There is no dearth of cultural narratives about the stultifying effects of being trapped in a small town. From Winesburg, Ohio to Footloose to Friday Night Lights, our culture is… Continue reading "A Song for Imogene (Arlee, 2023)"
I am not a formal member of the Church of Nolan, though I do think he is the most consistently ambitious commercial director working today. And I think that’s a… Continue reading "Oppenheimer (Nolan, 2023)"
I recommend Prisoner’s Daughter and rated it “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. That doesn’t have to be the lede of every review, but I start with it for three reasons. First,… Continue reading "Prisoner’s Daughter (Hardwicke, 2022)"
I have identified as Christian for just over forty years now, though I have never embraced any of the cultural, theological, or denominational labels that have commonly modified that category… Continue reading "The Starling Girl (Parmet, 2023)"
The Problem of the Hero is one of those smartly written, deeply engrossing films that mostly consists of two characters debating important ideas. The debate surrounds the theatrical adaptation of… Continue reading "The Problem of the Hero (Dozier, 2023)"
I did not enter the theater with high expectations for this one despite the hype. And for the first thirty minutes or so, it felt like my cynical side was… Continue reading "Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One (McQuarrie, 2023)"
Rodeo is presented with an anthropological curiosity and an artistic attention to detail that almost get the film across the finish line. The attempts to embed the examination of gearheads… Continue reading "Rodeo (Quivoron, 2022)"
I approached Under Law and Grace with the natural skepticism of an American Christian of a certain age who has, with painfully few exceptions, never seen religion done particularly well… Continue reading "Under Law and Grace"
It Is in Us All is a moody, oppressive film, brimming with angst and reticence. The story never quite coalesces into a coherent enough narrative to land hard, but it… Continue reading "It Is in Us All (Campbell-Hughes, 2022)"
The 2023 list of Top 25 Spiritually Significant Documentaries was the tenth themed list created by that site. Designed as one-offs in years the site did not update its Top… Continue reading "The Arts & Faith Top 25 Spiritually Significant Documentaries"
