Cinema Faith: Recent Episodes
Cinema Faith
The days of counting swear words are over. Welcome to a fresh voice in film and faith. Join Cinema Faith founder Jonathan Butrin and cinephile Tim Nelson as they discuss film through a Christian lens.
Steven Spielberg is one of the best filmmakers of all time. Jaws, E.T. Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, and Saving Private Ryan are bona fide classics. But it's...
When Kane Parsons was a teenager he posted videos to YouTube. A few years later he became the youngest director in A24 history. Welcome to the revolution taking Hollywood...
Sam Raimi is best known for the Evil Dead franchise which established his signature dance between horror and comedy. Send Help is a welcome return to those roots. It's a thrill ride...
Christopher Miller and Phil Lord are best known for The Lego Movie. But they're also known for something more: making movies that appeal to everyone. That's a hard task, but...
The Oscars were on March 15 which means another year of film is officially over. Before moving on, Jon and Tim take a look back at all the highlights...
The Oscar nominations are out and Sentimental Value is up for nine of them. That's the most nominations ever for a Norwegian film, and the honors are richly deserved. It's...
I've always hated Shakespeare with a passion. Why watch a play if you can't understand what the characters are saying? Hamnet changed that for good. Not only is the movie...
There’s always a movie that flies under the radar only to end up being one of the best of the year. Sorry, Baby claims the title for 2025. The film...
Paul Thomas Anderson may be the best director working today. His career as a writer/director transcends genre and convention with unique stories and characters every time he steps behind...
Darren Aronofsky is best known as a writer/director of provocative films like Black Swan, Mother!, and Requiem for a Dream. Movies that are hard to watch and harder to forget. Caught Stealing is...
2020 was a pivotal moment in American history. We disappeared into our homes and came out a divided nation. That's the backdrop for Eddington. Ari Aster, the writer/director best...
In an age of superhero gluttony, do we need another Superman? Yes! In fact, Superman has exactly what the Marvel Universe has been lacking lately: fun. And James...
At the beginning of June, Jon drove up to visit Tim in Kansas City. They ate junk food, went kayaking, and watched a ton of movies — male friendship...
Oscar season is six months away, but we've already seen one of the best films of 2025. And believe it or not… it's a vampire movie. The difference is...
Welcome to our first podcast of the 2025 movie season! We're starting things off with a bang — a British spy thriller from genre master Steven Soderbergh. Kathryn (Cate...
Welcome to the season finale of the Cinema Faith podcast! 2024 was an incredible year for film and we're ending it by discussing a movie up for 10 Oscar...
Every time Sean Baker makes a movie, it feels like an event. His 2017 film The Florida Project landed on numerous top 10 lists and earned Willem Dafoe an Oscar nomination....
Conclave is what awards season is all about. A prestigious cast at the top of their game with an acclaimed director firing on all cylinders. Edward Berger's last film, All...
Joker was the surprise hit of 2019. Not only did it crush the box office, it was released to critical acclaim and 11 Oscar nominations. Needless to say, expectations were...
If you were told the director of The Godfather and Apocalypse Now has been working on a sci-fi epic for the last 40 years and invested $120 million of his own money...
Oscar season is months away, but we may have already seen the best movie of 2024. I Saw the TV Glow is a haunting tour de force from writer/director...
The marketing campaign for Longlegs was perfection. Glowing early reviews, a knockout trailer, and glimpses of Nicolas Cage in the title role as a demonic serial killer. The movie… was not....
Ah summer. The time for dumb, big-budget action movies that explode on a movie theater near you. Unless you're Richard Linklater. Linklater's Hit Man contains all the fun of the season...
June is the month where we break from the normal format of the Cinema Faith podcast and deliver something different. This year, Cinema Faith founder Jonathan Butrin talks directly...
Releasing Civil War in an election year could have been irresponsible, but Alex Garland knows better. The writer/director, best known for Ex Machina, has crafted a sober warning to America. Is anyone still listening?...
March is a wasteland for film — the place bad movies go to die after being rejected by the Academy and the box office. Every once in a while,...
Welcome to the last podcast of the 2023 movie season! And what a perfect show to end on. Yorgos Lanthimos doesn’t make movies for everyone. He’s an absurdist filmmaker who...
Now that the holidays are winding down, it’s time to turn our attention once again to Oscar season. May December may have December in the title, but it’s far from a...
Four years after The Irishman, Martin Scorsese is back in the director’s chair. But this time, he leaves behind the familiar world of the Mob to explore a different kind of...
Remember your first cell phone? For some it was a BlackBerry, the do-it-all device with a physical keyboard that took the business world by storm. Today no one owns a...
We weren’t able to record a Cinema Faith podcast for September, but fear not! We’ll be back next month with a movie that was released to critical acclaim in 2023,...
Remember when Christopher Nolan made indies? We don't either. Gone are the days of Memento and Insomnia, movies buoyed to success by raw power and word-of-mouth. Now every film Nolan makes is...
On a hot summer night in June, Jon Butrin drove to Kansas City, MO to visit Tim Nelson for four days. They went swimming, ate barbecue, and watched Cocaine Bear....
Nine years ago Guardians of the Galaxy burst on the scene like a breath of fresh air. Just as Marvel was starting to become repetitive and stale, Gunn introduced a brand new...
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is the Top Gun: Maverick of 2023. A movie you go into expecting nothing and walk out from in movie heaven. How can a film based...
Damien Chazelle burst onto the scene with 2014's Whiplash, a perfect film and one of the most memorable theater experiences of all time. Two incredible movies followed: La La Land and First Man....
Steven Spielberg. The name associated with the biggest moments in movie history. From killer sharks to Oskar Schindler, Spielberg re-defined movie magic, touched our hearts, and brought out the child...
It’s November and that can only mean one thing: Oscar season is officially here! For the next three months, studios will be rolling out their best releases of 2022. Want...
Halloween is almost here which means it’s time for all things scary. To celebrate, we’re reviewing a horror movie released in June called The Black Phone. Or as we call...
In the world of animation, Toy Story changed everything. With that instant classic in 1995, Pixar ushered in a new era of family entertainment with stunning visuals and and rich themes...
In the world of animation, Toy Story changed everything. With that instant classic in 1995, Pixar ushered in a new era of family entertainment with stunning visuals and and rich themes...
Few names in Hollywood carry with them event status. Jordan Peele is one of them. Ever since the first trailer dropped in February, Nope was marked as the event of...
Tim couldn’t be with us this month, but fear not! We found a worthy replacement. After talking about him all year, Dan Baker is finally a guest on the Cinema...
Who thought a sequel to Top Gun would actually be worth watching? Not us. But director Joseph Kosinski had other plans. His sequel to the 1986 original feels like the...
Everyone is familiar with the multiverse thanks to Marvel, but we’ve never seen it quite like this. Everything Everywhere All at Once offers a fresh take on the concept of multiple...
Coda won the highest honor at this year’s Oscars, but the academy failed to recognize the true best picture of 2021: Drive My Car. Car did win an Oscar for Best International Feature...
How many times can Batman be rebooted? We know the story. We know the villains. What fresh take could anyone add to the franchise? Enter Matt Reeves, a director with...
Welcome to the first Cinema Faith podcast in two years! Covid changed everything and Cinema Faith was no exception. Our website has been mostly dormant since March of 2020, but...
Christmas movies are overrated. Why not spend the holidays with a film full of sociopaths instead? That was Netflix’s gamble when they released Martin Scorsese’s latest offering on their streaming...
As protests spring up worldwide and economic populism becomes the defining politic of the moment, it was only a matter of time before a film tapped into the zeitgeist. That...
No film in recent memory has been as polarizing as Joker. A scroll through Rotten Tomatoes reveals a spectrum of reactions ranging from the highest praise of the year to...
Booksmart has been on our radar since its release in May. With a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s one of the best-reviewed films of the year. But now, it’s our...
The ninth film from Quentin Tarantino is now playing, and it’s filled to the brim with everything you love or hate about his movies. When Once Upon a Time In...
Eleven years ago, Iron Man changed comic book movies forever. Not only was the movie great, it was the beginning of a journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with each...
April is too early to be talking about the Oscars, but sometimes a gem comes along that’s worthy of the discussion. Director Sebastián Lelio isn’t well-known to American audiences. His...
We’re back! After taking February off for all things Oscars, Jon and Tim are ready to turn the page on 2018…by talking about a really old movie. Yes, that’s right...
Barry Jenkins and Damien Chazelle both directed Oscar-nominated movies this year. The last time that happened was in 2017 when Chazelle’s La La Land was mistakenly announced as the Best...
It’s that time of the year again. Lights are glowing. Music is going. Food is flowing. That’s right — it’s Oscar season! The festive holiday where we live in movie...
Our audio equipment failed us in October, but we're back and better than ever. Welcome to our first double feature podcast! That's right, this month you get two movies for the price of one.
Starting things off is First Man. After launching two masterpieces into the universe with Whiplash and La La Land, director Damien Chazelle is back with a film about Neil Armstrong's infamous walk on the moon. But First Man is so much more than a biopic. Chazelle re-teams with Ryan Gosling for an untold take on the Armstrong story that is far more about his small step than the giant leap for mankind. Once again, Chazelle employs a masterclass in writing, cinematography, directing, and music to create a spellbinding journey into the vastness of space.
Next up is the documentary Free Solo about climber Alex Honnold who enjoys summiting mountains with no safety equipment in sight. Directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi follow Honnold as he attempts one of the most dangerous free solo climbs in history: El Capitan at Yosemite National Park. What possesses a man to put his life on the line to climb a mountain? Perhaps it's the same thing that drove Neil Armstrong to the moon.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss the lost October podcast, what we'll be doing in heaven, the terror of space, Jon's latest man-crush, re-writing history, a Mission: Impossible 2 reference, Yoko Ono, why Tim podcasts in a bathrobe, Free Solo vs. Won't You Be My Neighbor?, a shout out from a fan, how cinematography creates intimacy, and the price of greatness.
Who is Nicolas Cage? Oscar-winning actor? Charming leading man? The king of rage? The answer of course is all of the above. His nearly four decade career has run the gamut. He's been acclaimed and panned. He's made hits and straight-to-DVD misses. But through it all, Cage is still making movies and we're still talking about him.
Cage's latest is the strangest film of the year so far. Writer/Director Panos Cosmatos has an affinity for the grindhouse style of filmmaking. Mandy feels like it was teleported from the 70's and dropped into a projector for the midnight movie crowd. Cage stars as Red, a simple man who lives in the mountains with his wife Mandy (Andrea Riseborough), until a Satanic cult invades his home and sets him on a path of violent vengeance. Mandy is a bizarre exploitation film that highlights the best and worst of Cage's career.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss Ozark vs. Breaking Bad, grindhouse movies, Nicolas Cage's filmography, why Mandy‘s aesthetic is groundbreaking, Jon's DC Talk reference, VOD Cage Rage, inappropriate laughter, a Birdman rant, financial advice for celebrities, the dog poop cookie analogy, why demons need motorcycles, and what makes a movie worth watching.
Anyone who says they loved eighth grade is lying. It's the perfect storm. Bullies, hormones, rejection, fear, doubt, and self-loathing. Rinse, repeat. But what was hell on earth is cinema heaven. Enter stand-up comedian Bo Burnham. Eighth Grade is Burnham's feature film debut, and he couldn't have picked a time in our lives more rife with tension and conflict.
You could almost call Eighth Grade a horror movie. With a raw, unflinching aesthetic, we follow Kayla (Elsie Fisher) around in the summer of transition from eighth grade to high school. There is no overarching plot. Kayla is the plot. We watch with dread as she struggles to find her place in the world, remembering what it felt like to walk in her shoes. Eighth Grade received a staggering 98% on Rotten Tomatoes with multiple outlets awarding it a perfect score. But does the movie live up to the hype?
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss their eighth grade experiences, the Orson Wells opening that will give you chills, why Bo Burnham is better at directing than stand-up, Tim's fly fishing adventures, the "Sail Away" song battle, how Eighth Grade stacks up to other coming-of-age movies, Jon's latest TV obsession, top ten lists, the year in film so far, how smart phones changed a generation, and the power of unconditional love.
Could there be a movie more needed in 2018 than Won't You Be My Neighbor? As fear and tribalism reach fever pitch, we desperately need a mirror held up to our humanity. Fred Rogers was that mirror, not by pointing a finger, but by living a life of selfless love that still resonates today.
The beauty of Morgan Neville's Neighbor is that he takes a man we thought we knew and reveals so much more. Many remember watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood on childhood sofas after school, but how many were acquainted with Mr. Rogers himself? Neighbor shows us the life behind the scenes, and the journey is sublime. Fred Rogers embodied the best of what humanity can be. Even the hardest heart will walk away changed.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss why Vince Gilligan is a genius, the hidden art of documentary filmmaking, sex-ed videos, Morgan Neville's filmography, Tim's apology to Padooka, KY, how kids shows have changed, the danger of false masculinity, the oppressiveness of advertising, the puppet podcast, how being nice doesn't solve everything, why our differences matter, and the centrality of love.
Paul Schrader is better known for his writing than directing. Though he's directed over 20 films, it's his screenwriting collaborations with Martin Scorsese that have stood the test of time. Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Bringing Out the Dead highlight Schrader's proclivities as a writer. All three feature a tortured protagonist walking against the current of life toward a fateful end. In First Reformed, Schrader brings his trademark themes behind the lens for an addition to his directing resume that won't soon be forgotten.
Ethan Hawke plays Reverend Ernst Toller, the overseer of one of the oldest churches in a fictional New York town. Toller lives a life of contemplation and solitude, desperately seeking to rekindle his faith. His congregants are few — a far cry from the parent church, Abundant Life, which hangs like a shadow over the simplicity of First Reformed. When Toller begins to counsel a troubled couple, he's forced to confront his beliefs head on and embark on a path of no return.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss which classic film is overrated, the real-life Ernst Toller, a good example of voiceover, Jon's latest HBO obsession, the ultimate movie review of Song to Song, Ethan Hawke's filmography, why Tim refused to go to Calvin, hope vs. despair, the pitfalls of megachurches, the controversial ending, how partisanship has infected the Church, and what it means to live out our faith in the real world.
In 2008, Marvel Studios took the gamble of the century. They released Iron Man, featuring a virtually unknown character outside the comic book world and starring an actor with a checkered past and little box office success in Robert Downey Jr. Raising the stakes even further, prior to the release of Iron Man, Marvel committed themselves to a handful of additional movies and an eventual team-up event starring more lesser known characters like Thor, Captain America, and the Hulk. The result could have been disastrous. But Iron Man proved to be a hit with critics and audiences alike, paving the way for a long and prosperous future for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Avengers: Infinity War is the capstone of Marvel's cinematic achievements. Nearly every character from the 18 films released since Iron Man make an appearance to stop the MCU's most powerful villain to date, Thanos. And once again, the movie strikes gold. Infinity War has already grossed $1.8 billion worldwide, and has garnered more praise from critics (83% on Rotten Tomatoes) and movie-goers ("A" on CinemaScore). As Marvel enters the next phase of their journey, can they maintain this unprecedented success? If Infinity War is any indication, we would never count them out.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss their monthly weather report, Jon's HBO obsession, which 9-year-old spoiled Infinity War for Tim, how Marvel's box office success could end world hunger, what characters were underwritten, the beauty of cross-promotion, why Kevin Feige is a genius, Tim and Jon's favorite Marvel movie, the theology of scarcity vs. the theology of abundance, the ways Thanos reveals our visions of God, and how a desire for happy endings is written on our souls.
We know what you're thinking. Another Spielberg movie? Really? Yes, two podcasts after The Post we're back for another discussion on the legendary filmmaker. But his latest entry couldn't be more different.
Ready Player One, based on the novel by the same name, takes place in the year 2045. The world has devolved into a cramped, dirty mess and everyone is looking for an escape. And that's exactly what they find in a virtual reality world called the OASIS. Every day, the people of the future put on their headsets and travel to a place where they can be who they want, go where they want, and do what they want. But there's a catch. If they die in the OASIS, all the power-ups and money they've acquired die too. There's also a secret Easter egg embedded in the virtual world which bestows its finder with wealth and total control over the OASIS itself. The film follows Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) and his band of underdogs as they attempt to find the Easter egg before it lands in the wrong hands.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss the year in film so far, their desert island Spielberg movie, why Fantasia is a better fantasy world than the OASIS, the video game that brought down Atari, Jon's friendship with John Krasinski, reclaiming artistic nostalgia, why the main characters in Ready Player One are the worst characters, the one 80's reference Spielberg couldn't get the rights to, the fundamentalism of fandom, modern-day Gnosticism, the right way to use virtual reality, and how entertainment can become a prison locked on the inside.
Our podcast this month was originally on A Wrinkle in Time. Then we saw the movie… Tune in to the beginning for Jon’s epic rant, and then stay for a discussion of a movie that’s actually worth talking about: Annhilation.
Alex Garland is a prolific writer, ranging from novels (The Beach) to screenplays (28 Days Later), but in 2014 he began a new trajectory as both writer and director for Ex Machina. The movie is a scary meditation on artificial intelligence starring Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, and Alicia Vikander. Now Garland is back for his second writing/directing outing using many of the same elements of Ex Machina, but on an even grander scale. Once again, Garland dives deep into a wide assortment of existential themes while still managing to tell an entertaining story. When an extraterrestrial shimmer begins to spread on earth altering everything it touches, Lena (Natalie Portman) volunteers to join a team of specialists to enter the shimmer and preserve the human race. Annhilation is a thought-provoking thriller with genuine bite. Movies this smart aren’t common in March. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come as we officially begin the 2018 season of the Cinema Faith podcast.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss why Alex Garland is better at suspense than science-fiction, Hollywood's obsession with The Heart of Darkness, Alejandro Iñárritu's secret Oscar, why people don't like Natalie Portman, the way our relationships change us, Tim's pledge to watch every Marvel movie, how the science in the film is insulting, Jon's existential theater experience, our propensity toward self-destruction, and the beauty of the incarnation.
Is there any director with a more impressive filmography than Steven Spielberg? He defined our childhood, explored every genre, invented the blockbuster, and delivered masterpieces worthy of any top ten list. His work is legendary, and he's not done yet. The Post is Spielberg's 31st time behind the director's chair. And this time, he's got politics on the brain.
In 1971, a government employee leaked a classified study on the Vietnam War called "The Pentagon Papers" to the New York Times. After the Times posted an excerpt, the Nixon administration took them to court and barred them from releasing any more documents. Enter the Washington Post. When the Post tracks down an additional copy of the Pentagon Papers, the head of the newspaper — Kay Graham (Meryl Streep) — is faced with an impossible decision: release the papers and face untold consequences or play it safe and protect her father's business? The story couldn't be more timely. Reporters today are faced with a similar predicament: report the truth and get labeled "fake news" or play it safe and avoid controversy? The future of American democracy may depend on their decision.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss why the Oscars are better than the Grammys, what movie should win Best Picture, how The Post is like a dodgeball team, why Jon is a starry-eyed millennial, what makes Steven Spielberg great, the danger of power relationships, why Meryl Streep is the Bill Belichick of film, Tim's homework assignment, the importance of the press, and the Christian obligation to truth.
You'd be forgiven for writing off Guillermo del Toro as just another genre director. Entries like Hellboy, Blade Runner II, Pacific Rim, and Crimson Peak fit neatly in that vein. But if you really want to uncover del Toro's heart, look no further than 2006's Pan's Labyrinth. The film has been described as an "adult fairy tale" — a child-like fantasy set in a grown-up world. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and won three.
The Shape of Water is another fairy tale for adults that seems destined to make a splash at the Oscars. The movie, set in 1962, follows a cleaning woman named Elisa (Sally Hawkins) stationed at a top-secret government facility who develops an unconventional romance with the prize capture of the compound: a sea creature with extraordinary abilities. Water has some narrative hiccups, but it's unlike anything else released this year. Del Toro's attention to detail — combined with the highest levels of acting, cinematography, visual effects, and score — casts a spell you won't soon forget.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss Monopoly strategies, It's a Wonderful Life, Tim's Star Wars theory, Del Toro's Mis En Scène, Jon's CGI rant, Wes Anderson movies, Michael Shannon's Groundhog Day appearance, Octavia Spencer's Oscar theft, Tim's obsession with Guardians of the Galaxy 2, God's identification with the marginalized, the narratives we tell ourselves, and the danger of dehumanizing the other.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Oscar season. After a dismal year at the movies, studios have saved their best for last. December boasts the most hopefuls, but November has a trick up its sleeve: a little indie called Lady Bird.
Greta Gerwig isn't a household name, but you've seen her before. She's acted in roles both big and small for a decade (most recently as Jackie Kennedy's assistant in Jackie). But for Lady Bird, Gerwig steps behind the lens for the first time. The result is perfection. Saoirse Ronan plays Lady Bird, a 17-year-old Senior at a Catholic school desperate to escape her ordinary life and see the world. Laurie Metcalf is her working class mother, Marion, desperate to get her daughter's head out of the clouds and into reality. Gerwig's characters are fascinating, her script is razor-sharp, and the themes she explores ring true. This feels like the work of a veteran, not a first-time filmmaker. The film is 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and a shoo-in Oscar threat. There are still many films to see, but Lady Bird might just be the best film of the year.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss their favorite Thanksgiving food, why the houses in John Hughes movies are so big, how to pronounce Saoirse Ronan, why teenagers are jerks, Jon's secret obsession with Knocked Up, the symbolic importance of breast-feeding, why Disney is a bully, how Lady Bird is an Exodus narrative, and the transforming power of grace.
Blade Runner is a classic. That's undisputed. The 1982 film, directed by Ridley Scott, is a breathtaking blend of noir and science-fiction that offers us a glimpse of the future we desire and dread. Harrison Ford shines as Rick Deckard, a "Blade Runner" tasked with hunting down and killing a group of rogue replicants. Replicants are bio-engineered androids designed to function as slaves, but with enough free will to rebel. Blade Runner opened to an underwhelming response upon release, but has since earned its place as a film for the ages.
Now, 35 years later, Deckard is back. Ridley Scott is in the producer's chair this time with directing duties passed to Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Arrival). Villeneuve is a rabid fan of the original and manages to re-create the atmosphere that made the original so compelling. Ryan Gosling plays K, a replicant Blade Runner dedicated to tracking down the rebellious among his own kind and ending their life. But he soon finds himself on a journey that will lead him face-to-face with Deckard and a secret that could change the course of humanity forever. Blade Runner 2049 is a flawed film that can't live up to its predecessor, but it's still a powerful big-screen experience and a worthy homage to one of the best films of all time.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss Denis Villeneuve's filmography, how Blade Runner owes a dept to Frankenstein, the evolution of Han Solo, why Ryan Gosling is boring, the first convincing CGI performance, whether Siri has rights, technology's unintended consequences, the search for something real, and what makes us human.
Stephen King doesn't typically make the "must read" list for Christians. On the surface, his tales appear dark and deranged, but a deeper look reveals a different story. Regardless of whether King is a practicing Christian (he declared himself one on his website, but has since pushed back on the label), his work speaks for itself. King writes with a clear biblical center — a world where the weak overcome the strong, hope conquers fear, and love is more powerful than evil.
King's movie adaptations have been decidedly hit or miss. The Dark Tower bombed at the box office in August and was universally panned by critics. But what a difference a month can make. It is a box office juggernaut, bringing in $270 million domestically and $478 million worldwide — officially making it the highest R-rated film of all time. As if that wasn't enough, It is also one of the best films of the year. Director Andy Muschietti takes time establishing his characters and place to make us emotionally invested. And while there are enough genre thrills to satisfy the horror viewer, what stands out most is the group of misfit kids at the center who band together in love to save their town.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss the dangers of child actors, how King's personal trauma shows up in his work, the film Focus on the Family hates, why a long running time is It‘s greatest strength, what makes clowns scary, how the Loser's Club is a metaphor for recovery groups, whether the horror genre has value, and why you have to be a kid to inherit the Kingdom.
2010 was the year of Kathryn Bigelow. She became the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Director and her breakout indie The Hurt Locker scored a surprise win for Best Picture. The film, about a bomb defusing team in Iraq, is a master-class in tension and a gripping character study to boot. Bigelow had proven her talent and the future was suddenly limitless.
But even Academy Award-winning directors are capable of colossal misfires. Case in point: Detroit. The title promises a sweeping portrait of a city. Instead, the film documents an isolated incident at the Algier's Motel involving a racist police officer (Will Poulter) inflicting sadistic mind-games on a group of mostly black victims in an attempt to maintain law and order in the face of the 1967 riots. This is a movie about the black experience written and directed by white people. The lack of color shows up from beginning to end. Film critic Angelica Bastien sums up Detroit best when she states that the movie is a "hollow spectacle, displaying rank racism and countless deaths that has nothing to say about race, the justice system, police brutality, or the city that gives it its title."
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss how Detroit measures up to Do the Right Thing, why animation in a live-action movie is a bad idea, what caused the Detroit riots according to white people, who fell asleep during the film, the danger of playing both sides in the face of injustice, why the title is misleading, the comfort of viewing racism as isolated incidents, and how the movie relates to current events.
As Hollywood obsesses over superhero movies, power has shifted from directors to producers. Just ask Edgar Wright and Patty Jenkins — two veteran directors who dropped blockbuster projects after learning Marvel Studios was in charge, not them. But there is one director who continues to buck the trend and maintain his legacy as a true auteur: Christopher Nolan. Nolan's claim to fame was the 2000 indie Memento which wowed critics and audiences alike with its unique story-telling style. From that point forward, Nolan earned the right to do whatever he wanted — a right he's never lost.
Nolan's latest film is Dunkirk based on the true World War II account of the British army trapped on a beach in France with no way out. Nolan once again employs a unique approach to the story, covering the event from land, air, and sea. Dunkirk is more than a movie; it's a full-on cinematic experience. Nolan shoots in 70mm film stock with IMAX cameras to deliver a journey that can't be replicated at home. The result is another incredible film in an already impeccable career. Nolan will continue to make movies as he sees fit, and we will always be there to see a master at work.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss how to avoid Alzheimer's, Christopher Nolan's filmography, the difference between 70mm and IMAX, why Dunkirk is a British film, common themes in Nolan's work, the Body of Christ, and the true meaning of heroism.
We first crossed paths with Edgar Wright in the 2004 sleeper hit Shaun of the Dead. The film put Wright on the map, along with actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Two sequels rounded out the "Blood and Ice Cream" trilogy, Hot Fuzz and The World's End, continuing Wright's style of paying homage to genre films with a unique blend of satire and comedy. Wright broke new ground with 2010's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but the movie under-performed at the box office. Now Wright is back with a fresh original, Baby Driver, and this time he has a summer hit on his hands.
Baby Driver could be described as one, long car chase — roaring out of the gate and never losing speed. Ansel Elgort plays Baby, a getaway driver for bank robbers. Baby isn't a career criminal like the people he transports. He's in the game to pay off a debt to Kevin Spacey's Doc, a man who plans robberies without getting his hands dirty. When Baby pays off his debt, he wants out. But Doc has other plans. Soon Baby finds himself trapped in a web of crime with everyone he loves in jeopardy. Baby Driver isn't perfect, but it's as stylish as films come. Not only is it Wright's highest grossing film to date, it could be his best one too.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss why superhero films are minivans, Kevin Spacey's range, the Oscar for sound mixing, if Jon Hamm was miscast, Jon's bias against flashbacks, third act problems, what makes a good soundtrack, our excitement for Blade Runner 2049, whether Baby is a character or a catalyst, and the peril of playing with sin.
No one makes superhero movies like Marvel Studios. They've earned their big-screen domination with quality films, and Guardians of the Galaxy is at the top of the list. Released in 2014 after three Iron Mans, two Thors, two Captain Americas, and an Avengers team-up, Guardians was the breath of fresh air Marvel needed. The movie eschewed the seriousness of the genre and delivered an experience that was fresh and fun.
Now, the long-awaited sequel has arrived. Kicking off the summer movie season, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is back with all the elements of the first outing: an irreverent tone, a killer soundtrack, and of course our friends Peter, Rocket, Gamora, Drax, and Groot ready to save the galaxy again. But does the sequel hold a candle to the original? Our podcast duo is split down the middle.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss the origin of the blockbuster, how Wild Wild West gave summer a bad name, Tim's disdain for comic book movies, the law of diminishing returns, our need for a hero, why Rocky IV is the best movie ever made, violence in Marvel films, and whether Guardians Vol. 2 is a sequel worth watching.
Chances are high that you haven't seen Terrence Malick's new film Song to Song. Few people have. It's only grossed $421,856 since opening in limited release a month ago. The critical reception has been equally poor. Things weren't always this way for Malick. Six years ago, he released The Tree of Life to universal acclaim and a domestic gross of $54 million. What happened between now and then? That's the subject of this month's podcast.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss the ups and downs of Malick's career, Adrian Brody's 19 year grudge, Tim's man-crush on Emmanuel Lubezki, falling asleep at movies, Jon's obsession with The Tree of Life, the importance of the elevator pitch, and the one thing that makes a story great.
Jordan Peele is best known for his comedy work on Mad TV and Key and Peele, but for his feature film debut he chose a decidedly different path. Get Out is not only a horror film, it's a horror film about racism. The opening scene sets the tone: a black man walks nervously along the side of the road, his eyes darting wildly at his surroundings. Where is he? The suburbs. The scene is reminiscent of Trayvon Martin, and it's one of many allusions to recent events in the film.
Daniel Kaluuya plays Chris, a black man dating a white woman named Rose (Allison Williams). When Rose takes Chris home to meet her parents for the first time, she doesn't tell them his race. After all, it shouldn't matter and her parents are nice. True enough, Rose's parents take to Chris from the start, but something strange is going on in their home. Not everyone living there seems normal, and the friends of the family are weirder still. The tension reaches a boiling point and we soon discover that nothing is what it seems. Get Out tackles serious topics head on while still giving audiences a thrill ride to remember.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss the Oscars snafu, how to read the Tomatometer, Jon's love for horror movies, Nicolas Cage in a bear suit, fear of the other, the assault on black bodies, and why addressing racism must begin by looking within.
No one writes movies like Charlie Kaufman. Who else would make his feature screenwriting debut about a portal inside the brain of John Malkovich as he did in Being John Malkovich? Who else would turn his angst of trying to adapt a book into a meta-story of himself trying to adapt a book as he did in his follow-up, Adaptation? For his third feature screenplay, Kaufman took yet another unusual detour into the world of romance. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a brilliant deconstruction of love that for the first time connected Kaufman's head to his heart.
Jim Carrey plays Joel, a man fresh off a break-up with his girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet). When Joel learns that Clementine has had a procedure to have all the memories of him erased from her mind, Joel retaliates by doing the same. The film takes place primarily inside Joel's head as his moments with Clementine are erased one by one. As Joel's love for Clementine is rekindled, he fights to hold onto his memories before they're gone for good. Director Michel Gondry transforms Kaufman's unique premise into a heartfelt meditation on love and commitment. Eternal Sunshine is a love story for the ages, and one of the best movies of all time.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss romantic movies, Charlie Kaufman's career, how Ace Ventura became an introvert, Elijah Wood's creepy Frodo, what the Enneagram reveals about relationships, erasing memories on social media, and why pain is necessary for true love.
Cameron Crowe hasn't made a good film in over a decade, but his early work still leaves a mark. Almost Famous will always be his best movie, because it's the one closest to his heart. In the film, William Miller (Patrick Fugit) lands a job writing for Rolling Stone at age 15. He follows the band Stillwater on the road and comes of age before our eyes.
The movie is Crowe's unofficial autobiography. He, too, wrote for Rolling Stone at age 15 and toured the country with a band before he knew how to drive. The film drips with authenticity. Every shot is a lived-in experience. The result is a modern-day classic with unforgettable performances from Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Almost Famous is a love letter to music, and one of the best films of all time.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss favorite movies, credit sequences, Crowe's career, supporting roles, the music of the 70's, and the importance of being uncool.
At the end of 2016, we need a movie like La La Land. Musicals offer an alternate universe where people don't sit around mad at each other, they get out on the freeway and sing together.The film is a throwback to the classic era of old-school Hollywood, while still managing to be relevant and fresh. Damien Chazelle, who burst on the scene with 2014's Whiplash, is back with another masterpiece. Chazelle writes and directs with his trademark precision, bringing together lighting, cinematography, costumes, acting, writing, and music to remind us why we go to the movies in the first place.
Join Jon and Tim as they talk about the connection between Birdman and Whiplash, Jon's man-crush on Ryan Gosling, why Tim hates musicals, how jazz is a metaphor for relationships, Emma Stone's Oscar chances, and the cost of pursuing your dreams.
We've been looking forward to Manchester by the Sea since January when it took Sundance by storm. Now, 11 months later, the film is everywhere and it was worth the wait. Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan, best known for 2000's You Can Count on Me, has a crafted a masterful meditation on grief and regret. Casey Affleck plays Lee, a man locked in the prison of the past who's forced to face the harsh realities of the present when his brother dies and appoints him as the guardian of his son. The film is nominated for five Golden Globes including Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, and Best Picture.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss why Casey Affleck is a great actor, what state Manchester is in, the importance of a movie's first scene, the return of the emotional drama, why Spotlight is overrated, Lonergan's unique directing style, the correct way to use flashbacks, and the messiness of grief.
Few films arrive with as much controversy as Birth of a Nation. A promising run on the festival circuit (complete with a standing ovation at the Toronto Film Festival) gave way to scandal when disturbing details emerged about writer/director/star Nate Parker's past. The movie is here now, but is it any good?
Birth of a Nation tells the true story of Nat Turner, a slave who learns to read at a young age and grows up into a preacher. Nat is paraded around to various plantations in an attempt to preach submission to his fellow slaves. But the more Nat is exposed to injustice, the harder it is to reconcile what he sees with Scripture. Eventually, Nat leads a violent uprising against white owners across the south.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss the Nate Parker controversy, slavery, Nat Turner's legacy, Black Lives Matter, Martin Luther King Jr., and whether violence is ever justified.
The prodigal son returns! Tim is back on the show to talk about the big release of September — Oliver Stone's Snowden. Snowden tells the true story of Edward Snowden, a brilliant mind who rises through the ranks of the CIA only to turn his back on the agency after discovering the government practice of spying on its citizens.
Stone is best known for controversial films of the past like Platoon, JFK, Natural Born Killers, and Born on the Fourth of July. But there's been little controversy in recent years with his preference for plainer storytelling. Is Snowden a throwback to his edgier past or another example of his toned-down present?
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss Stone's filmography, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 1984, the Government, Nicolas Cage, freedom, and whether Snowden is an American hero.
Tim is on vacation this month which paved the way for a special guest on our show: Jason Thompson. Jason joins Jon to discuss the new film Hell or High Water starring Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges. The movie, directed by David Mackenzie, tells the story of two brothers on a bank robbing spree and the Texas Ranger who hunts them down.
Listen in as we discuss Texas, Nick Cave, the story of Jonah, ethical dilemmas, Chris Pine, grace, and sin. Hell or High Water is playing in a theater near you!
July was a difficult month for America. The shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile raised national debates about racism, police violence, and Black Lives Matter. The retaliatory shootings of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge ushered in new layers of fear and chaos. Our nation bled from open wounds, and we are still healing.
If there is a work of art that can speak to the times we're in, it's Do the Right Thing. Spike Lee's masterpiece was released 27 years ago, but it could have come out yesterday. The themes are as relevant as ever, and the movie hasn't aged a day. Do the Right Thing is the quintessential urban film, depicting city life in all of its beauty and tension. As we see the victims of police violence flash across the screen in the credits, we realize nothing has changed. But the picture of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X reminds us to keep fighting for a better tomorrow.
Listen to this month's podcast as Jon and Tim discuss the classic film, Spike Lee, the American Dream, city life, community, racism, police violence, and doing the right thing.
On June 20th, Cinema Faith had the pleasure of hosting an exclusive showing of Last Days in the Desert. The film stars Ewan McGregor as both Jesus and Satan and features cinematography by three-time Oscar-winner Emmanuel Lubezki. Christian movies have a checkered past, but writer/director Rodrigo García breathes new life into the genre. This is a film about Jesus' human side as he wrestles with who he is and what he's been sent to do.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss Christian movies, Gnosticism, the Incarnation, Lubezki, father wounds, and the humanity of Jesus.
Shane Black is the king of buddy action movies. He sold the screenplay to Lethal Weapon at age 22. In 1996, Black scored a then-record-breaking payday of $4 million for The Long Kiss Goodnight. The sale made him enemies, and he disappeared from Hollywood for nine years. Then in 2005, Black returned not just as a writer, but a director as well with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Now Black is back with The Nice Guys starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. The film channels the noir detective genre, with Black's classic blend of dark comedy and unlikely pairings. Crowe and Gosling are anything but nice guys, but through the heroism of a young girl, they may become them yet.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss Black's career, superheroes, film noir, feminism, loving your enemies, and the return of summer movies for adults.
Two years after Boyhood, Richard Linklater is back with Everybody Wants Some!! – a "spiritual sequel" to the 1993 classic Dazed and Confused. Linklater has always defied traditional approaches to storytelling. Instead of a plot and three acts, Linklater films are driven by music, characters, and authenticity.
Tune in to this month's podcast as we discuss the works of Linklater, the rules of story, the value of community, and the constructs we create in our search for meaning.
This month's podcast is all about the Coen Brothers. Hail, Caesar! is the latest offering from the eccentric duo. Join Jon and Tim as they discuss their favorite Coen Bros. movies, the sacredness of film, and the magic of Hollywood past.
Another February 2nd, another chance to discuss the classic film. Join us as we ponder the question: Are we all stuck in Groundhog Day?
There are few filmmakers as polarizing as Quentin Tarantino. Some celebrate him. Others revile him. Now Tarantino is back with his latest film The Hateful Eight – a fitting title considering this is the eighth film of his career.
Listen to this month's podcast as we ask: Is there truth in the works of Quentin Tarantino?
With Oscar season is in full swing, it's time to look back at 2014's best picture winner: Birdman. Join us as we discuss why Birdman is a perfect film, the value of critics, and the plight of the artist.