Film Forum

A collection of 79 posts

On Movies & Media

Looking Closer's Film Forum: "28 Weeks Later"

Is 28 Weeks Later just another sequel designed to cash in on the success of its predecessor, 28 Days Later ? Is is just a bunch of bloody action, or is there something meaningful going on here? As a big fan of the first film -- an extremely violent film by

On Movies & Media

Looking Closer's Film Forum: "Spider-Man 3"

Spider-Man 3 explores the latest chapter of Peter Parker's education in the balance of power and responsibility. In the first film, he was exhilarated by newfound talents, and learned to use them for the greater good. In Spider-Man 2, he felt the burden of responsibility, and considered tossing

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Looking Closer's Film Forum: "Hot Fuzz"

Folks have been asking what I thought of Hot Fuzz. (In fact, when I spoke at Seattle's Chesterton Society last Thursday about the complicated questions facing Christians in the moviemaking arena, the very first question after my presentation was: "So what did you think of Hot Fuzz

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Looking Closer's Film Forum: "Jindabyne"

Jindabyne is the first dramatic feature film I've seen in 2007 so far that has greatly impressed me. My review will be up at Christianity Today when it opens wider than the current limited release. But for those of you who have a chance to see it, make

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Looking Closer's Film Forum: "Fracture"

Fracture Ryan Gosling. Anthony Hopkins. You would think those would be two great reasons to run out and see Fracture. And yet, the current reviews have discouraged me from rushing out to see it. See for yourself... In The National Review, Peter Suderman says it's "another plodding

On Movies & Media

Looking Closer's Film Forum: Perfect Stranger

Perfect Stranger Rotten Tomatoes shows that critics are placing Perfect Stranger under citizens' arrest. Religious-press critics agree that this one's a waste of time and talent. Commenting on director James Foley, Christian Hamaker (Crosswalk) calls Perfect Stranger "a sad case of an artist whose career once

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The Lookout (2007): A Looking Closer Film Forum

The Lookout J. Robert Parks: "I’m not arguing The Lookout is some kind of masterpiece. The bank robbery is fairly paint-by-numbers, and the blind character is one we’ve seen many times before, despite [Jeff] Daniels’s charisma. But this is the sort of movie Hollywood should be

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Grindhouse (2007): A Looking Closer Film Forum

Before we join the rush of religious-press reviewers who are condemning Grindhouse outright, let's understand what it is first. Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez have a particular nostalgia for films like those they watched growing up. Many of those films were cheap, exploitative, spectacularly bad, and filled with

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The Hoax (2006): A Looking Closer Film Forum

The Hoax Todd Hertz (CT Movies) calls The Hoax "a mix of Catch Me If You Can, Shattered Glass, and A Beautiful Mind. But unlike the characters from those better films, there's nothing redeeming about [the central character]. I enjoy 'spiral into madness' movies, but

On Movies & Media

The Reaping (2007): A Looking Closer Film Forum

The Reaping "Oh, it's very biblically based," said the promoter who called me to encourage me to see The Reaping. I'm still trying to figure out what that meant. For all of its God-talk, The Reaping is just the kind of "faith-based film&

On Movies & Media

Film Forum: The Lives of Others, Reign Over Me, Pride, Shooter, TMNT, The Last Mimzy

By the beard of Zeus, it's... Looking Closer's Film Forum!REVIEW OF THE WEEK: Nothing makes me sit up and pay attention the way I do when a film critic I admire and respect publishes a review in stark disagreement with my own feelings about a

On Movies & Media

Film Forum: The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Premonition, I Think I Love My Wife

Great Odin's raven! It's... Looking Closer's Film Forum! The Wind That Shakes the Barley When the envelopes are torn open and the winners are breathlessly announced on Oscar night, most American moviegoers have already had plenty of opportunities to see the nominated features. But

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Film Forum: 300, The Ultimate Gift, The Namesake, Beyond the Gates, The Host

Oh, no. It's... Looking Closer's Film Forum! The soundtrack for this week's Film Forum is provided by The Arcade Fire's new abum Neon Bible. How do you get the soundtrack to play while you read the column? Easy. Buy Neon Bible from

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FILM FORUM: Into Great Silence, Zodiac, Black Snake Moan, and Wild Hogs

Welcome to the first installment of Looking Closer's Film Forum! Yes, Film Forum has moved from Christianity Today Movies to Looking Closer, and things are going to change somewhat. It'll include links to a wider range of reviews, from the religious press to mainstream film criticism.

On Movies & Media

"Film Forum" is Coming to Looking Closer!

As I sat watching the Oscars and writing the last installment of Film Forum for Christianity Today, I was inspired by all of the thank-you speeches made by the winners. So I've started this week’s edition with thanks to a few people who have supported me in

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"The Last Sin Eater" and CT Movies, Round Two: Film Forum

Many, many thanks to Peter T. Chattaway for doing a great job covering Film Forum while I spent several days revising Auralia's Colors. (Four days straight, from 8am to 10:30pm working on my laptop, finding better words for things. Whew. And it ain't over yet.

On Movies & Media

Record-Breaker: 17 Movies in This week's Film Forum

* Which Christian film critic calls The Fountain "a syncretistic mishmash that never addresses core biblical teaching about humanity's sin and our need for a Savior"? * And which one calls it "a brilliantly conceived and executed artistic vision"? * Who said Deja Vu "feels a

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Tomorrow's Film Forum May Catch Angry CT Movies Readers By Surprise.

Some Christianity Today Movies readers have sent in some very angry mail in response to Josh Hurst's review of Facing the Giants. They're saying things like (and I quote...) Shame, shame, shame on you for giving Facing the Giants a bad review! I've heard

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Hiatus!! (or Through a Book Project Darkly)

For the first time in my five-plus years writing the weekly Film Forum for Christianity Today Movies, I'm going on hiatus. The lovely and talented JOSH HURST will be piloting the craft while I'm gone, and I'm sure I'll be humbled by

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My Film Forum column gets discovered by Whedon-ites

Wow! Today's Film Forum just scored cheers from Joss Whedon fans at Whedonesque! Check out the comments! It's great to see that Christianity Today's example of engaging with contemporary film instead of condemning it is making an impression. And at least for the moment,

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Film Forum is Up... Thanks to Chattaway

Still basking in the greatness of the Glen Workshop. Just had tearful goodbyes with several of the fiction writers with whom I formed strong bonds this week. Things are wrapping up in a hurry now. Sigh. I could live with this community, and it would bear many resemblances to my

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What's the verdict on "Fantastic Four"? The critics disagree.

Here's this week's Film Forum, covering Fantastic Four, Dark Water, March of the Penguins, and Rebound, along with several more War of the Worlds reviews... and the return of Michael Leary!

On Movies & Media

THUMBS' UP? What Christian critics say about "Hitchhikers"

My column is up. One of the highlights, from my friend Annabelle, who never hesitates to speak her mind: "It's been a long time since I fell asleep in a movie. However, I sure had a good snooze during this one. And maybe I'm just

On Movies & Media

Don't Let the Title Scare You

Born into Brothels, filmed in the red light district of Calcutta, sounds like a nightmare. And, in some ways, it is. But it's also joyful, funny, delightful, full of surprises, and packed with characters you'll want to throw your arms around. It's also real.

Film Forum

Which has more make-believe: Kinsey or Finding Neverland?

Here's this week's edition of Film Forum, with more than you need to know about this week's new releases.