Politics Election Blues Count me among the crowd of people who wishes they could just go to sleep and wake up long after the election is over. 🎟️Looking for the rest of this archived post? Join the large-hearted readers who support this work with a few dollars (or more), and you'll
On Movies & Media Caviezel won’t be Superman. Thus sayeth the director. Ain't It Cool News has an interview with Bryan Singer about Superman, X-3, and Logan's Run. Singer himself says that Jim Caviezel will not be Superman. Singer: No, that's absurd. I read that too and think it's just bizarre about James Caviezel,
On Movies & Media How David O. Russell turned me into a priest 🗓️An abridged version of this article was originally published at at Christianity Today. It is reprinted here with permission. When I walked into the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Seattle to interview director David O. Russell, I thought I was prepared. A friend had warned me that the man responsible for
On Movies & Media The answer to the Caviezel/Superman question? You can find what looks like plausible answers to the whole “Is Jim Caviezel going to be Superman?” hubbub at Superman-V.com.
U2 Four guys sitting on a bench. This may be the cover of U2's new album... I'm looking for confirmation of that. Here is the official tracklisting: * ‘Vertigo’ * ‘Miracle Drug’ * ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own’ * ‘Love And Peace Or Else’ * ‘City Of Blinding Lights’ * ‘All Because Of You’ * ‘A
Sam Phillips Sam Phillips - The Looking Closer Interview Introduction: an interview anticipated for two decades I was 22 years old when I attended my first “celebrity interview.” This was in 1992. I was a sophomore in college, and a music reviewer for the school newspaper The Falcon. My very first piece for that paper had been a two-page
U2 Was This Always His “Secret Ambition”? U2's new keyboardist may be... Michael W. Smith?! If that’s a legitimate “scoop” at Christianity Today, well... that would be one of the most unlikely twists in my lifetime of tracking music news!
Anne M. Doe Overstreet Innocence Mission Fans - take note! (an update from Roswell, NM) The Innocence Mission is releasing a new album in November. Details here. I figured that was exciting enough news to interrupt my vacation and post a note here. I’m in Roswell, weary and happy after a long hike through the desert alongside Salt Creek, where we fought our way
Anne M. Doe Overstreet Eight years! I have had the immeasurable blessing of being married to Anne Maureen Doe for eight years. Eight years. And to celebrate the most extraordinary woman I have ever met, I’m getting her out of bed tomorrow morning and we're headed out into the blustery Seattle, Washington rain.
Sam Phillips Sam Phillips - the official site Twenty years after I started listening to her, my favorite singer/songwriter in the world has an official Web site. Finally. Oh, and by the way — I’ll be posting a lifelong dream on the Looking Closer music page in just a little while: my new interview with this exemplary
J. Robert Parks J. Robert Parks — Live from the Toronto International Film Festival J. Robert Parks, who provides many reviews for Looking Closer when I'm not able to catch a film and write about it in time, is in Toronto for the film festival, and he has an ambitious screening list. Here are updated links tracking his progress and his impressions
On Songs & Albums Transcript: Bono talks to Bill O'Reilly Bono didn't waste words during his talk with Bill O'Reilly, making another impressive appeal for the U.S. to lead the way in addressing Africa's emergency. But notice how Bill O’Reilly tries to change the subject whenever Bono starts criticizing the U.S.
Toys Barbie Goes Back to Her Roots. Unfortunately. In case you haven't ever learned about the origins of Barbie dolls, it’s important that you know this: In February of 1959, Barbie was first introduced at the American International Toy Fair in New York (Barbie Dolls). Her creators, Ruth and Elliot Handler (co-founders of Mattel) modeled
Reader Mail Greetings from a Looking Closer reader in Georgia. (No, not THAT Georgia.) I love hearing from readers, especially when they turn out to be old friends... especially when it turns out those old friends have been up to some amazing things! Message from David H.: It's been far too long since I've dropped you a line, but I
On Movies & Media Mean Creek — harsh, harrowing, truthful I've seen Mean Creek twice now, and it improves with a second viewing. It's much more complex, truthful, and intriguing than I thought on the first go round. I’ve also had the privilege of sitting down with director Jacob Aaron Estes, an approachable, easygoing, good-humored
On Movies & Media Memoirs of a Geisha gets a dream-team cast Steven Spielberg has given up on directing an adaptation of the exquisite bestseller Memoirs of a Geisha, now that he's busy with what is reportedly the most expensive film in history ... War of the Worlds. But the movie's moving forward anyway, and now Rob Marshall (Chicago)
On Movies & Media A Big Hello to My Younger Readers! On Sunday morning, there I was sitting and chatting with my beloved church family, when nine-year-old Amy Lind looked at me and said, “You write a blog, don't you?” I was a bit stunned. I said, “Yes, as a matter of fact I do.” “I thought so,” she
On Movies & Media In TIME... My first appearance in TIME Magazine is both a pleasant surprise . . . and a disappointment in view of what could have been.
On Movies & Media Number of Deceits in F9/11 Climbs to 59 ...according to this Web site. Note the convenient, free, downloadable PDF version at the top of the page. Note #59... that Moore is happy to cooperate with terrorist organizations who want to promote his film. Even if only half of these stand up to scrutiny, it’s hard to believe
On Movies & Media ClearPlay: A Very Bad Idea [This article was originally published at Christianity Today on June 1, 2004.] When I was in the sixth grade, some of our school library books had words crossed out with black markers — words that teachers thought would harm children who read them. Even Mark Twain received this treatment. To me,
On Movies & Media Open letter to the Bourne franchise First of all, thank you for one of the summer's most enjoyable movies. The Bourne Supremacy is just the right size and shape. Spider-Man 2 runs a little long, considering the comic-book simplicity of its plot. Your film ends at just the right moment. I laughed, I cheered,
Politics Bono: Make Africa a priority ☠️2025 Update: This post is past its expiration date. The primary link to The Boston Globe no longer works. (If you find a solution to the broken link, let me know.) I’ve added a link to U2.com that leads to an excerpt from the original editorial in question,
On Movies & Media Reel News. (That isn't a typo.) 🔗This post was updated with corrected links on November 28, 2025. I’m now writing the new movie-news blog at Christianity Today, which they've titled Reel News. This mini-blog made its debut today.
"Christian" is a Bad Adjective Fred Clark rampage on Christian Art 🔗This post was updated with corrected links on November 28, 2025. Check out this three-part series on "Christian art"... ...over at Slacktivist: Part One, Part Two, Part Three. Preach it, brother.
Patrice Leconte Wild day: bad news, good date night My brother Jason, singer/songwriter/composer for the a capella group Rescue, is in the emergency room due to a very serious spider bite, and is getting heavily dosed with painkillers and antibiotics. Apparently he’ll have to go through a series of treatments before the volcano on his arm
