movies
Film clip of the day
Gene Hackman, RIP
Chimes of freedom: On ‘A Complete Unknown’
For good storytelling, and good storytelling about storytelling, go see A Complete Unknown.
‘Don’t Look Up’: Three years later
Some of you may remember Adam McKay’s movie Don’t Look Up. Wikipedia describes it an “apocalyptic political satire black comedy.” The film starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry, TimothĂ©e Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Cate Blanchett, and Meryl […]
Some of our favorite things I: Current writers and editors reflect on 2024
These are a few of our favorite things from 2024.
Other (other) Christmas movies
There are many more great Christmas movies, if you just think outside the box.
Historical stories I’d like to see as films
Hollywood needs more history.
The Author’s Corner with Steven Watts
Steven Watts is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Missouri. This interview is based on his new book, Citizen Cowboy: Will Rogers and the American People (Cambridge University Press, 2024). JF: What led you to write Citizen Cowboy? […]
Movie clip of the day
Final scenes of Godfather 2:
The triple play in The Odd Couple
A 13-year-old Howie Rose, the longtime New York Mets radio broadcaster, was at Shea Stadium in 1967 for the filming of a scene from The Odd Couple. Here’s the scene: On last night’s broadcast, Rose said they filmed the scene […]
Jeremy Allen White will play Springsteen in a film about Nebraska
Here is The Guardian: Jeremy Allen White looks set to swap his white t-shirt for a vest later this year, when he takes on the role of Bruce Springsteen for a new biopic, once shooting is completed on the fourth […]
My Christianity Today review of Rob Reiner’s new film on Christian nationalism
Reiner’s “God and Country” drops today. Christianity Today asked me to review it. Here is a taste of my review: Heave an egg out a Pullman window,” social critic H. L. Mencken famously said in 1925, “and you will hit […]
The trouble with biopics
The trouble with biopics is, they’re just not very good.
“What should we make of evangelical influencers teaming up with filmmaker Rob Reiner?” My piece today at Religion News Service
Is this the best way of reaching fellow Christians whose minds we want to change? See my piece today at Religion News Service. A taste: So when do we speak “truth” and when do we hold back, knowing that our […]
Rob Reiner will release a film about Christian nationalism. It includes A LOT of evangelical talking heads and “influencers”
Hannah Anderson raises a fair question here: You can read Anderson’s thoughts on X. As someone who speaks to the media often, this is something I really wrestle with and will continue to wrestle with. I have been accused many, […]
The Author’s Corner with Aimee Loiselle
Aimee Loiselle is Assistant Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University. This interview is based on her new book, Beyond Norma Rae: How Puerto Rican and Southern White Women Fought for a Place in the American Working Class (University […]
Healing stories
There’s an episode of Northern Exposure, when Leonard the shaman comes to town to gather some stories. In his own practice, he often uses “healing stories,” so he wants to know what kinds of stories are in use in Western […]
Who auditioned for A League of Their Own?
A League of Their Own is one of my favorite baseball movies. I’ve watched it dozens of time–mostly with my daughters. “Marla Hooch–what a hitter!”: If I get some free time I want to read Erin Carlson’s NO CRYING IN […]
When Batman fought Hitler
If my social media feeds are correct, a new Batman movie is out. But did you know that “before the Riddler, Batman’s archenemy was Hitler?” Here is Samantha Baskind at Smithsonian Magazine: With Covid restrictions subsiding, millions are certain to […]