Explorations: Religion

OK, good comments first. The voice acting was great—no, awesome. The animation was impressive.

Even though the "songs" were actually fun for a musical, they were better left out. And, for the most part, it does seem faithful to the book. Howevah, the film was a sour experience for me because of the bratty, unavoidably bad performance of Dakota Fanning (whom I have liked before).

Her character's insolence ended up one of the main themes of the story: if you're a jerk to your parents about saving an animal who just happens to end up winning universal acclaim, they should apologize to you. Needless to say, I don't think my kids will be watching this one. 2 3/4 stars.

(**)

This movie is such a heartfelt exploration of women's lives, it's hard to believe it was written by a man. Based on a true story about a lovely girl who struggles with diabetes — and crazy townspeople — in a Southern town, this one will require a box of tissues for most any female viewer. Hilarious in parts, with great acting from Sally Field, Julia Roberts and (surprise!

) Dolly Parton. 3 1/4 stars. (***)

Idealistic teacher takes on troubled high schoolers.

No, it's not Dangerous Minds. This one has a true story, a much better actress (Hilary Swank), even better music, and more realism. Sure, it's still cheesy here and there, but for the most part, Hilary captures the naivete of her main character, and we still get a thought-provoking lesson on the difficulties of inner-city minority life.

And that's worth it. 3 1/4 stars. (***)

Though this started out as an over-the-top British comedy (think: a marriage of Guy Ritchie and a spoof), its second half quickly turned into the most bizarre experience I've ever had in the theatre.

The plot: a London cop is so good that he's putting the police force to shame. So they move him to the countryside, where he begins to smell trouble. Hilarious, yes.

Wild, yes. POE, oh yes. Not for the faint of 'art.

3 stars. (***)

One of the most brilliant films made by the ingenious Jean-Pierre Jeunet (who also directed The City of Lost Children and who's helming next year's adaptation of Life of Pi). It's the story of a curious girl who becomes a curious young woman, bent on affecting others' lives — for good or for mischief.

One of the most luscious, whimsical, imaginative, fun-loving movies ever made. 4 stars — at least. (****)

Bunuel is one of the most acclaimed directors of all time—and one of the strangest.

I remember seeing bits of this film on Schaeffer's How Shall We Then Live movie, but I don't think he realized that Bunuel was agreeing with him about the human condition. On the surface, it's a fairly shocking premise: a mild-mannered housewife becomes intrigued by her discovery that a friend from her circles has become a prostitute. Through negative example, this POE film reaffirms both marriage and morality through a captivating, sometimes dreamlike tale.

3 1/2 stars. (***)

You could call this lovely realist masterpiece by Vittorio de Sica a kind of artsy Harry Tonto. An aging man, barely scraping by on his pension, faces being thrown out when he gets too far behind on his rent.

The one thing that keeps him going is the love of his scruffy mutt, Flike. Beautifully restored, and genuinely moving, especially in the film's final scenes. 4 stars.

(****)

This Grand Jury Prize winner of the 2002 Sundance festival comes to us from writer-director Rebecca Miller (yes, her pops is Arthur; and now her husband is Daniel Day-Lewis). Three women, three stories, no resolutions. But despite the low-grade image quality, the unpolished stories, and many no-name actors, this film has an engaging, real quality to it.

I was reminded in a way of Paul Auster. Worth it? Ah, probably not.

3 stars. (***)

Keane, the recent British trio sensation, has been called "Coldplay with pianos" (since they are piano-based instead of guitar-based). I've only heard a few songs of their first album, and this second one took me a week or so to get into it, but it's now one of my favorites on rotation.

Wonderful, wonderful alternative sound, brilliant/mature lyrics, and catchy hooks. My faves: "Hamburg Song," "The Frog Prince," "Leaving So Soon," "Atlantic," ..

. aw heck, I love all of em! (****)

A great, great album by Joni Mitchell, that wonderful singer-songwriter with the smoky voice.

She decided in this album to make a song cycle that traces the progress of a relationship. And her arranger evidently decided to take orchestration lessons from John Williams and then do him one better. Astonishingly beautiful.

(****)

Some brilliant stuff is happening in this album, the solo effort of Frou Frou's lead singer (you've heard them if you watched Garden State). To be honest, I've only listened to the 30-second snatches of songs on itunes, and downloaded "Hide and Seek," which seemed to be the best one. But I've been enjoying the snatches!

3 1/2 stars (***)

A beautiful CD, a brilliant failure, and evidence of a talented singer-songwriter. This is the guy you thought was Dave Matthews when he sang, "I'm fif-teen years for a moment." There are some great songs here, and then there are some other songs, too.

My favorite: "If God Made You," half love song, half doxology. (***)

Billie Holliday is a wonderful singer. I was a little surprised to read in the liner notes, "though she was not blessed with a magnificent instrument.

..", which I suppose is one way of describing her charcoal voice.

But she makes you feel comfortable, and I always thought she was earlier in the twentieth century as a result of her sound. Holliday was the most significant influence on Frank Sinatra, and she's at her best when she's singing the slow ballads (like "God Bless the Child" and "The Man I Love"). But there are some songs that are really not worthy to be on a "best" collection, and many reviewers were upset that the disc didn't include her standard "Strange Fruit.

" (***)

A dreamlike myth, for children of all ages. A singer of tales falls into danger when the kingdom is overtaken by the Usurper and the land becomes overrun with Tookesheims. Who will save them?

Perhaps the princess? (***)

OK, probably the most briliant, loveliest, most powerful novel I've read in a long, long time. This is Foer's second novel, after Everything is Illuminated.

I must confess, after I read a naysaying review of Foer's books, I hesitated to read his work. Foolish, foolish. (****)

One of Piper's newest, this 200-pager ends up as a sort of compilation of most of his previous ideas (future grace, desiring God, and so on).

I thought the opening chapters (his spiritual upbringing) and the last chapter (Making Most of Christ from 9-5) were the best. (***)

A gripping book that tracks the journey of Lewis's heart and soul after the death of his wife. Bitter at times, brilliantly blessed at others.

A short read, but one of the better things that Lewis wrote, in my opinion. (****)

Buechner is probably my favorite Believing writer (fiction or non-fiction). got an pre-press copy of the book for me, probably at one of those book conferences he goes to.

Thanks! This is a collection of some of his more famous "sermons" from over the course of his lifetime. "The Magnificent Defeat," his talk on Jacob's wrestling with God is, I was surprised to learn, one of his earliest sermons, from soon after he finished graduate school.

I am just getting into the first third of the book, but I am confident this will be one of my favorites that I will turn to again and again. (****)
Newsweek just came out with an on the 87-year-old Billy Graham. In it, he regrets many of the actions of his past (anti-Semitic remarks with Nixon; his significant political involvement; and the fact that he never attended seminary) while reaffirming his central beliefs in Christ as the way of salvation, humility as the way of life, and his sense of God's mystery that keeps him from virtually any absolute religious statement.

I found this article fascinating, and would love to hear your comments.

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