On Books & Writing In the Cosmos of the Arts, a Christian Cosmonaut Is Born Again “NASA Twins Study Confirms Astronaut’s DNA Actually Changed in Space.” That’s the headline that makes you choke, then narrow your eyes, and forget what you were searching for.Come on. This isn’t The Twilight Zone. A man left earth and came back as somebody else? If you
On Movies & Media Three professors profess their love for The Secret of Kells Listen as Jeffrey Overstreet welcomes Dr. Christine Chaney and Dr. Brian Bantum from Seattle Pacific University to a conversation about the many wonders of the movie The Secret of Kells.
Journal A tale of two podcasts: my visits to Forma and Libromania In which I find myself as a special guest on two separate podcasts, both of them hosted by David Kern, for conversations about Madeleine L'Engle and the best movies of 2018.
On Movies & Media Dead Poets Society and the Legacy of Dr. Luke Reinsma Four years ago this week, I wrote about how I had changed my mind about "Dead Poets Society." This week, I re-post it as a tribute to my favorite professor.
Journal Three qualities of beauty I think I might just scrap all of my syllabus explanations regarding how I grade essays and short stories in my writing classes. I'll just replace those with this passage from Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose: For three things concur in creating beauty: first
Interviews The Theology of the Coen Brothers? A Conversation Between Matt Zoller Seitz and Jeffrey Overstreet Originally titled "O Coen Brothers, Where Art God?", this is my conversation with Matt Zoller Seitz about theology, Raising Arizona, morality, Fargo, good and evil, The Big Lebowski, and so much more.
On Movies & Media Here We Go Again: Malick and "The Tree of Life" I know, I know, I'm late to this party. But I'm not really. I reported on Terrence Malick's Tree of Life project ages ago, and was quickly corrected and informed that I was merely perpetuating rumors about a project that was abandoned long ago.
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)
Response My Chat with the Chairman of the NEA In the new issue of Response, you'll find an article about, and an interview with, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Dana Gioia. (There are two separate links on that page, so check out both of them.) Plus, this issue includes my commentary on films
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 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 Star Wars III gets a (boring) title I’m back from a weekend of 103-degree heat in Portland, Oregon, where I did just what I said I was going to do with friends and family... I lounged, I read, I sipped coffee, I ate unbelievably scrumptious desserts at Papa Haydn’s (something you should add to your
On Books & Writing Friday with Chesterton It’s Friday. I don’t feel like talking about Catwoman. In fact, I plan to spend the weekend lounging around and having cold beers and rich desserts with friends... obeying God’s harsh order to rest on the Sabbath. So, rather than griping about the news or the movies,
U2 U2 robbed! I don’t like posting rumors... unless it has to do with titles or casting, just because it's so fun to imagine and speculate and argue. Remember when we were told that the new Star Wars film was going to be called The Creeping Fear?! Man, that was
Peter Chattaway Happiness is... . . . being assigned to see and review the movie A Cinderella Story and then having your friend Peter Chattaway tell you he’ll gladly go in your place, setting you and your evening free. Thanks, Peter. I was worried about the things I would write, and whether or not they would
On Movies & Media Overstreet in Image It was one of the greatest privileges I've had as a writer to be invited to write on "the future of film" for the 15th Anniversary Issue of Image. This issue is on its way to subscribers' mailboxes now, and if you're not
