Film Reviews - Jeffrey Overstreet (Page 2)

The Departed (2006)

[This is an expanded version of a review <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/octoberweb-only/061012.html">originally published at <i>Christianity Today</i></a>.] You might be a cop. You might be an undercover agent. You might

Film Reviews

The Devil Came on Horseback (2007)

A review by Jeffrey Overstreet · Directed by Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern Directors of photography - Jerry Risius, Phil Cox, Tim Hetherington, William Rexer II, Anne Sundberg and John Keith Wasson Editor - Joey Grossfield Music - Paul Brill Producer - Anne Sundberg, Ricki Stern, Gretchen Wallace, Jane Wells, Ira

Film Reviews

Distant (2004)

A review by Jeffrey Overstreet, originally published in The Other Journal, April 2005. · Writer, producer, director, director of photography - Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Editor - Eyhan Ergursel and Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Art director - Erbu Ceylan. Released by New Yorker Films. 110 minutes. Unrated. In Turkish, with English subtitles. STARRING:

Film Reviews

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

Perhaps you think this photo is funny. I suppose that it is — in an "Oh, I feel sorry for that guy" kind of way. But would you think it was funny if the joke went on and on at the expense of the fat girl? Would you think

Film Reviews

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Here is the original Looking Closer review of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring."

Film Reviews

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005): a review and an interview

A review and interview by Jeffrey Overstreet, originally published in Seattle Pacific University's Response. • Do You Believe in Demons? In "The Exorcism of Emily Rose," a Christian filmmaker challenges audiences to face the horror of the devil. Do you believe that people today can be possessed

Film Reviews

Doubt (2008)

[This article comparing and contrasting Doubt and Frost/Nixon was originally published at Image.] • Be sure you get tickets for two of this month's new releases: Frost/Nixon and Doubt. Both films were adapted from celebrated stage plays by their original playwrights. Both are dramatic, intense, and powerfully

Film Reviews

Frost/Nixon (2008)

[This article comparing and contrasting Frost/Nixon and Doubt was first published at Image.] • Be sure you get tickets for two of this month's new releases: Frost/Nixon and Doubt. Both films were adapted from celebrated stage plays by their original playwrights. Both are dramatic, intense, and powerfully

Film Reviews

The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)

A review by Jeffrey Overstreet ● Writer / Director - Rebecca Miller; Director of photography - Ellen Kuras; Editor - Sabine Hoffman; Production designer - Mark Ricker; Producer - Lemore Syvan. STARRING: Daniel Day-Lewis (Jack Slavin), Camilla Belle (Rose Slavin), Catherine Keener (Kathleen), Paul Dano (Thaddius), Ryan McDonald (Rodney), Jena Malone (Red

Film Reviews

Babe: Pig in the City (1998)

Who would have guessed that the sequel to an adorable, perfect family film would become not only an existential classic, but a triumph of design, characterization, surrealism, and — for some moviegoers, including me — one of the best films of 1998? Babe: Pig in the City confounded, and quickly surpassed, my

Film Reviews

The Aviator (2004)

Why did Howard Hughes lose his mind? Perhaps it was caused by the long hours that he spent editing his own movies in that darkened, private screening room. Hughes sat watching the reels of his multi-million dollar movie Hell's Angels over and over and over again, ruthlessly seeking

Film Reviews

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

When you were a kid, what did you like about Disney animated movies? Me, I didn't care whether or not the animation was photo-realistic, nor did I care much about whether or not the voices were provided by celebrities. I was interested in the imagination of the drawings,

Film Reviews

Atanarjuat — The Fast Runner (2001)

Atanarjuat takes you to a place you've never been, but its dramatic story has the timelessness of an Old Testament tale. The cast will convince you that they are genuine Inuit natives that have spent their lives in igloos north of the Arctic Circle. The naturalistic sets, the

Film Reviews

Army of Shadows (1969)

[This capsule review was posted in 2006 when the film received a U.S. theatrical release.] • Try to imagine what it would have been like if Robert Bresson had directed Steven Spielberg's Munich. If you can manage that, you'll have a pretty good grasp of what

Film Reviews

The Apostle (1997)

This review was originally published at Green Lake Reflections, the arts-review branch of a Green Lake Presbyterian Church's website, in 1997. It has since been edited and revised. ● In The Apostle, his directorial debut, Robert Duvall gives what is arguably 1997's best performance by an actor.

Film Reviews

Apocalypse Now Redux (2001)

[This review was originally published at Looking Closer in 2001 on the occasion of this film's release.] • Capt. Lt. Gen. R. Corman (G.D. Spradlin) The most critically acclaimed movie of the 2001 was made 22 years ago. Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979) stands on

Film Reviews

The Anniversary Party (2001)

A review by Jeffrey Overstreet ● Writer / Director - Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming Director of photography - John Bailey Editor - Carol Littleton and Suzanne Spangler Music - Michael Penn Producers - Joanne Sellar, Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh Fine Line Features. 115 minutes. Rated R for profanity

Film Reviews

Anger Management (2003)

I was interested to see what Adam Sandler did to follow-up one of my favorite films of last year - Punch-drunk Love. Director Paul Thomas Anderson perceived a real actor behind Sandler's usual lowbrow-comedy shenanigans. Together they delivered the most original and exciting romantic comedy since When Harry

Film Reviews

Amistad (1997)

It's probably politically incorrect for me to do anything but praise Amistad. After all, it is one of the boldest cinematic portrayals of the plight of American slaves ever filmed. And it was directed by Steven Spielberg, who crafted such a memorable memorial to the victims of the

Film Reviews

Ratatouille (2007)

This review was originally published in June 2007 at Christianity Today. • Attention, parents, kids, anybody who appreciates good movies and great food! Ratatouille is a feast so fantastic you'll go running back for seconds. And if you pay close attention, you'll also see that it'

Film Reviews

Evening (2007)

[This review of Evening was originally published at Christianity Today.] • Stand and stare in awe at the poster for Lajos Koltai's new film Evening. Look at that impressive cast list. Vanessa Redgrave! Meryl Streep! Glenn Close! Claire Danes! Toni Collette! All in the same movie! It gets better:

Film Reviews

Closer (2004)

In U2's song "A Man and a Woman," Bono makes a pledge to his beloved: "I could never take a chance / of losing love to find romance." The characters in Closer take that chance. And they pay the price.

Film Reviews

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

[This review was originally published at Christianity Today.] • "Am I digging my own grave?" young Saigo wonders as he helps his fellow Japanese soldiers shovel out bunkers in the dark sand beneath Mt. Surabachi. And because we know the outcome of the Battle of Iwo Jima, we can

Film Reviews

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

[This review was originally published at Christianity Today.] Some people live lives in which their prayers are answered, their dreams fulfilled, their needs met, and their lives richly blessed. Others live lives of frustration, longing to hear God's voice, carrying excruciating burdens and struggling to maintain their belief

Film Reviews

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

The Two Towers is packed end-to-end with helter-skelter action, jaw-dropping New Zealand scenery, standard-setting animation, a lush and provocative soundtrack, and enough adventure for three or four typical films of its genre. Do you need more information? My review is at ChristianityToday.com. But if you want the detailed review