There’s no denying the popularity of true crime media in the non-fiction genre. In addition to shows and novels, true crime makes up a massive portion of the podcast market and fuels content creation on social media. Though there are more than a few ethical concerns that come with recounting the most gruesome details of crimes for a rapt audience, demand for this type of content is high — and there’s no shortage of it.
Read More(ANALYSIS) This year’s Best Picture nominees at the 2024 Academy Awards showcase how our culture is wrestling with a post-Christian society, whether or not these films feature religion or not. While Hollywood has gained a reputation for being deeply secular — even anti-religious — after Oscar nominees over the past two years featured rather complex portrayals of religion.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Think back to a time well before the internet when anyone could own a little bit of property in the suburbs. “God” had just been added to the pledge and father always knew best. Sound perfect? Great, even? This sepia-infused vision of mid-century America informs an entire political movement today.
Read More(REVIEW) While the Season 4 finale was weaker in its character payoffs than I would have liked, it still is the strongest season overall since the first. The stories are more focused, the drama more intense, the characters gelling more and the filmmaking seamlessly skillful. It’s what keeps me and the audience coming back for more.
Read More(REVIEW) “Ordinary Angels” is a welcome sign of how the baseline modern faith-based films have come a long way since their beginnings 20 years ago. Those who enjoy the formula will be happy at how the quality has increased and will get everything they’re looking for. Those who wish the industry would grow beyond that need to keep wishing – but will find the ride more enjoyable than 20 years ago.
Read More(REVIEW) A new documentary “God and Country” tries to warn against an American political movement that is corrupting both politics and Christianity — but its misrepresentation of the topic only makes its audience less informed and instead gives strength to the movement.
Read MoreAward-winning Cree actress and activist Michelle Thrush spoke to students at Salish School of Spokane — giving them an insight into her life, how she got into acting, her culture and how she wants to tell stories from a place of honesty.
Read More(REVIEW) “The Chosen” remains one of the strongest pieces of faith-based content being produced these days. The fourth season is, on balance, one of the strongest to date despite some flaws. Hopefully, the groundwork being laid in these middle episodes will feel worth it in the future.
Read More(REVIEW) The series deserves applause for dealing with difficult social and theological topics and for the ways it gets them right. But its agonizing repetitiveness and its social and theological missteps need to be noted as well so that we make sure we can actually solve the problems it is so eager to critique.
Read MoreThe most Jewish episode of “Curb” — and one of its most beloved — retold here by the people who made it. “Palestinian Chicken,” the third episode of the Larry David comedy’s eighth season, seemed anything but dated when it aired on July 24, 2011, and today, you can’t assemble a list of the show’s greatest episodes without it.
Read More(REVIEW) Overall, this new season of “The Chosen” is its strongest one since the first. If it can build on this with the rest of the season, then it’s possible — as hard as it might be to believe — that Season 4 might be its best to date. Season 4 of “The Chosen” is exclusively in theaters from Feb. 1-14 and later via streaming.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The two biggest feminist films of 2023, “Barbie” and “Poor Things,” are poised to be heavy hitters at this year’s Oscars. And yet, despite the fact that both films claim to be overt pro-feminist manifestos, what both also have most in common is that they actually encourage the very toxic masculinity that they claim to be deconstructing. evangelicalism may hold the true answer they’re looking for.
Read More“The Book of Clarence” is an entertaining and God-glorifying hero’s journey story of redemption that – if not for some of its PG-13 material and off-beat style – would be right at home in any faith-based movie environment, but far better quality-wise than most.
Read More(ANALYSIS) As long as they’ve been around, so-called “faith-based films” have been mired in controversy. Whether it’s accusations of bad writing and acting, heavy-handed messages or the demonizing of non-Christians, such movies always seem to be a lightning rod of passionate disagreement.
Read MoreFaith-based films are more prevalent than ever. Whether that’s the growing number of Christians entering the faith-based industry or the larger number of Hollywood filmmakers dealing explicitly with religious issues in their films, it's easier than ever to find films that affirm and celebrate religious worldviews with truth and beauty. Check out which movies were best in 2023.
Read More(REVIEW) “Rebel Moon” reminds us that religion is not just a trope in a sci-fi film, it’s baked into its DNA as a way of re-enchanting us to an often dead-feeling universe. The film, in theaters now, will be available on Netflix starting this Friday.
Read More(REVIEW) “Freud’s Last Session” wastes its fantastic premise of pitting C.S. Lewis against Sigmund Freud with boring execution — and a bafflingly underwhelming portrayal that fits an odd pattern by people who often negatively characterize the famed Christian author.
Read More(REVIEW) “The Mission” is a courageous and well-meaning attempt to wrestle with an important topic, held back by “not knowing what they don’t know” about their own biases much like some of the missionaries in ages past. Hopefully, the filmmakers and audience will use this film as a conversation starter rather than an ender. If they do, the world will be better for it.
Read More(REVIEW) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a group known as Mormons) has its own, often overlooked, film industry within the subculture of Christian Films. While evangelicals and Catholics have produced such movies as “Fireproof,” “I Can Only Imagine” and “God’s Not Dead,” Mormons have “The Best Two Years” and “The Other Side of Heaven.”
Read MoreThe stage version of “The Prince of Egypt” is a rousing triumph of both faith and stagecraft. It is one of the most satisfying viewing experiences of the year and a stunning reminder of what can be accomplished when faith and art are put together well.
Read More
