On Movies & Media

A collection of 534 posts

Film Reviews

The Counselor (2013)

This is not more of the trendy Tarantino revelry in nastiness and violence. This is a true horror film. Like David Fincher's "Se7en," one of this movie's closest spiritual cousins, "The Counselor" ultimately delivers a diagnosis that tells the awful truth. And the Counselor himself doesn't want to k

Film Reviews

Gravity (2013)

Critics will go on and on comparing "Gravity" to groundbreaking works of art like "2001: A Space Odyssey," but... really?

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Grace Unremarkable

Here's another example of how Christianity Today is refusing to join the "circle the wagons" mentality of so much Christian media, and instead engaging art with critical discernment and an insistence on excellence.

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What a Chipotle Commercial Has In Common With My Two Favorite Films of the Year (So Far)

Today, at Christianity Today, I have the privilege of sharing about the two movies that have moved, inspired, and impressed me most this year so far... along with a few comments about, of all things, a Chipotle commercial.

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A Film About Reno Without Casinos? A Film About Faith Without Preaching?

So many things make Chad Hartigan's film "This is Martin Bonner" remarkable. In my interview with this impressive young director, I focused on only a couple of things that set his sophomore effort apart from other recent films.

Film Reviews

Constantine (2005): Remembering a Movie I'd Rather Forget

My experience with the DC Comics character Constantine was unpleasant, at best. Some of you who were already reading my reviews back in 2005 may remember it...

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Wings of Desire's Cassiel Takes Flight: Otto Sander Dies at 72

The German actor Otto Sander died today. But he will live on in the movies he made, like the legendary submarine thriller Das Boot, and my all-time favorite film, Wim Wenders' poetic and glorious Wings of Desire.

Film Reviews

The Late Gatsby: First Impressions

Luhrmann's films are the equivalent of opera ("popera"?), with the soaring kaleidoscopic imagery and light taking the place of soaring voices. The seventeen-layer cakeness of The Great Gatsby has a particular magic.

Film Forum

Kick-Ass 2 (2013): A Looking Closer Film Forum

Scott Renshaw at Letterboxd says it succinctly: If your movie encourages the audience to consider it a whoop-it-up, did-you-just-see-that moment when a villain kills two police officers with a lawn mower, you've set up shop squarely in Morallyreprehensibletown, and thanks but I’ll keep driving. Matt Singer at

Film Reviews

Secondhand Lions (2003): A conversation with Duvall, Caine, Osment, and McCanlies

A film-review assignment can change your life. In fact, ten years ago this month, a film-review assignment changed my life. In August 2003, I took my first step into a larger world — the wild, wild world of film junkets.

Film Reviews

This is Martin Bonner (2013): (Previously: "Biggest Surprise of This Moviegoer's Year So Far)

I've reworked my top 10 of 2013 so far, and "This is Martin Bonner" is currently sitting at #1. This isn't just a movie that treats faith with profound sensitivity. It's a film that is beautifully crafted. And it features my favorite performance of the year so far.

Interviews

The World's End (2013): My Apocalyptic Chat with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Edgar Wright

Read my conversation with Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost, the three masterminds of "Spaced," "Shaun of the Dead," "Hot Fuzz," and the new sci-fi/comedy extravaganza, "The World’s End."

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The Quotable Renshaw

One of this film critics' favorite quotable quotes comes from Roger Ebert: "A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it." But now I'll carry another knockout definition of criticism in my back pocket to help clarify matters...

Interviews

Angela Tucker Found Something on Facebook That Changed Her Life

Ask about “Sandy the Flower Man” in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the citizens will tell you stories. He’s a lively and well-loved local who bicycles up and down Main Street, giving flowers to women and smiles to everybody. But when Angela Burt Tucker found his Facebook page in 2010, she knew she was

Film Reviews

The Spectacular Now (2013)

During a summer overstuffed with blockbuster excesses, I found myself encouraged by the way "The Spectacular Now" offers real human beings, patient observation, truthful storytelling, and nuanced performances from talented actors. But alas, the film squanders most of that suspension of disbelief by

Film Reviews

Blue Jasmine (2013)

It feels like Woody Allen has just enough energy to rack up some ideas, to pick up the pool cue, to break, and then watch the balls scatter, some of them occasionally dropping with a satisfying "plunk" into the pockets.

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Does the Noah Screenplay Sink or Float? Chattaway and Godawa Disagree.

I've been looking forward to seeing Noah. But now, for the first time, I can say I'm excited about the day when we are drawn, two by two (or otherwise), to theaters to see this one for ourselves.

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25 Years Ago Today, Walsh Got the Duke

It's a comedy. A buddy movie. An action movie. A cops and robbers movie. Not the kind of thing I usually enjoy. But from the first time I saw it — on opening day, 25 years ago today, July 20, 1988, at the Lloyd Center Cinemas in Portland, Oregon

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July 18: The Gratitude List

A magical night at the ferryboat dock. Lunch with a film critic. Reviews of "Fruitvale Station" and "Red 2." A remembrance of movie novelizations. And more.

Film Forum

Turbo (2013): A Looking Closer Film Forum

There it is again, on the poster for Turbo:  the facial expression that Dreamworks animators love. And here they are again: Film reviewers I tend to trust, saving me money by warning me off of a Dreamworks animated movie. Matt Zoller Seitz says, Monsters University Jackson Cuidon, one of my

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Netflix Brings Back the Coen Brothers' Most Underrated Comedy

The Coen Brothers' "Intolerable Cruelty" may be their most underrated film. Now that it's streaming on Netflix, it's time to watch it again.

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Why So Serious? Why, It's My Fifth Dark Knight-iversary!

Five years ago today, I attended a sneak preview with an enthusiastic Seattle audience, and watched this guy for the first time. Complicated, thought-provoking, discussion-starting, well-acted, full of awe-inspiring action sequences, unpredictable... I hadn't seen a comic-book-hero movie as ambitious or as impressive. Nor have I seen one

Film Reviews

The Way, Way Back (2013)

It's sweet, it's good for you, it's simplistic and unsurprising, and it vanishes. In other words, it's one of those summer juice pops designed to make Vitamin C appealing. But take note: Sam Rockwell's performance is worth the price of the ticket.

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Five Must-See Movies of the Summer (Including "Stories We Tell")

Here are a few recent releases for adventurous moviegoers who seek more than the cinematic equivalent of junk food.

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It's a Fourth of July. Enjoy it.

It occurred to me that the Fourth of July was about to pass us by without anybody bothering to post an image of...