Opposites attract...or do they? Lillies of the Field is a pretty significant movie. While it was low-budget, it doesn't look it, and it helped its male lead, Sidney Poitier, win a Best Actor Oscar, the first such achievement for a black man. It's also a pretty personal movie for a lot of people. I've grown … Continue reading Schmidt, You Build Us A Shapel
We’re All In This Together
I've heard things about Sunday School Musical, and when I found it on Tubi, curiousity got the better of me, not that there's much to ruin about the movie. Simply put, it is both a nostalgia hit and a train wreck, so averting the eyes is impossible, and anyway, it's an Asylum movie, so we … Continue reading We’re All In This Together
Go West, Young Canadian
Janette Oke is one of the premier contemporary authors of Christian literature, and as her novels are mostly set on the Canadian prairies Laura Ingalls Wilder would be her closest comparison. Oke's eight-book Love Comes Softly series has sold millions of copies and continues to be discovered and re-discovered by enthusiastic readers. Six of the … Continue reading Go West, Young Canadian
Bonjour, Par-ee
I'm doing a standalone book review for once--whaddaya know? I'd like to do more of these, so keep watching this space. Anyway, today's offering is Siri Mitchell's 2005 novel, Kissing Adrien. Go ahead and make Rocky Balboa jokes. You know you want to. Anyway, this Adrien is a guy, and he's been friends with Seattle accountant … Continue reading Bonjour, Par-ee
Reading Rarities: I Take My Religion Seriously
There was way more to Charles M. Schulz than Charlie Brown and Snoopy, and from the mid-1950s until early 1965 Schulz drew monthly or bi-weekly single-panel comics for Youth and Reach Magazines. It's been said that these characters are the Peanuts kids as teenagers, but Schulz tried to keep the two strips as separate as he could. He … Continue reading Reading Rarities: I Take My Religion Seriously
Into the Habit
One thing that's not often talked about when it comes to Audrey Hepburn's career is how varied her filmography really wasn't--she mostly played romantic leads or maybe women who were unconventional. There's nothing wrong with that, but as they say, variety is the spice of life, and like many actors, Hepburn enjoyed playing against type … Continue reading Into the Habit
Dude, Where’s My Ark?
The 1929 version of Noah's Ark is rather infamous. Directed by cinematic chameleon Michael Curtiz, its flood sequences are legendary, and there's a longstanding rumor that three extras drowned during shooting. I've been wanting to see this film for years, and when I finally got to take it in it was everything and nothing I was … Continue reading Dude, Where’s My Ark?
Taking Off the Mask
Time to rock out, all... It's always interesting when Christian artists (or any musicians) dabble in moviemaking, and 2008's The Imposter sports not one artist, but three: dc Talk alum Kevin Max, Kerry Livgren of Kansas, and Jeff Deyo, formerly of Sonicflood. Not to be confused with the Gary Sinise film, The Imposter follows Johnny … Continue reading Taking Off the Mask
Fatima In Hollywood
Bom dia... The fifties are somewhere we've all been to in terms of Hollywood movies, and we know it was an interesting time in the film industry. Big bad television and blacklisting made the studios rather nervous, and subjects that were once avoided now seemed safe. Religion was one of those, and Christian-centered films of … Continue reading Fatima In Hollywood
Be God’s
On September 20, 1997, I was at home reading my e-mail and saw Danl Blackwood's name pop up. My mouse cursor jumped to open it. I was on Danl's Rich Mullins mailing list, where he kept fans up to date on Rich news, interviews, concert schedules, and so on. Danl always had something fun for … Continue reading Be God’s
Page To Screen: Christy
One of my favorite books in high school (and today) is Christy by Catherine Marshall, and when the series with Kellie Martin came on TV, I watched every episode. Who else can relate? For those who aren't familiar with the story, it takes place in 1912. The titular character is Christy Huddleston, a nineteen-year old woman from … Continue reading Page To Screen: Christy
Send A Revival
Time to talk about Miss Simmons... As the Production Code became less and less of a thing in the late fifties and early sixties, movies took on more of an overt edge. Language and content standards began to be relaxed, and once-untouchable topics became fair game. One of the early films of the cinematic new … Continue reading Send A Revival
Presenting Christ (Also, One Week Left!)
Hear ye, hear ye--the Broadway Bound Blogathon is one week away. I repeat, one week. Are you ready? Now, on to today's business... In 1994, my parents and I took a trip to New York and Washington. D.C., for about a week, and that Sunday we went to New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Located at … Continue reading Presenting Christ (Also, One Week Left!)
Origins: A Wrinkle In Time
Every once in a while, Hollywood seems to turn out something promising, and the upcoming A Wrinkle In Time looks to be one of those. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling, Chris Pine, and Zack Galifinakis, with Storm Reid as Meg, the film is, of course, based on Madeleine L'Engle's superlative novel. I read the book … Continue reading Origins: A Wrinkle In Time
Who’s Hungry?
Ever felt like you had a lot of energy and desire to do something big, but didn't have the foggiest idea how to get started? Have you ever gotten that let-down feeling when setbacks pop up and reality creeps in? I think everyone has had to grapple with this dilemma on some level, and it's … Continue reading Who’s Hungry?
Regency House Murder
Remember that thumbs-down I gave A Strange Brand of Happy in August? This is the day, friends, when I reveal the other haul item I mysteriously alluded to, and that is...drum roll, please...Julianna Deering's mystery novel, Dressed For Death. Yeah, I know, it took me long enough. Life, people. Life got in the way. Anyway, like most clearance … Continue reading Regency House Murder
Boys Town Revisited
Everyone knows (and is probably sick of) the way sequels, prequels, and remakes are such a big part of Hollywood's output nowadays. We've been down Reboot Road plenty of times just on this blog. Classic Hollywood was no different than today in terms of capitalizing on older properties, although the new-to-retread ratio was obviously different. … Continue reading Boys Town Revisited
Taking Up Room 