

On Movies & Media

Another "Facing the Giants" controversy

Facing the Giants, the film that has stirred up some chatter because it was rated PG for its open references to Christianity, is stirring up even more trouble for cultural commentator and writer Dick Staub. Staub dared to suggest that, even though Christians had been involved in making and supporting

On Movies & Media

How many Da Vinci watchers have you “dialogued” with?

So, we’re now a few weeks into The DaVinci Code’s theatrical run. Sony lured many Christians into promoting the film, buying tickets, going with their congregations to the movie, and even buying the book. All of this occurred so that Christians could be armed and ready to join

On Movies & Media

Letter of the Day

My comments on Islam in my Kingdom of Heaven review have been tweaked, politely and correctly (I assume), by an attentive reader. Thanks, Kurt, for this respectful and extremely enlightening lesson! Clearly, I have much more to learn on these subjects. Jeffrey I agree absolutely with your criticism of the

On Movies & Media

REVISED: First (and second) thoughts on Kingdom of Heaven

I saw Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven today. I’ll write a review soon. But first, a few comments on how it fits into the trend of new “spiritual” films... Better to call it Kingdom of Tolerance. My initial reaction to the movie was negative. But the more