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Christians in the Arts interview, Part Two

Here's Part Two of the Christians in the Arts interview.
I posted a link to Part One earlier this week.

Going to a concert tomorrow? I am.

Anybody planning to be at the My Brightest Diamond / The Decemberists show in Seattle tomorrow night?

I'll be there. Send me a note so I can watch for you.

Lots and lots of information about the Coen Brothers' "Burn After Reading"!!

Wow. CHUD has more information than you might want to know about the Coen Brothers' upcoming Brad Pitt/George Clooney flick Burn After Reading.

Sounds suspiciously like a Big Lebowski-type movie... a stolen disc, a stolen rug...

Antoher "Children of Hurin" review... but this one's different.

I've heard The Lord of the Rings described as a defense of Western Civilisation before... and explained as a justification for all kinds of things, including Western shows of military force. But this review of The Children of Hurin takes a different perspective.

J R R Tolkien was the most Christian of 20th-century writers, not because he produced Christian allegory and apologetics like his friend C S Lewis, but because he uniquely portrayed the tragic nature of what Christianity replaced. Thanks to the diligence of his son Christopher, who reconstructed the present volume from several manuscripts, we have before us a treasure that sheds light on the greater purpose of his The Lord of the Rings.

In The Children of Hurin, a tragedy set some 6,000 years before the tales recounted in The Lord of the Rings, we see clearly why it was that Tolkien sought to give the English-speaking peoples a new pre-Christian mythology. It is a commonplace of Tolkien scholarship that the writer, the leading Anglo-Saxon scholar of his generation, sought to restore to the English their lost mythology. In this respect the standard critical sources (for example Edmund Wainwright) mistake Tolkien's profoundly Christian motive. In place of the heroes Siegfried and Beowulf, the exemplars of German and Anglo-Saxon pagan myth, we have the accursed warrior Turin, whose pride of blood and loyalty to tribe leave him vulnerable to manipulation by the forces of evil.

Tolkien's popular Ring trilogy ... sought to undermine and supplant Richard Wagner's operatic Ring cycle, which had offered so much inspiration for Nazism. [1] With the reconstruction of the young Tolkien's prehistory of Middle-earth, we discern a far broader purpose: to recast as tragedy the heroic myths of pre-Christian peoples, in which the tragic flaw is the pagan's tribal identity. Tolkien saw his generation decimated, and his circle of friends exterminated, by the nationalist compulsions of World War I; he saw the cult of Siegfried replace the cult of Christ during World War II. His life's work was to attack the pagan flaw at the foundation of the West.

That's just how it starts.

Farewell, George Utley.

Tom Poston, the beloved handyman of "Newhart," has passed away.

Man, I feel this. "Newhart" was one of the few shows that my family made a ritual when I was growing up, and he was fantastic in the role of the bumbling Mr. Fix-it in Newhart's quaint but turbulent New England inn.

Congratulations to Cory Edwards!

I met and talked with Cory Edwards back in 2006 when his animated feature Hoodwinked! was released. Edwards is a friend of a friend, and so I can't help but root for him as he enjoys new opportunities.

Yesterday, Edwards took a big step forward, signing a deal with 20th Century Fox to direct a movie based on a children's book by Adam Braff, which will be produced by Adam's brother... yes... Zach Braff.

It's called Andrew Henry's Meadow.

Congratulations, Cory!

My review of "Spider-man 3"

Here's my 3.5/4 - star review.

Steven D. Greydanus reviews "Spider-man 3."

Here's a review of Spider-Man 3 by my friend Steven D. Greydanus.

And apparently, since USA Today's review is live today, the studio has lifted the review embargo and declared Open Season on Spider-Man. So here comes the tidal wave of reviews.

I turned in my review to Christianity Today Movies on Sunday, and it should be posted soon.

The best of sci-fi movies, the worst of sci-fi movies: Philip K. Dick

What's your favorite Philip K. Dick big-screen adaptation?

Dick's stories have been the basis for Next, A Scanner Darkly, Paycheck, Minority Report, Total Recall, and Blade Runner. A lot of great moviegoing memories there... and a lot of bad ones.

For better or worse, the New York Post reports that the list is about to get a lot longer

Seeing as how Dick died in 1982, could there possibly be anything left to adapt? Well, yes, actually. The prolific author pounded out some 121 short stories and 44 novels, leaving a wealth of material for Ben Affleck to ruin.

Here are five more works that have been optioned and could show up in cineplexes soon...

Nicolosi on "The Lives of Others"

Barbara Nicolosi hasn't been blogging about movies very much lately, due to her world travels, but she did recently take the time to record her thoughts on The Lives of Others.

Philadelphia Inquirer political cartoon: More anti-Christian bigotry

Thanks to Mark Shea, who highlighted this home-run commentary about recent anti-Christian bigory in The Philadelphia Inquirer and elsewhere, written by Chuck Colson.

The Muppet Show, Season 2

Woo hoo!

The Muppet Show: Season 2 is "Coming Soon"!
Disney is reassuring fans that the second season of "The Muppet Show" is coming to DVD – and "soon". A trailer for the upcoming DVD release of "The Muppet Show Season Two" set is included on the "Dinosaurs: Complete Third and Fourth Seasons" DVD set (on sale Tuesday). Although an exact release date is given in the ad (nor any further information on the features), this is a great sign for Muppet fans and it shows that things are on track and the set will be coming our way soon. Earlier reports have hinted at a "late summer" release and, given this ad, that looks very likely to be true. I'll keep you updated as soon as I hear more on The Muppet Show season two and the DVD release details.

Christians in the Arts: an interview

Leanne Benfield Martin interviewed me last week, and today she has published the first part of that two-part interview.

Thanks, Leanne!

Looking Closer's Film Forum: "Jindabyne"

Jindabyne

Jindabyne is the best dramatic feature film I've seen in 2007 so far.

My review will be up at Christianity Today when it opens wider than the current limited release. But for those of you who have a chance to see it, make sure you do: It's riveting, complex, and deeply rewarding if you have the patience for it. I've been reading several reviews that get to the reasons for my enthusiasm. It's not as satisfying as Ray Lawrence's 2001 drama Lantana, but there is a great deal to consider and discuss here... not to mention Laura Linney's finest dramatic performance.

I'm especially taken by Kristi Mitsuda's interpretation: "Aside from obvious intimations about the differences between men and women (feminine emphasis on emoting, masculine prizing of pragmatism) wafting about the story at large, the film goes provocatively further. Jindabyne suggests that such casually cruel neglect as that displayed by the otherwise solid-seeming mates arises from a culture wherein a man calling a woman a 'bitch' is acceptable."

Kenneth Turan: "With the recovered body as the catalyst, what has been papered over explodes onto the surface with devastating results. Slowly, painfully, the different agendas of husbands and wives, men and women, white and Aboriginal communities vividly reveal themselves. It is here that Jindabyne's unhurried pacing and Lawrence's singular technique really pay off. We live on the fault line along with these characters, and it is an experience that is not easy to shake off."

Andrew O'Hehir says, "There are moments when the racial undercurrent of Jindabyne begins to gum up the narrative and overwhelm Lawrence's subtle, compassionate and even spiritual treatment of these people and this place. But I wish one-tenth of the films I saw were made with this much craft and integrity, this much intuitive understanding of where to put the camera, how much of the story to explain in words (not much) and how much to trust his outstanding cast to carry the film with their voices, faces and bodies."

And Ella Taylor writes, "Jindabyne moves slowly and deliberately, its dialogue as spare and lanky as Carver’s own pared-down prose. The austere beauty of the landscape, shot in natural light and heightened by a keening native score, offers both a lament for what’s been lost and a painfully halting hymn to the faint possibility of reconciliation and community."

Looking Closer's Film Forum: "Next"

Next

According to most critics, Next will make you roll your eyes and say, "Next...."

Peter T. Chattaway (CT Movies) sums it up: "... suffice to say that there are a few major plot holes, and while some moviegoers will want to come out of the theatre talking about some of the really cool concepts the film explores—like the relationship between memory and experience and objective reality—others will come out of the theater wanting to rip the movie apart. And the film will have given them ample opportunity to do so."

Manohla Dargis (NY Times) says, "It’s too bad that Mr. Cage couldn’t tap into those same powers of divination to save himself from making yet another inexplicably bad choice in roles. Once one of the more enthralling actors in Hollywood (Leaving Las Vegas), Mr. Cage these days seems all too content to waste his and the audience’s time in tacky genre throwaways, not that “The Wicker Man” or at least the hilarious highlights reel of same that eventually made it onto YouTube didn’t provide some serious yuks."

But Harry Forbes at CNS says, "... if one surrenders to the premise, the likable leads, stylish production design, special effects and cinematography reward viewing, and unlike most Hollywood product of this genre, there's relatively little objectionable content...."

Looking Closer's Film Forum: "Fracture"

Fracture

Ryan Gosling. Anthony Hopkins. You would think those would be two great reasons to run out and see Fracture. And yet, the current reviews have discouraged me from rushing out to see it.

See for yourself...

In The National Review, Peter Suderman says it's "another plodding exercise in legal proceedings and implausibly mangled plotlines. Primal Fear and Fallen were at least diverting, but this time around, Hoblit and his writers didn’t even have the decency to learn why the genre works the way it does. They’ve simply stuffed their film with familiar scenes: the one where the hero gets frustrated and throws something on his desk, the one where the hero’s work causes trouble in his love life, the one where the creepy killer coyly teases the hero with clues; and countless others you’ve no doubt seen since you were old enough to stay up and watch L.A. Law. One of Hopkins’s pointless tics is that he builds large, needlessly complex contraptions that move steel balls around in circles. When one of the characters asks another what, exactly, it is, he gets this hapless reply: “It’s… a machine. It does… stuff.” This seems to be a fairly accurate representation of the writers’ approach to the screenplay."

Greg Wright (Past the Popcorn) isn't terribly impressed either. "Based on the audience reaction at the screening I attended, I’d say that Hoblit not only accomplished exactly what he wanted with Fracture—I’d also say that audiences will probably find just what they need here, too. Still, I found Fracture, entertaining though it may be, just a little too smart in the pants for its own good."

At CT Movies, Todd Hertz writes, "What fuels the movie is that it's crafted well, and not just the acting. The directing, musical score and cinematography are top notch, making Fracture a thinking thriller where the thrills are supplied largely by scenes of talking. Still, some will be bored by this; while the beginning simmers and the ending triumphantly trots across the finish line, the middle drags because the screenplay loses its story focus."

Cate Blanchett is Elizabeth once again!

Here's the trailer for The Golden Age, the sequel to Elizabeth.

Darren Aronofsky's Bible project revealed: What is it with arks this week?

What is going on?

I just posted a story about a guy who built an ark, and now I'm reading that Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain) is building one too!

Aronofsky and Noah go way back. When the writer-director was 13, he won a United Nations competition at his school in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn; it was for his first poem, a little effort about the end of the world as seen through Noah's eyes. "That story has interested me ever since," he says, squinting through his yellow-tinted shades and pulling a striped woolly hat on to his head. We are on the decking in front of his hotel, with the snow-dusted mountains spread out before us. Henry, Aronofsky and Weisz's 10-month-old son has just been whisked off on a sightseeing trip with his nanny, and all is tranquil.

The script, Aronofsky tells me, is no conventional biblical epic. "Noah was the first person to plant vineyards and drink wine and get drunk," he says admiringly. "It's there in the Bible - it was one of the first things he did when he reached land. There was some real survivor's guilt going on there. He's a dark, complicated character."

Somewhere, promoters for "Evan Almighty" are smiling.

It's a perfect way to build the buzz. All it needs is a red carpet, a glitzy premiere, and Steve Carrell...

Seattle: Now's your chance to see "Amazing Grace" for three bucks!

Hey, Seattle... Amazing Grace is at the Crest, and you can enjoy it for only three bucks! Take your family!

THIS EVENING: 5 p.m. at Harvest Logos Bookstore in Seattle

Today, I'll be talking about some of my favorite films, and some of my favorite conversations with filmmakers, and how they've influenced and changed my life and affirmed my faith.

Join me at Seattle's Harvest Logos Bookstore at 5 p.m.

I'll be answering questions and signing copies of Through a Screen Darkly too.

I hope I'll see you there!

Over the Rhine's "Failed Christian" and great songs of doubt

I've heard a few grumblings and some speculation about a song called "Failed Christian" on the new Over the Rhine collection Live from Nowhere, Vol. 2.

Seems to me that whenever an artist sings about struggle or doubt, many Christian listeners get nervous that this means the singer has "lost his/her salvation" or something like that.

Frankly, I admire songwriters who are willing to share their moments of stumble, of trouble, of question, of failure as well as their moments of transcendence and gratitude and glory and faith. Many of the songs that mean the most to me are songs about those struggles. Sam Phillips' "Answers Don't Come Easy" and "Reflecting Light," U2's "Wake Up Dead Man" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," R.E.M.'s "New Test Leper."

But let me point out that Over the Rhine have posted a few comments on their website about the song's inclusion:

Jack Henderson first played this song for us. It appears on the Nick Lowe record called, Dig My Mood. That’s a great record by the way, well worth owning. Failed Christian was written by someone we know nothing about: Henry McCullough. Our prayer has always been that our music will encourage real conversation, and if this song doesn’t get some conversation going, I’m not sure what will.

We’ve met a lot of people that would identify to some degree with the character in this song, and it seems they very seldom have a platform to express the way they feel. We hope our music gives people a voice who may otherwise feel like no one’s listening.

We were leaning toward not including the song on the record, and then on Ash Wednesday, Juicy stopped by the farm and we played it, and we all immediately realized that we had to include it. Juicy said, Think of all the times in the Psalms when David felt like a failure. It’s confession. It’s real.

Karin likes to refer to the drums at the end as, The Cleansing Loop.

Do you have a favorite "doubter's song"?

The Big Lubezki to shoot the Coen Brothers!

No, I don't mean he's going to shoot the Coen Brothers. Come on. What's wrong with you?

No, Emmanuel Lubezki, the man responsible for the two most amazing feats of cinematography in recent years (Children of Men and The New World) will be the cinematographer for the Coen Brothers' Burn After Reading.

Wow. A Coen Brothers' film without their regular DP-genius, Roger Deakins. That will be interesting indeed.

"Stardust" buzz is building.

I've wondered for almost twenty years why The Princess Bride didn't inspire a new vein of whimsical, romantic fantasy films. There's a magic to Rob Reiner's classic fairy tale that hasn't been equalled.

But when I first started hearing about the big screen adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Stardust... I don't know, I just felt this spark, this sense that Stardust could be the one, the next great romantic fantasy film. Maybe that's because it brings Michelle Pfeiffer back to fantasy (Ladyhawke remains one of my favorite fantasy movies... heck, one of my favorite movies, period!) I don't know. I just sense it...

So, when Christianity Today's film critics sent in their requests for what titles we'd like to review in the coming season, I took a gamble and put Stardust at the very top of my list.

The buzz is building now, thanks to Harry Knowles' early rave, and so far, my gamble looks like it might have been a good one.

"Hidden Secrets" - Greg Wright is pleasantly surprised

At Past the Popcorn, Greg Wright reflects on viewing Hidden Secrets.

Hmmm. "Hidden" Secrets. As opposed to... out-in-the-open secrets?

Maria McKee - she's still got it

I've listened to Maria McKee's Late December three times through now, and I love it.

It's the most exciting thing she's released since Life is Sweet, and a fantastic fusion of the various styles she's explored in her last four solo albums. I'm hearing the usual influence of Patsy Cline and Janis Joplin, but also flourishes of Queen, Rush, and Neil Young, with moments that recall the best of Lone Justice. "Destine" is one of her most memorable vocal performances on record, a hurricane of a performance.

Not sure what to make of the lyrics yet, except that they continue in her autobiographical style, showing her ongoing struggle to come to terms with the rollercoaster ride of her career. She's still wrestling, struggling to reconcile the intensity of her hopes and dreams with the hardships and disappointments. But the trouble has made her all the more passionate, and gives her material a searing honesty and urgency.

You've got to hear it.

"Got the bloggers watchin' over her, every move she makes..."

This is a picture of me, opening my eighth-grade graduation present... and I couldn't have been happier about it.

If I ever described how much I revered the music of Amy Grant when I was a teenager, I would never be able to endure the torments that would ensue here.

But Amy played a big part in helping me realize that music didn't have to be about Jesus to be good music. I owe her thanks for following her desire to sing love songs. And I can remember the Unguarded tour as if it was yesterday. That was my first rock concert. (Well, I guess "pop" is more accurate.) Soon after that, Leslie Phillips stole my heart. But I still have a certain nostalgic fondness for Amy, in spite of the fact that she became the Target poster girl and sang "Baby, Baby."

Anyway, it is rather big news in the Amy Grant story that she is, at last, leaving Word Records.

Thanks to Christian Hamaker for the link. And to Amy, for the memories.

Many thanks to the Chesterton Society

I had a marvelous time discussing the power of cinema with those who attended the Chesterton Society's Seattle gathering last night in the Falcon Lounge at Seattle Pacific.

Thanks to Kirk Kanzelberger for the invitation and the warm welcome, to Mark Shea for the generous introduction, and to the directors (Peter D. Beaulieu, Ph.D.; James R. Felak, Ph.D.;
Tomás A. Gahan, J.D.; Brian R. Glenney; Timothy J. Simunds, Treasurer; and Andrew A. Tadie, Ph.D.) for making these gatherings possible. And for taking me out to a memorable dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant.

As I could learn so much from most of the people there, I felt a bit intimidated at the podium. But the attendees were enthusiastic, and I really enjoyed their questions and company.

Thanks also to Michael Adeney for managing the book table and distributing copies of Through a Screen Darkly. (I'll be speaking at Michael's wonderful bookstore, Harvest Logos Bookstore, tomorrow night at 5 p.m.)

Brett McCracken on "Into Great Silence"

I had the privilege of meeting Brett McCracken in L.A. last weekend, and he told me he had decided to write something about Into Great Silence. As a fan, I was excited.

And here it is, as promised, just as rich as I anticipated.

Jeffrey Wells on "Stephanie Daley" ... which is now on my Must-See List.

Jeffrey Wells on the new film starring Amber "Joan of Arcadia" Tamblyn:

Sounds like an intriguing movie.

And that has nothing to do with this statement, which is startling primarily because it's coming from Jeffrey Wells:

"The right-to-lifers are going to get hold of this film when it comes out on DVD and show it to high-school kids. It plays right into their view of things, and honestly? I found myself acknowledging as I watched it that the right-to-lifers have a point."

"Dark Matter," bad timing

Newsday on a new film starring Aidan Quinn and Meryl Streep that may be too timely to find distribution.

One of the most jolting moments at this year's Sundance Film Festival came in the closing sequence of a movie called "Dark Matter": A disaffected Asian college student abruptly snaps and goes on a bloody rampage, killing professors, classmates and, finally, himself. The audience was plainly shocked, and some critics attacked the finale as a jarring gimmick that, narratively, came out of nowhere.

"Dark Matter" now, of course, would take on a different context to anyone who sees it following the Virginia Tech shootings on Monday that left 33 people dead, among them Seung-hui Cho, the gunman who took his own life and shares much in common with the character at the center of "Dark Matter."

Reminder: I'm speaking tonight, and Saturday

Tonight, I'm giving a presentation called "God vs. the Filmmaker" at Seattle's Chesterton Society.

Saturday, I'll be speaking at Harvest Logos Bookstore, 5 p.m.

Christians as a "Niche Market"? (Or... what I learned at the Biola Media Conference)

My overview of the volatile conversations and debates at the Biola Conference is now published at Christianity Today Movies.

As Hollywood continues to catch the "faith wave" by making and marketing more movies to Christians, some of the industry's major players gathered at a conference in Los Angeles last weekend to discuss the pros and cons of the relatively new trend.

While some are excited about the potential of these efforts, some are also frustrated about the "bad art" that has already spun out of these initiatives—including Dean Batali, a writer who served as executive producer on That 70s Show for six years.

"I'm quite angry at God, actually," Batali told CT Movies. "I'm angry that he has blessed bad art—even certain Christian films that have been seen by a lot of people. It makes me angry as an artist, because they're bad. Just because people go see it, that doesn't make it good."

When asked if it's inappropriate to complain about the quality of films that present the gospel, Batali answered, "This is my frustration: The gospel written on toilet paper still saves lives. There's power in the gospel."

But he wants Christians to strive for excellence, rather than settling for sentimental entertainment: "I want to see movies about people who don't get pregnant and don't win the state championship … and who go ahead and praise God anyway"—an apparent reference to Facing the Giants, where everything goes right for the protagonist (wife gets pregnant, team wins it all) once he gets right with God.

We interviewed Batali and others at the 12th annual Biola Media Conference, which features Christian leaders in the entertainment industry, forward-thinking and creative folks who give seminars and put their heads together to ask questions like, "What's working? What isn't? What next?"

That's just the beginning.

"Drive" crashes. Already.

You see? Just because you have the great Nathan Fillion doesn't mean your show will soar. You need Nathan Fillion... don't get me wrong, he's a great lead. But you also need good writing.

Drive felt like a 21-car pileup of storylines and ideas from other shows. I won't miss it.

A strange request... for you.

I need your help.

This is my chance to make Through a Screen Darkly even better.

I talk about so many films in my book that it was almost inevitable that I'd trip over a detail or two. Or three. (Example: I credited Gosford Park to Paul Thomas Anderson in the list at the back... which was a momentary lapse of sanity. Everybody knows that, while Anderson helped Robert Altman direct A Prairie Home Companion, Altman directed Gosford Park all by himself.)

So I am preparing to send a short list of quick-fixes to my publisher for the second printing, which I hope we'll reach sometime soon.

And that's why I'm asking. Have you noticed anything that needs correction, or is there a line that made you flinch?

If so... send me an email right away! joverstreet (at) gmail [dot] com.

Thanks!

Terry Gilliam today.

Terry Gilliam considers the state of his career, the critical rejection of Tideland, his continuing hopes to bring Don Quixote to the screen, and his next project.

Adam Walter has Whit Stillman news!

The director of The Last Days of Disco and Metropolitan has a new project at last... by the writer of Thank You for Smoking. Adam Walter has the scoop.

Bono and more special guests to appear on American Idol tonight!

Just found out that Bono will be appearing on a special American Idol tonight!

I might actually have to watch the show for the very first time.

Here's the update from the One campaign:

Tonight and tomorrow, one in ten Americans will sit down in their living rooms and tune-in to American Idol for a special episode called "Idol Gives Back."

We are excited to announce that Bono will be making an appearance Wednesday night on behalf of ONE urging the millions of Americans watching the show to join us in the fight against extreme poverty. Bono will meet with the Idol contestants to talk with them about ONE and the difference your advocacy is making in the lives of the world's poorest people. The Idol contestants will also perform "American Prayer," a song written by Bono and Dave Stewart about the AIDS emergency in Africa.

We need your help to make sure your friends and family are watching. Spread the word about tonight and tomorrow's shows! This is a great way to introduce friends and family to ONE. Invite them to join you in the fight against extreme poverty.

Forward this e-mail to friends and family and ask them to join today by visiting: www.ONE.org

Wednesday night's show will be a two-hour special hosted by Ellen and featuring appearances by Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, Earth, Wind & Fire, Il Divo, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Josh Groban with the African Children's Choir, Jack Black, Helen Mirren, Rascal Flatts, Quincy Jones, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox and many more.

We are excited about what the next two days could mean for the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. Because of your continued support and involvement, extreme poverty is getting the national attention it so badly needs. When millions of people come together as ONE voice, anything is possible.

Thank you for your energy and dedication,

Susan McCue, ONE.org

Specials: Harry Potter's new trailer. "Once." Patti Smith sings Tears for Fears. And new Maria McKee!

"It's sort of exciting, isn't it? Breaking the rules."
And so it appears that the primary lesson of the Harry Potter stories remains the same. Still, because of the participation of Staunton, Bonham-Carter, Fiennes, and Oldman, I'll be going to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It's the most interesting trailer of the series so far.

"A musical that isn't a musical."
The trailer for Once.

Patti Smith singing "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"?
Yes, it's just one of many new covers on Patti Smith's Twelve.

Late December, from Maria McKee
Whoa! This one crept up on me. A new Maria McKee album! Here's the AllMusicGuide review.

Specials: Gilliam, Gorillaz, Wilco

Pegg, Frost, Broadbent, and a Lot of Laughs
Opus reviews Hot Fuzz.

...just as Shaun Of The Dead was obviously the work of folks who knew and loved zombie horror films, Hot Fuzz is the work of folks who obviously know and love action movies.

...

Consider it the filmic equivalent of a bacon double cheeseburger with a big side of greasy fries. It doesn’t necessarily attempt to subvert or deconstruct the action genre (though there are scenes that could possibly count as such). Rather, it attempts to simply relish in the genre, to tease out and enjoy every single one of its ludicrous aspects. To that end, it’s a wild success—and the fact that it also features some of the most memorable characters, some of the best dialog, and some of the funniest moments of any movie so far this year is just an added bonus.

By the way, I had a great time with Hot Fuzz. Here's my little hint... WATCH FOR THE YEAR'S MOST BRILLIANT CAMEO. It's my favorite thing in the whole film, but it's such so subtle it will fly right past 99% of the audience. If you're not looking, and listening, very closely, you'll miss it.

Gilliam and the Gorillaz?
Starpulse has a report that those zany Gorillaz will break up after they participate in an upcoming Terry Gilliam film project.

Wilco's simpler sound, Tweedy's better days
Is the folkier, simpler sound of Sky Blue Sky related to Tweedy's freedom from painkiller addiction? Whatever the case... I CAN'T WAIT to hear it.

I'll be at Chesterton on Thursday, Harvest Logos Books on Saturday.

This week, I have two more Seattle appearances to talk about Through a Screen Darkly.

I'll be at the Seattle gathering of the Chesterton Society on Thursday to give a presentation and sign books. You'll find a description of my presentation, and the location of the Society, on their website.

Then, on Saturday, I'll be speaking and signing books at Harvest Logos Bookstore at 5 p.m.

I hope to see some of you there!

God told JOHN to "Eat This Book."

I know, I know.

It was bound to happen. In the same issue of Response that includes my article about Biblical literacy, I flubbed a detail in a story I know very well. In my zeal to review Eugene Peterson's Eat This Book, I said it was the Apostle Paul to whom the angel said those three words... not John. But I know the story, I love it, and I've read Peterson's account of it many times.

So, thanks to the several Biblically literate Response readers who wrote in with the correction. Thanks for catching my clumsy error.

Ten highlights of my visit to the Biola Media Conference

This weekend at the Biola Media Conference, I had a great deal of fun, and a lot of challenging conversations. I will be writing quite a few thank-you notes.

Let me tell you just a few of the highlights:

- Waking up in the hotel room, watching the world slowly come into focus, and seeing a black widow spider hanging almost within reach. It moved under a table, where it had a web already built. I called the hotel front desk and said, "I have a lot of experience killing big poisonous spiders, thanks to the infestation of hobo spiders in my basement at home. But still... you might want to come see this." Let me tell you... if you want a more powerful wakeup than caffeine, try a black widow spider in the morning.

Remember when I blogged about a snake in my room at the last conference I attended? If the assassin who is trying to kill me is reading this... just take the easy way, pal. No more of this sneaky predator-in-the-room stuff.

- Meeting a few folks from Regal Books, especially Alex Field and Amy Sprigg, who have worked so hard with me on spreading the news about the book. It's great to put faces with names, and they have great faces. And names. And personalities.

- Meeting Brett McCracken, one of my favorite film critics. The guy's just seen The Double Life of Veronique for the first time, and I do hope he writes about it.

- Another good chat with producer Ralph Winter about recent developments in "faith-based" filmmaking, and his upcoming project... which is quite an intriguing project.

- Presenting the main ideas in Through a Screen Darkly to a captive, attentive, but small audience. (I was unfortunately scheduled at the same time as Ralph Winter, who was one of the main attractions of the weekend. I mean really, if you were trying to work your way into the