How many works of art participate in the plot about a wager or competition for a person’s soul? The Devil and Daniel Webster; “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”; Faust ….much like The Muppet Christmas Carol, Cabin in the Sky tweaks a familiar story, adding Read More …
“The art of making art is putting it together.” For those unfamiliar with that line, it’s a lyric from Sunday in the Park with George, which has long been my favorite musical. Musicals were the focus of this year’s Arts and Faith list, specifically movie Read More …
Loosely adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s Berlin Stories, Cabaret asks what individuals can do in a world gone wrong. A young British academic named Brian Roberts (Michael York) comes to Berlin in the waning days of the Weimar Republic. While there, he meets Sally Bowles (Liza Read More …
Raise your hand if you bet on this Victor Hugo adaptation being the one to make a list of top movie musicals. Now put your hands down, fibbers. I imagine that I was not the only one who expected Les Miserables. It is a beloved Read More …
One common academic definition of poetry is that which cannot be summarized in prose. American author and theologian Dallas Willard claimed in The Divine Conspiracy that “sometimes important things can be presented in literature or art that cannot be effectively expressed in any other way” Read More …
“The rich exist for the sake of the poor,” said St. John Chrysostom, “but the poor exist for the salvation of the rich.” Watching Kelly Reichardt’s First Cow—a tale of survival and friendship about a pioneer and cook (John Magaro) and the Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee) with Read More …
“If you’re too busy chasing the third act, you’ll miss the meaning and message of acts one and two.” – Gretchen Jordan, Rosewood High drama teacher Sometimes in life we are so focused on pursuing our purpose that we forget how to embrace each minute Read More …
Christians tend to like their redemption arcs clean and their underdogs easy to root for. But much like This is Martin Bonner, Sound of Metal presents a character who resists help. Ruben (Riz Ahmed) at first does not wish to admit that he is losing Read More …
Kirsten Johnson’s moving tribute to her dying father (Dick Johnson) and cinema itself is easily one of the best documentaries of the year. Kirsten admits she is making time capsules to remember her father, but the film also serves as a sharing of careers as she and Read More …
Akira Kurosawa’s entire body of work—from 1943’s brash debut Sanshiro Sugata to 1993’s valedictory Madadayo—challenges viewers to awaken to their responsibility to use their talents unselfishly in a desperate world. 1965’s Red Beard is no exception. Set in feudal Japan, it opens with callow Doctor Read More …