Posts tagged Film & TV
How Catholicism Shaped America Through Movies And The Politics Of Today

(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.

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Why Marvel Changed Its Mind About God’s Goodness

(ANALYSIS) Marvel continues its trend of wrestling with the goodness of God — but now has started to tilt toward believing that the Almighty may be good after all. Why the change and what led them to this newfound realization is rooted in both faith and power.

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What ‘Mother Teresa & Me’ Gets Wrong About Faith and Doubt

(REVIEW) The film follows two parallel stories: One of Mother Teresa’s mission from God to serve the poor and needy in India; the other a young Indian-British woman named Kavita with a secret connection to Mother Teresa whose life is turned upside down when she finds out she’s pregnant. Mother Teresa’s story is so powerful that there is still stuff of value for those who do watch it. This film fails, however, because it tries to make her more relevant to modern audiences, but is too burdened by a mountain of cliches and bad theology to truly succeed.

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Shia LaBeouf's Newfound Catholicism Part Of His Hollywood Redemption Story

(ANALYSIS) Celebrity news coverage and religion couldn’t be more polar opposites most of the time. Coverage of actors, models and others in the entertainment industry often resembles a list for the seven deadly sins. In the case of actor Shia LaBeouf, his recent conversion to Catholicism has become part of his redemption story.

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Pope Francis Documentary Offers Broad Overview of Life and Papacy, Emphasizes Role of the Holy Spirit

(REVIEW) A new PBS documentary on the life of Pope Francis that premiered on June 20 presents an hour long overview from his childhood to his papacy. It paints Francis as a reformer of the Catholic Church and a pope who cares greatly for other people.

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Documentary explores Vatican soccer tournament through the power of prayer and penalty kicks

(REVIEW) This unique sporting event is the focus of a new 69-minute documentary called “The Holy Game” by filmmakers Brent Hodge and Chris Kelly. The film, distributed by Gravitas Ventures, details what’s often called the “World Cup of the church” — but also takes a behind-the-scenes look at these young seminarians who love both playing the game and God.

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Seeing the Holocaust Through the Eyes of a Dog: Q&A With the Director of 'Shepherd'

“Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog” is a new movie that shows World War 2 and the Holocaust through the eyes of Kaleb, a loyal German Shepherd. We talked to director Lynn Roth about making the movie and why Jewish tradition is so important.

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5 Facts PBS Left Out in New Billy Graham Documentary

Billy Graham is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential evangelists of our time. He’s the subject of a new PBS documentary which covers the span of his life. Here are five additional facts they didn’t include.

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‘The Sons of Sam’ Elevates an Unnecessary Hero and Skimps on Killer’s Christian Conversion

(REVIEW) “The Sons of Sam,” a new Netflix crime documentary, retells a series of murders in 70s New York City from the perspective of an obsessive journalist who hoped to prove the serial killer David Berkowitz was connected to a nationwide network of satanic killers. It praises the journalist for unfounded claims and neglects to discuss Berkowitz’s Christian conversion, a necessary and inspiring part of his story.

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In True Crime Series 'Murder Among the Mormons,' LDS Church Reckons with Rewritten History

(REVIEW) New true crime series “Murder Among the Mormons” tells the story of 1985 Salt Lake City bombings connected to the LDS Church.

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‘Joker Jesus’ Follows Overt Religious Symbolism in Superman Movies, Sparks Predictions for New ‘Justice League’

A photo released this week depicting popular comic book villain the Joker dressed as Jesus Christ is circulating social media. Fans speculate on what it means for the soon-to-be-released Justice League and reflect on the director’s past work — which heavily uses religious symbolism.

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‘Minari’ Finds Faith in Fertile, Arkansas Soil

(REVIEW) “Minari” is the story of a Korean American family that moves from California to a stretch of farmland in the Ozarks to start over. What they encounter there grows their family through trial and brings them closer to the land they tend to.

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Documentaries on Race and Christianity Explore Slavery, Offer Modern Solutions

Streaming service Amazon Prime contains three documentaries by Black creators that delve into the history of racism in the church, back to the origin of slavery in the U.S. and often further. Each takes a different focus, whether White Jesus, BLM or the structure of worship services.

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