Watu Wote joins other films attempting what African sermons cannot. Two years ago, the heroic actions of some Kenyan Muslims brought their majority-Christian nation together. The Oscar-nominated film depiction of that heroism may do so again—if many people watch. Watu Wote is a fictional retelling of real-life horror. In December 2015, al-Shabaab terrorists stormed a …
This celebration of black culture and black success points to a bigger story for the church. A while ago, I stopped watching a certain type of black movie. In the wake of the black suffering that I saw in real life, I didn’t want to see another black slave scene. I didn’t want the water …
In his new HBO show ‘Crashing,’ the former evangelical winks to Christian fans. If Pete Holmes’s HBO series Crashing is his love letter to comedy, the church at least gets a tender PS. Inspired by Holmes’s life and evangelical background, the show follows a nice Christian guy who’s trying to make it in standup after …
Near-death experiences make for popular books and movies. But what should Christians do with them? Don Piper’s story, now made visible in the movie 90 Minutes in Heaven (out this weekend), records his experience of “dying” as a result of a head-on car crash and experiencing some moments (90 minutes of them) of glorious encounter …
What the critics are saying about the mystical, whimsical “Magic in the Moonlight” and “Mood Indigo.” Streaming Picks New to Netflix this week is the crime drama Out of the Furnace. Our friends over at Indiewire wrote a great review of the film starring Christian Bale and Woody Harrelson—read it here. If you're looking for …
Lilias Trotter could have been a famous painter. Instead, she chose to travel with two other single women to preach the gospel in Algeria. Why? In a recent New York magazine cover story, journalist Rebecca Traister notes that many more US women are embracing “that it’s okay for them not to be married.” She calls …
Hollywood tries to turn a clash between science and a powerful institution into an immigrant doctor’s “such a time as this.” mpaa rating:PG-13 (For thematic material including some disturbing images, and language.) Genre:Drama, Sports Directed By: Peter Landesman Run Time: 2 hours 3 minutes Cast: Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, Gugu Mbatha-Raw Theatre Release:December …
When the ground beneath a marriage is shaken, can it hold up? mpaa rating:R (For language and brief sexuality.) Genre:Drama Directed By: Andrew Haigh Run Time: 1 hour 35 minutes Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Geraldine James, Dolly Wells Theatre Release:August 28, 2015 by Sundance Selects Much about 45 Years makes it clear that it’s …
Good for fans of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, but not for much else. mpaa rating:R (For crude sexual content and language throughout, and for drug use.) Genre:Comedy Directed By: Jason Moore Run Time: 1 hour 58 minutes Cast: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Ike Barinholtz Theatre Release:December 18, 2015 by Universal Pictures This …
The film is uneven, but Joy knows just who she is. mpaa rating:PG-13 (For brief strong language.) Genre:Drama Directed By: David O. Russell Run Time: 2 hours 4 minutes Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramírez Theatre Release:December 25, 2015 by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation The text at the beginning of …