In 2015, I published a Top 10 of the 2010s So Far. While my top 2 films haven't changed—they're my two all-time favorite films—the past decade has given us a smorgasbord of cinematic treasures. This list began as a top 10, then expanded to a top 20, then a top 25, then a top … [Read more...] about Top 67 Films of the Decade (2010s)
I Love You, But You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About: On ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ and Adolescence
Think back to when you were 12 years old, likely the age you were in the sixth grade. It might help to pull out an old photo album or yearbook to see what you looked like then, drawing you back into the memories of your past self. What were your relationships like with your … [Read more...] about I Love You, But You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About: On ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ and Adolescence
Bright Wall / Dark Room – Religious Cinema for Non-Believers: Martin Scorsese’s ‘Silence’
For Bright Wall / Dark Room's Issue 70, "Going Long," I wrote about Martin Scorsese's 2016 masterpiece of religious cinema, Silence. The long-form essay was also chosen to be published at RogerEbert.com. Here's an excerpt: In the beginning, there is only darkness. Crickets … [Read more...] about Bright Wall / Dark Room – Religious Cinema for Non-Believers: Martin Scorsese’s ‘Silence’
A Film Critic Pastor-Theologian On The 2019 Oscars
I wrote a blog post for Portland Seminary (I'm an alumnus, 2017 MATS grad) on being both a film critic and a pastor-theologian, as well as my predictions and recommendations for the 2019 Oscars. People often ask me if being a film critic doing a PhD on cinema and theology … [Read more...] about A Film Critic Pastor-Theologian On The 2019 Oscars
The 2019 Cinemayward Oscars
The Oscar nominees for 2019 will be announced today, which prompts this confession: I have a love/hate relationship with film awards. On the one hand, art shouldn't be a popularity contest or a game to win; on the other hand, I *love* cinema, so anything highlighting film … [Read more...] about The 2019 Cinemayward Oscars