(REVIEW) “Conclave,” the fictional thriller that outlines the Catholic process of selecting a new pope, does the audience the service of stating its intended message outright. In a controversial homily that begins the proceedings, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence declares that “certainty is the great enemy of unity.” The movie also goes on to demonstrate that lesson in a variety of ways, as conspiracy abounds and tension grows.
Read More(REVIEW) Hellboy is an odd character with a bumpy cinematic history. Based on a comic book series, Hellboy is the son of a demon and a witch who was brought from hell into the world by Nazis. He was rescued and raised by Professor Broom of the BPRD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense) who became his surrogate father and trained to help save the world from monsters.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Back in August, IllumiNative released a study that described how Native-led shows like “Reservation Dogs" had a positive effect on viewers, showing that Native-led projects are not only in demand but proving to be educational and impactful. Viewers who watched the aforementioned Native-led shows were more likely to agree with policies that support and center Indigenous voices.
Read More(REVIEW) While “The Forge” deserves credit for wanting to address the real problems of struggling men and boys, it fails to speak to the very people it says it wants to help. Christian parents of such boys would be better off passing on this movie and following other sources for their boys, and following the example of the movie’s Cynthia by praying for them instead.
Read MoreNot only are churchgoers watching Christian movies, but some find them useful as an evangelistic and discipleship tool. A recent study asked churchgoers if they agree with the statement, “Christian movies are effective evangelism tools.” The study by Lifeway Research finds 68 percent of American Protestant churchgoers have watched a Christian movie in the last year. Around four in five say Christian movies are effective evangelism tools.
Read More(REVIEW) Cryptocurrency is a really fascinating topic worth talking about. It’s gratifying to see it being talked about in the context of faith. If the documentary had only trusted the audience more to inform them rather than advertise to them, it would have added something even more valuable to the conversation.
Read MoreGidi Dar did not set out to be a prophet. When he began work on his film Legend of Destruction, in 2016, he was simply drawn to a collection of Talmudic stories about Jewish zealots revolting against their Roman rulers in the first century, a rebellion that triggered the destruction of the Temple. Then, during the seven years the film spent in production, things began to shift in Israeli society.
Read More(REVIEW) What “white savior” and “white guilt” movies both do is create a fantasy about Christian history that makes us comfortable. In reality, Western Christian history is far more complicated. Filmmakers like Tamahori simply replace one fantasy with another. And, ironically, miss out on a much better movie. “The Convert” has enjoyable pacing and individual performances, but its shallow treatment of its well-worn cliches will make few believers.
Read More(REVIEW) “Sing Sing” — the latest film from celebrated independent film studio A24 — tells the story of Divine G, imprisoned at a maximum security prison (Sing Sing) for a crime he didn't commit. He finds purpose by acting in a theater group alongside other incarcerated men. The film is based on the book, “The Sing Sing Follies,” which tells the true story of Divine G and the theater program he founded while incarcerated.
Read MoreThe movie follows FBI agent Harper Lee who uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to catch a serial killer, played by Nicholas Cage). On her way, she discovers her own connection to the serial killer which forces her to confront her own past to hopefully take him down. The film, directed by Oz Perkins and released by Neon, offers up intrigue — but ultimately goes out of its way to glorify evil.
Read More(REVIEW) “The Exorcism” is a beautifully shot and smartly conceived meta-take on the exorcism genre. Unfortunately, instead of developing or paying off its ideas, it abandons them in favor of an unreflective string of the very cliches it spent the rest of the movie deconstructing. Russell Crowe stars as Anthony Miller, a washed-up actor out of rehab trying to reconnect with his troubled daughter.
Read More(REVIEW) “Sound of Hope” highlights an important issue and improves on many of the problems in the typical faith-based film industry. But the problems it does retain from the genre heavily weakens what could have been a truly wonderful theatrical experience. For those of us who’ve been waiting on faith-based films to match their secular counterparts for a long time, “Sound of Freedom” definitely gives us something to hope for.
Read MoreThe documentary “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon” takes fans behind the scenes with the great singer-songwriter as his most recent album, “Seven Psalms,” was being made. But the two-part, 3 ½-hour film, released earlier this year and now streaming on MGM+, also tells Simon’s life story, weaving together footage of past interviews and performances with his reflections on what it all means now. It also delves into his Jewish faith and identity.
Read MoreA new version of the “Jesus Film,” performed in American Sign Language (ASL) by deaf actors and crew members, premiered on April 4 at the Deaf Missions Conference in Arlington, Texas. A broader release of the film portraying Jesus’ life is in the works, Deaf Missions has said, but details have not been announced.
Read MoreThe Playhouse Cinema in Hamilton, Ontario, about 40 miles from Toronto, became the latest venue to call off a Jewish-themed event when it announced Tuesday that the annual Hamilton Jewish Film Festival would not be held in the theater as scheduled in April. The festival is sponsored by the local Jewish federation.
Read More“Dune: Part Two” has been a massive hit at the box office, making back the first movie’s entire ticket take on its opening weekend and narrowly beating the opening of “Oppenheimer.” And with a Rotten Tomatoes critical and audience score over 90%, many are already calling it one of the best sequels of all time. Here’s what the movie says about religion and those who practice it.
Read More“Sacred Alaska” is an award-winning, visually stunning documentary with compelling storytelling. The film explores the profound influence of Orthodoxy, brought by St. Herman and Russian monks in the late 18th century, on Native Alaskan society. It also highlights the unique fusion of Native Alaskan indigenous beliefs with Orthodox traditions.
Read MoreThe Oscars were held on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. Jimmy Kimmel returned as host for the fourth time, joined onstage by an all-star list of presenters. Did any faith-based films win? Here’s a look at this year’s winners.
Read More(REVIEW) Angel Studios’ latest film “Cabrini” has haunting visuals and solid messages, but can’t seem to care about the real-life people the movie is based on beyond their status of victim or oppressor. The film follows Catholic nun Francesca Cabrini who, after witnessing poverty in the slums of New York, embarks on a daring journey to help hundreds of orphaned children.
Read MoreAt the time when women were first ordained in the Episcopal Church in the 1970s, it was considered the most critical event in the denomination’s history since its founding by English King Henry VIII when he broke away from Catholicism. Women’s equality in the church had been building for decades.
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