On Books & Writing All-Stars: Steven D. Greydanus and 20+ years of extraordinary writing on film Star-gazing again, I'm pointing to one of the brightest in the cosmos of criticism: Steven D. Greydanus. I'd be hard-pressed to think of a critic who has had a more consistently inspiring influence on me over the last 20 years of my engagement with film and with film essays.
The Weekender Weekender: New Twitter. Doctor Strange's Multiverse. Faith in musicals. SDG on The Northman. Looking Closer has a new Twitter account! Also: Here are my first impressions of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a link to the latest Arts & Faith movie list, and one of the reviews of The Northman I've been most looking forward to.
The Weekender The Weekender - Third Weekend of December 2021 Merry Christmas early! The Weekender will be a Surprise Box, an unpredictable newsletter, a bulletin board of things I'd like to share that I would have expanded into full, individual posts if life had afforded me the time.
On Books & Writing The best book-to-movie achievements... and the worst In which I talk about the art of book-to-movie productions, a lot of great movies, and a few terrible movies, with David Kern and Steven Greydanus. Listen to our lively, in-depth exploration of the art of adaptation!
On Movies & Media My favorite film critic's top 10 of 2016 Steven Greydanus of Decent Films and The National Catholic Register has published his Top 10 films of 2016. It's definitely worth your attention. But of course it is — he's my favorite film critic. And now I'm frustrated that I haven't finished and
On Movies & Media Birthday Party on Bald Mountain 75 years ago today, Disney's Fantasia — directed by Norman Ferguson — opened. It was the first of its kind in many ways, most notably in that it was the first film presented in stereophonic sound (a speaker was positioned, with others on either side of it). And it remains
Film Review The Secret of Kells (2009) 2015 Update: This week, my coworkers threw a party for those of us — including me — who have autumn birthdays. They asked me to recommend a movie that would fit our 90-minute party time span. I recommended The Secret of Kells. So we had an Irish-themed party, with bowls of excellent
Looking Elsewhere Looking Elsewhere: October 11, 2015 Beatles medicine. End times zombies. Coens go Biblical. Do's and don'ts of filmmaking. Jedi versus Airbender.
Film Forum Tomorrowland (2015): Tomorrow-bland? I hoped that Brad Bird would experience a much more positive response to his own passion project — the long-anticipated Tomorrowland — than Andrew Stanton did for his passion project, "John Carter."
Looking Elsewhere Looking Elsewhere: January 24, 2015 I'll conclude with a few words about the American Sniper hubbub. But first, here are some of the things that caught my attention on the Wild Wild Web in the last couple of weeks...
On Movies & Media The Song "Shares the Weaknesses of Most Faith-Based Films" I've received two emails this week asking for my opinion of The Song. This is what I can offer... The Song told me what it was in the advertisement that appeared for it in the sidebar of my blog. (By the way: Almost everything that is advertised in
Interviews A Novelist, A Horror Filmmaker, and Two Critics: Conversations Worth Hearing Scott Derrickson, Alissa Wilkinson, Sara Zarr, Steven Greydanus... listen to all of these inspiring Christians talking to each other about art and criticism!
God's Not Dead God's Not Dead (2014): A Looking Closer Film Forum Now, two of the finest film critics in Christian media agree: There's something quite contrary to the spirit of the Gospel at the heart of the smash-hit "Christian Movie" God's Not Dead.
On Movies & Media The Incredibles (and Other 10-Year-Old Films); Jesus Films; Matt Zoller Seitz; Scott Cairns This week, special thanks go out to Brad Bird, Matt Zoller Seitz, and more. Find out why.
Old Testament Before You See That Noah Movie, Read This... Here's an article about the upcoming "Noah" movie that's sure to rub some Christian readers the wrong way. But Darren Aronofsky likes it. So does Russell Crowe. And so do I.
On Movies & Media The Abomination of "Desolation": Two Hobbit-Related Lists "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is here. But I didn't attend the press screening. Why? I'll explain. But first, here are five important bits from a review by my favorite movie reviewer...
On Movies & Media The Lone Ranger: "Cynical. Bankrupt. Brutal. Anti-American. A Catastrophe." Steven Greydanus has seen The Lone Ranger. And he is not a happy camper. But I'm grateful for his vigorously critical review... because now I know not to spend money on this movie. Just listen to this... When the film first brings together the man who will be
On Movies & Media Oz the Unfortunate and Underwhelming? In which Steven Greydanus talks me out of spending money on Sam Raimi's Oz movie. "It’s not awful. It’s misguided and uninspired, but competent and watchable..."
Lindsay Marshall Looking Elsewhere: February 1, 2013 These links caught my attention today, for one reason or another. Check back later. I may add more look-worthy links as the day goes on.
Michael Sicinski Look! - Sicinski reviews Barbara; and Zero Dark Thirty; Greydanus on It's a Wonderful Life; American Horror Story; Universal Soldier; Twin Peaks Teaser Who's "Barbara"? What's wrong with "Zero Dark Thirty"? Why are critics ganging up on "It's a Wonderful Life"? What is the connection between "American Horror Story" and The Glen Workshop?
On Movies & Media The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) The filmmakers took one children's book and expanded it into three movies. So I'll take this one movie and expand it into two movie reviews...
Politics Looking Elsewhere: September 10, 2012 Spielberg teases Lincoln; Clint Eastwood: Conservative?; Joss Whedon's Shakespeare; Steven Greydanus Sings to Babies!
On Movies & Media Hayao Miyazaki Blu-Ray/DVD Release Featured In a Very Special Review So, we know about Will Smith and Jaden. We know about Lloyd Bridges and his sons Beau and Jeff. Recently, Martin Sheen starred with his son Emilio Estevez in The Way. But how many parent-child film critic teams can you think of?
Of Gods and Men Of Gods and Men: A film about faith made by artists, not evangelists. At Seattle's Harvard Exit theatre last March, I witnessed a rare and wonderful thing on the big screen—a thoughtful portrayal of devout Christians putting their faith into practice. I was caught off guard. I've developed a serious allergy to "Christian movies." They usually
On Movies & Media Decent Films Reviews Red Riding Hood This morning, Brandon Fibbs posted this note on Facebook: Red Riding Hood That should be all you need to know. But if you want something more thoughtful, Steven Greydanus reviews Red Riding Hood today at Decent Films. I decided right away to avoid this film. The trailer borrowed so heavily
