M. Leary

How To Make a Movie About Paul

Peter Chattaway is, as always, right on top of the announcement that there is a film about Paul in the works, with Hugh Jackman in the lead. Given the famous anecdote in the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla which describes him as short, bald, bow-legged, and unibrowed, I have always pictured Paul more as Wallace Shawn than the strapping […]

M. Leary

The Americans, Religion, and TV

In a recent review of the excellent FX cold war era spy thriller, The Americans, an Atlantic writer asked: “Do any Christians watch this show? I’d be curious to learn whether they think the show has become too offensive toward religion for its own good.” Yes, Christians do watch this show. I haven’t written much […]

M. Leary

Filmwell Recommends – Streaming in March

Here are some things to keep in mind after you finish up Season 3 of House of Cards… All of these are available for streaming in March.   Movies: A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (iTunes – March 20) Angriest Man in Brooklyn (Netflix) Chef (Netflix) Song of the Sea (iTunes) Paisan (Fandor, March […]

M. Leary

Hard To Be A God (German, 2014)

I have only had the opportunity to see a few of Aleksei German’s films. But watching either Khrustalyov, My Car! or Hard to Be a God is like seeing 8 1/2 or 2001 or The Mirror for the first time. You know that what you are seeing is going to change the way you watch […]

M. Leary

The Horrible Theology of Hannibal

There are a few basic differences between the novels by Thomas Harris and Hannibal, their NBC TV series adaptation. The most intriguing of these is that the Hannibal of the ongoing TV series has a tendency to speak theologically about his hobby horses, which include cannibalism, serial killing, and the presence of God. While most […]

James K. A. Smith

A Farewell with Thanks

Over the years the churchandpomo blog has hosted some lively conversations in a space between the academy and the church, between theory and practice. While a couple of important books—by Christian Scharen and Norman Wirzba—will still appear in the series, time has come to wind down the blog. I am grateful for those who have […]

M. Leary

Filmwell Recommends – Streaming in February

  If you are looking to plan your media diet for February, here are some recommended titles available in VOD or streaming formats.   Film As It Is In Heaven (Website/iTunes – Our review.) Boyhood (Amazon Instant) Chef (Netflix) Dear White People (Amazon Instant) Hot Pursuit (Netflix) Joe (Netflix) Love is Strange (Amazon Instant) Mood Indigo (Amazon […]

M. Leary

As It Is In Heaven (Overbay, 2014)

As It Is In Heaven is a hushed film; a quiet film in the way of Gitai’s Kadosh or Reygadas’ Silent Light when these films are focused on the ritual lives of their respective communities. Such films remind us that we watch cinema simply because it can do something the other arts cannot. It allows us to […]

Nicholas Olson

The Babadook (Kent, 2014)

Amelia is having a nightmare, and first time director Jennifer Kent begins her psychological horror film, The Babadook, by placing the viewer in the middle of it. The film’s first shot is a close-up of Amelia breathing in a distressed rhythm, as if in labor. A few seconds later, a shrill scream accompanies breaking glass […]