Taking Chance

4 Stars – Profound

As Americans grow weary of the wars in the Middle East the stories of real lives lost in battle become a fading memory.  “Taking Chance” brings the life of one of these young soldiers home in a profound and deeply emotional way.

Based on real-life events, Lt. Col. Michael Strobl (Kevin Bacon), a volunteer military escort officer, accompanies the body of 19-year-old Marine Chance Phelps back to ...   >>More

My Life in Ruins

2 Stars – Entertaining

The demure style with which Nina Vardalos plays her roles is appealing but repetitive.  In her first film, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, we were charmed by her simultaneous embarrassment and pride in her Greek heritage.  Although this film is not a sequel, Vardalos is clearly the same character.  The difference this time is that her frustration is not with her Greek family living in America, but with American tourists visiting Greece.  Directed by Donald Petrie (Miss Congeniality) and written by Mike Reiss (The Simpson Movie), the film is modest but entertaining.  >>More

Land of the Lost

1 Star – Troubling

Will Ferrell’s penchant for visual gags, bathroom humor and junior high sexuality continues in his latest film, “Land of the Lost.”  Very different from the original 1970’s children’s TV series produced by Sid and Marty Kroft, this film has their support but is written by Chris Henchy and Dennis McNicholas.  Bringing their experience as writers for Saturday Night Live and I’m With Her, the humor is witty and creative but is no longer appropriate for children.  Directed by Brad Silberling (Lemony Snicket’s), this film blends science fiction with adult comedy in a playful though off-color manner.  >>More

Up

3 Stars – Wholesome

Life is an adventure.  This truth is often missed because we assume that we have to go somewhere else in order to have an adventure, so we miss the truth that life itself, its chance meetings and shared loves are adventures, too.  In this animated tale “Up”, directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, we have a creative opportunity to learn the true nature of adventure, whether it happens in the most ordinary of circumstances or the most exotic locations.  >>More

Terminator Salvation

3 Stars – Thought-Provoking

The salvation symbols in this episode of the Terminator series are intentional.  The questions of human purpose, the offer of a sacrificial death and the power of fate are only a few of the threads woven throughout the story.  But the science fiction shapes the plot, with its fear of time travel, the warring of humans and machines and the creation of a human-machine cyborg.  Directing his first Terminator film, McG (Charlie’s Angels, We Are Marshall) presents Terminator Salvation without the coherence that is needed for either those who are fans of the series or for those who are viewing this as the first film.  >>More

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

2 Stars – Entertaining

This sequel to the original “Night at the Museum” is entertaining cinema.  But the novelty of the idea that the exhibits of a natural history museum come to life at night is wearing thin.  To make a second comedy with the same premise results in a cute film with jokes that seem strangely familiar.  The exception to this is the addition of an engaging love interest for the star of the films, Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), in the person of Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams).  Other new characters in this film add interest, including the Jonas Brothers as singing cherubs.  Shawn Levy directed both films and the team of Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon have written a well-paced and even funnier script this time.  >>More

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

2 Stars – Troubling

Written by the team of Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (Four Christmases and Rebound), Ghosts of Girlfriends Past revisits Charles Dickens’ device of exploring scenes from the past, present and future life of a person who needs a wake-up call.  The story focuses on Conner Mead (Matthew McConaughey) who has cynically decided to use women rather than love them after he loses his first love, Jenny Perotti (Jennifer Garner).  Trained in the playboy moves of his Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas) and growing up to be a successful photographer of beautiful women, he has an unending supply of ladies who willingly allow themselves to be used by him.  But those who fall in love with him are left with broken hearts, and he is left alone with an empty and self-absorbed life.  >>More

Angels & Demons

3 Stars – Challenging

As a suspenseful mystery, “Angels and Demons” is a better film than “The DaVinci Code.”  Both films are directed by Ron Howard and are based on the fiction of Dan Brown.  Both are conspiracy films with anti-Catholic ingredients creating fictional acts of atrocity and deceit supposedly perpetuated by the church.  However, in this film, the plot is more complex and shows both positive images of persons of faith while showing that deceit can occur in all people.  >>More

Star Trek

3 Stars – Engaging

It is not an easy thing to reboot one of the most popular science fiction film and TV series of all time.  But in this new casting of the original characters of “Star Trek,” J.J. Abrams is successful.

Originally created by Gene Roddenberry, the characters of the original Star Trek are legendary in their cult standing.  The ensemble group included the ingenious leadership of Captain James Tiberius Kirk...   >>More

The Soloist

3 Stars – Powerful

It would be cliché to say that “The Soloist” hits all the right notes, but this true tale of musical genius and mental illness is a cinematic symphony.  From the directing, to the acting, to the dialogue, to the sound track, to the editing, to the special effects, the entire film artistically presents a person who both scares and informs us.  Directed by Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice) with the adapted screenplay by Susannah Grant (Charlotte’s Web, Erin Brockovich), the film is based on the autobiographical book by Steve Lopez.  >>More

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

3 Stars – Challenging

When we use the gifted to fight our wars, we soon have reason to begin to fear them.  This all-too-realistic fear of our gifted special forces soldiers who return to civilian life is the theme of Calvin Hood’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”  The prequel of the X-Men trilogy, (X-Men, X-2 and X-Men: The Last Stand), this film takes us back to the 1840’s in Canada where two wolverine brothers discover their true skill: being soldiers in wars that cannot kill them nor execute them for traitorous and unconscionable behavior.  >>More

Sin Nombre

3 Stars – Challenging

It is difficult for those who have never experienced life within a gang to understand its power. Controlling our basic needs for food, sex, safety and belonging, a gang inverts the usual ways those needs are met and creates a demonic shadow of real life.  Beating its young recruits to birth them into the family, requiring murder of a rival gang member in order to receive gang identification tattoos, and killing fellow gang members who step out of line, in every case the gang’s control is de-humanizing. In stripping a person of their soul and their name they become “Sin Nombre.”  >>More

Earth

2 Stars – Shallow

Disneynature’s “Earth” is a full-length version of the 2006 TV documentary series “Planet Earth.”  Taking some of the most beautiful footage of the natural wonders of our planet, the film focuses on the animal world in its ironic, tragic and comedic nature.  Although the violent deaths are removed, the hunter and the hunted are emphasized. When it comes to climate change, the political controversy as to the cause of it is removed, but the film repeatedly emphasizes the effects of the change.  >>More

17 Again

2 Stars – Shallow

For most of us, life never turns out the way our youthful fantasies imagined. Once we reach the grand old age of our mid-30’s, there comes a point where everyone moves from thinking about “what do I want to do when I grow up?,” to “Oh, my gosh, I am grown up!”

If you are happy with your life, this is a point of gradual settling in to what you can do to deepen your...   >>More

Monsters vs Aliens

2 Stars – Shallow

A double-edged fear among children is not only that there may be monsters lurking in the dark, but also that they themselves might become some hideous creature rejected by family and friends.  In the new Dream Works animated film, “Monsters vs Aliens,” both fears are brought together in 3-D realism as the dark of space brings both fears to earth.  >>More

I Love You, Man

1 Star – Disturbing

The confusion caused by the changes in American sexual morality is crudely explored in John Hamburg’s film “I Love You Man!”  Based on a story by Larry Levin, the struggle with same-sex friendships is shown to be all the more difficult because of the growing complication of same-sex relationships.  >>More

Sunshine Cleaning

3 Stars – Challenging

Recovering from a trauma which occurred during childhood is far more difficult than most people realize.  Haunted by the event, it is common for a young adult to fall into situations that mimic or even repeat the trauma in some remarkable manner.  The reasons for this are many, but the reality is common enough that most of us will identify the truth to this film by director Christine Jeffs titled “Sunshine Cleaning.”  >>More

Duplicity

3 Stars – Challenging

Who do you trust?  Is a trustworthy person only someone who will keep a secret, or does that person also needs to have your best interests at heart?

“Duplicity” dives into the world of governmental and corporate mistrust that requires a person to surround himself or herself with people who will also be duplicitous on every level.  Claire Stenwick (Julia Roberts) is an ex-CIA Agent who some years earlier had a one-night stand with a British M16 agent named Ray Koval (Clive Owen).  To complete a romantic evening, Claire did what she knows best, she stole some secrets from her temporary lover.  >>More

Wendy and Lucy

2 Stars – Depressing

The artistic style of director Kelly Reichardt and the authentic acting of Michelle Williams make the depressing journey of Wendy all the more convincing.  In their film “Wendy and Lucy,” what is lacking is not cinematic skill but rather a story that provides hope for a lost soul with small dreams and lack of family or community support.  >>More

Confessions of a Shopaholic

3 Stars – Thought-Provoking

Addictions destroy men and women of any means and at any stage of their life.  Shopping till you drop doesn’t strike most people as a life-threatening disease, but living in debt is debilitating.  Such is the life of Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) in “Confessions Of A Shopaholic.”  >>More

Madea Goes to Jail

3 Stars – Enjoyable

Tyler Perry’s ongoing gag of portraying an elderly six-foot five black woman continues to entertain in “Madea Goes to Jail.”  Directing, writing and starring in multiple roles within the film, Perry’s genius is easily admired.  Additionally, the natural inclusion of Christian faith as expressed within the black community is very well done, just as it was in his previous film in which he portrayed Madea in “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.”  >>More

The International

2 Stars – Disturbing

It is hard to make bankers world-class villains.  Even though there is a lot of frustration with the mortgage crisis, very few of us think that a bank and its officers are into world domination.  Instead we simply recognize that greed has once more undermined the economic stability that commercial lending is meant to provide.  However in the fictional world of the International Bank of Business and Commerce we find murderous bankers and complicit governments.  Written by Eric Singer and directed by Tom Tykwer, “The International” is the story of this domination.  >>More

And Now For The Winners ...

4 Stars - 2008

Recognizing the power that films have to influence and reflect the human condition, on the day of the Academy Awards we present our own 2008 CINEMA IN FOCUS INSPIRATION AWARDS:  >>More

Taken

3 Stars – Disturbing

The unbelievable horror of human slavery is an epidemic reality for millions today.  Though slavery is often experienced by children forced to serve in militias or manual labor, the kidnapping of women for forced prostitution is increasing.  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) “Trafficking Statistics Projects” reports that 13 agencies estimate the number of women involved in the sex trade against their will ranges from 500,000 to 4 million.  These numbers are so overwhelming that we can easily become numb to their meaning.  But when a filmmaker tells the story of one specific seventeen-year-old woman - innocent, protected, full of life naïve about the dangers of the world - who is kidnapped and sold into prostitution, then we begin to feel the horror of this evil.  That is the experience director Pierre Morel provides in his film “Taken.”  >>More

He's Just Not That Into You

2 Stars – Shallow

The trials of dating are humorously obvious in Ken Kwapis’ film “He’s Just Not That Into You.”  Bringing together a talented ensemble of actors and based on a book written by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, writers for “Sex and the City,” the film is a multi-layered study of modern dating practices and the complications that our abundance of technology brings to relationships.  >>More

New in Town

3 Stars – Wholesome

The joy of love and community trumps the thrills of money and power.  Though most of us agree that this is true, it is interesting how little our actual behaviors reflect this truth.  As demonstrated by our business practices, one might think that we value profit over employees and advancement over cooperation.  We need the reminder to open our eyes to the surpassing value of love and community to gain a vision of how to live a better life.  This is what Jonas Elmer does in his film “New In Town.”  >>More

Paul Blart - Mall Cop

2 Stars – Shallow

The endearing humor of Kevin James’ portrayal of Paul Blart is not enough to make Steve Carr’s film work. Essentially one long defense of overweight people and ridiculing the people who make life hard for them, “Paul Blart:  Mall Cop” is neither a compelling romantic comedy nor an engaging action film.  The character development is weak and the heist is hard to understand or believe.  >>More

The Wrestler

3 Stars – Troubling

What makes for a fulfilling life?  Is it just being able to be happy and content all the time?  Is it making a difference in the world?  Is it about you, or is it about more than you?

“The Wrestler” gives us a glimpse into the life of an aging legend of the ring, a man who was somebody in the 1980’s, and is a ghost of his past in the present.  Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) ruled the wrestling world 20 years ago, and continues to live off his past memories...  >>More

Defiance

3 Stars – Thought-Provoking

How would you respond in the presence of unspeakable evil attacking your family?  How do you maintain your humanity when you experience a destroyed emotional life?  “Defiance” is one of five major films that are currently in circulation retelling the horrors of the Jewish experience at the hands of the Nazi’s during World War II.  This true story of three brothers who band together for survival, gives us a glimpse into the emotional choices we all make when faced with anguish and pain.  >>More

Revolutionary Road

2 Stars – Weak

Tackling the subject of fulfillment in marriage is a difficult subject, especially when the story is told in the context of the socially repressive 1950’s.  April (Kate Winslet) and Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) Wheeler bring a strong and passionate representation to a couple struggling to find their own future in the suburbs of Connecticut.  Unfortunately, there is little insight into the foundation of their relationship beyond a superficial desire to live a carefree life.  >>More

The Reader

3 Stars – Disturbing

The seduction of a teenage boy by a woman in her thirties is often seen as a teenage fantasy rather than sexual abuse.  That a young man can be deeply damaged by such a relationship is increasingly confirmed by both professional and popular wisdom.  This truth is supported by Stephen Daldry’s film “The Reader.”  >>More

Gran Torino

4 Stars – Profound

There are few of us who don’t have significant regrets about our past behaviors.  How we deal with those regretful behaviors deeply impacts our lives.  When we confess our sins, we receive forgiveness.  When we deny our sins, we project our regrets on others and become judgmental and unsatisfiable.  This reality is profoundly presented in Clint Eastwood’s film “Gran Torino.”  As director, producer and star of the film, he creates vintage Eastwood magic at the top of his game.  >>More

Seven Pounds

3 Stars – Challenging

Intrigue is the primary ingredient of Gabriele Muccino’s “Seven Pounds.”  If you intend to see this film, then we encourage you to stop reading this review until after you’ve experienced this classic study of grief complicated with guilt and regret.  >>More

Doubt

3 Stars – Thought-Provoking

The power of doubt is not to be underestimated, but neither is that of faith.  Both are inextricably bound into a single cord that defines both our relationship with God and with each other.  At times, one may seem to have conquered the other, but that is only until the next experience either undermines faith or banishes doubt.  This complex reality is insightfully presented by John Patrick Shanley in both his play and his film, which are simply titled “Doubt.”  >>More

Frost/Nixon

3 Stars – Thought-Provoking

Only one President in U.S. history has ever resigned.  This occurred on August 9, 1974 when Richard Nixon, with no admission of guilt and an immediate pardon by the next President, defiantly raised his arms in victory and left the White House. This lack of closure or accountability set the stage for a taped interview by David Frost (Michael Sheen) of former President Nixon (Frank Langella) which provided both.  Based on an award-winning play by Peter Morgan and directed by Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind), “Frost/Nixon” tells the larger story of this televised event.  >>More

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2 Stars – Shallow

Producer David Fincher and writer Eric Roth take us on an almost three hour journey through a two hour short story written long ago by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  The end result is a tedious look at a not-so-interesting life.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” tells the life of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) spanning 84 years moving forward from birth to death, while at the same time his physical body ages in reverse.  >>More

Valkyrie

3 Stars – Challenging

This film presents the true story of the last attempt on Hitler’s life by his fellow Germans which was named Operation Valkyrie.  It was given this designation, not because of the names of the attempted assassins, but because of a plan created by Hitler himself to secure the government in the event of his assassination.  Revealing his interest in Germanic paganism, the Fuhrer called it Valkyrie after the female figures of the nation’s mythology who are said to choose who will live and who will die in battle.  In this instance, Hitler was chosen to live and his assassins paid the ultimate price.  This failed assassination event of July 20, 1944 is depicted in the film “Valkyrie,” directed by Bryan Singer (Superman Returns).  >>More

The Day the Earth Stood Still

3 Stars – Challenging

The original 1951 film “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is considered to be in the top ten science fiction films of all time.  In this 2008 remake, the basic theme of an alien coming to our world to hold human beings accountable for our destructive behavior remains the same, but most of the issues and the characters have been changed to current day settings.  >>More

Slumdog Millionaire

3 Stars – Challenging

A well-told story is always engaging.  This is true whatever the culture or the subject, but when you add the mystique of India to a rags-to-riches romance, then you have a riveting literary and cinematic experience.  Written as a novel by Vikas Swarup and translated to film by co-directors Danny Boyle (Trainspotting and Millions) and Loveleen Tandan (Monsoon Wedding), “Slumdog Millionaire” is a story told well.  >>More

Australia

3 Stars – Challenging

The epic nature of Baz Luhrmann’s “Australia” is impressive.  The story is generational with an historical basis that combines the film genres of romance, western, war, religion and civil rights.  As an Aussie, Luhrmann’s love for Australia comes through.  As both author and director, he weaves a visual depiction of life in Australia as we experience the unique geography, seasons and cultures of this intriguing southern continent through the likable characters he creates.  >>More

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

4 Stars – Profound

It takes a child to see the truth and speak it, even when adults are working hard to cover it up with defensiveness, justification and deceit.  Though it is difficult to tell the story of the holocaust to children, John Boyne offers an amazing presentation in his fable The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  Taking this fiction to the screen as both director and writer of the screenplay, Mark Herman creates a compelling study of innocence in the face of horrific evil.  Although it is written for children, it is not a film young children should see.  >>More

Quantum of Solace

2 Stars – Shallow

Grief has many faces.  Though comfort is often found in the loving presence of others, if the loss is woven with guilt and anger, solace can take the forms of self-destruction or vengeance.  Intuitively knowing that we get little actual comfort from these destructive reactions, we nevertheless can become captured by their promised relief.  It is this latter reality that is explored in the most recent James Bond film, “Quantum of Solace,” directed by Marc Forster.  >>More

The Secret Life of Bees

4 Stars – Inspiring

A fantasy which weaves together romance with injustice, improbability with tragedy and abuse with hope, Gina Prince Blythe-Wood’s adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s novel is a delight.  The central character is a young southern teenager who is carrying a deep guilt.  At the age of four, Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning) was attempting to protect her mother from her abusive father when she accidently killed her.  This loss is devastating - not only to Lily but also to her grieving, seething father T. Ray (Paul Bettany).  >>More

The Black Balloon

3 Stars – Challenging

Living in the shadow of an exceptional sibling is difficult.  Whether that sibling is an exceptional athlete, student, musician or whether they are mentally or physically handicapped, much of the family time and attention is focused on them.  This inordinate emphasis creates an injustice that can be stifling for the sibling who is trying to live their own life.  This reality is artistically and emotionally presented in Elissa Down’s award-winning Australian film “The Black Balloon.”  >>More

Happy-Go-Lucky

2 Stars – Shallow

Finding happiness in an empty life is difficult.  Built for significance, each person struggles with the mundane nature of life in unique ways.  Some live in solitude hoping to find what they long for from within.  Others live in relationship thinking that someone else can help them find themselves.  And still others live in a Pollyanna optimism hoping that simple good humor will produce its own joy.  It is this optimistic hope that Mike Leigh presents as both director and writer of the UK film, “Happy-Go-Lucky.”  >>More

Changeling

4 Stars – Powerful

The true story of the abduction of Christine Collins’ son is powerfully told by Clint Eastwood in his newest film “Changeling.” With the eye of a master filmmaker, Eastwood uses this disturbing event and the corruption it exposed in the Los Angeles Police Department early in the 20^th century to remind us that evil can reside in all areas of society. But if persons of faith and courage stand up to such evil, it can be defeated.  >>More

Eagle Eye

2 Stars – Entertaining

It is impossible to discuss “Eagle Eye” without revealing the mystery, so we recommend that you see the film before reading this review if you want to discover the answer on your own. Written by John Glenn and Travis Wright, “Eagle Eye” has an all too familiar theme updated for our post 9/11 world. Due to our fear of terrorist attacks we have created a massive agency to secure our homeland which has powers that also scare us. These interactive fears create the tension and mystery of this D.J. Caruso film.  >>More

A Letter to Dad

3 Stars – Wholesome

The domino effect of fathers harming their sons who then grow to be fathers who harm their sons who then grow to harm their sons is a sad reality that is far too common. Such adults who have difficulty expressing love because of the emptiness and bitterness in their own father relationships need supernatural help. This truth is expressed in the SkipStone film “A Letter to Dad.”  >>More

Fireproof

4 Stars – Inspiring

Marriage can be one of the most rewarding and yet difficult of life’s experiences. When we find someone we are sure we want to be with for the rest of our lives, through better or worse, we do not expect that the fire of passion can go out. But without consistent care, over time and often without our understanding, walls can go up, loneliness can increase and resentments can grow until we feel as though we can’t stand another day married to this person. It is then that a choice must be made: we must seek to rekindle the passion with our spouse, live in a loveless relationship or leave the marriage to live alone or seek love elsewhere. That choice is convincingly explored in Alex Kendrick’s film “Fireproof.”  >>More

High School Musical 3

3 Stars – Wholesome

For anyone who longs for the good ol’ days of Hollywood, “High School Musical 3” is a kickback to another era. When MGM released their series of classic “Andy Hardy” films in the 1940’s with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, one of the best remembered lines came from these two teenagers who proclaimed: “Let’s do a show!” “HSM3” brings this same enthusiasm and proclamation into the 21^st century.  >>More

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

2 Stars – Shallow

Though this entertaining film about dogs by Raja Gosnell is marketed to children, it is shallow in the many of the values it presents and has a rating of PG. This means that parents need to provide their children with guidance in deciding whether or not to view this film due to some humor and content that is not appropriate for children. However, the special effects are engaging as we enter the canine world and see the classism and racism of adults personified in their pets.  >>More

The Sensation of Sight

3 Stars – Challenging

Senseless tragedy can throw any person into despair. But when the person feels in some way responsible for the event, the despair can become debilitating. That is the theme of Aaron J. Wiederspahn’s artistic drama “The Sensation of Sight.”  >>More

Body of Lies

2 Stars – Suspenseful

The multilayered tale of Ridley Scott’s “Body of Lies” is overwhelmed by the violence in the film. Like in his films “Black Hawk Down” and “Gladiator,” Scott demonstrates his skill to present violent stories with such realism that the violence can cause the viewer to withdraw emotionally. This weakens what is actually a suspenseful story with complex characters who could have otherwise been more emotionally engaging.  >>More

Religulous

1 Star – Degrading

There is a saying among Christians that you can tell the spiritual maturity of a person more by the genuineness of their laugh than the piousness of their prayer. Taking ourselves and our religious efforts lightly, mature Christians focus not so much on ourselves or our religion as on Jesus himself. We recognize that we and our churches are imperfect reflections of the One who loves and lives perfectly. So it is no surprise when the sardonic humor of comedian Bill Maher turns his attention to religion, that he finds some inconsistencies. What is surprising is that “Religulous” is not that funny. Taking himself way too seriously and expressing religious doubts at a level consistent with his 13-year-old exit from the Jewish-Catholicism faith-mixture of his two parents, the film is disappointing, seldom rising above adolescent humor.  >>More

Bob Dylan's Jesus Years
Busy Being Born…Again!

3 Stars – Thought Provoking

The iconoclastic nature of Bob Dylan’s life makes it difficult if not impossible to label him. As an artist, his deepened sense of our spiritual, social and political longings permeates his music and his life. Often described as a different person at different seasons of his life, Dylan’s exploration and acceptance of Jesus as his Lord and Savior can be seen as either a true life change or simply another phase in his developing artistic life. In this documentary by Joel Gilbert, the title is itself appropriately ambiguous as he allows the viewer to decide if Dylan is just going through “The Jesus Years” or is in fact “Being Born…Again.”  >>More

Righteous Kill

3 Stars – Thought Provoking

The fact that more police do not lose their moral footing is an amazing thing. Having to put their own lives in harm’s way in order to protect us, police officers have to immerse themselves in the underside of humanity with all the stench that such a place emits. When their personal danger and sacrifice is added to the often frustrating reality that dangerously destructive people are able to avoid prosecution because of legal technicalities, then a sense of righteous indignation can overwhelm the soul. Though this film chronicles an extreme reaction, a psychological and moral study of these pressures is presented in Jon Avnet’s film “Righteous Kill.”  >>More

The Women

3 Stars – Thought Provoking

Applying the familiar formulae of four female friends sharing life, Diane English both writes and directs “The Women.” As a writer for the television series “Murphy Brown,” this is the first feature film either directed or written by English and it is based on a play by Clare Boothe Luce. The result is mixed. The chemistry between the ensemble cast is uneven but the story has more depth than is often found in such films. The four middle-aged women around whom the story revolves are not primarily talking about sex, as you find in the “Sex in the City” foursome. Rather they are sharing the full spectrum of the joys and sorrows of life, family, marriage and career.  >>More

Traitor

3 Stars – Thought Provoking

In every generation, there is a battle waged for the hearts and minds of the citizens of the world. That battle often feels as if it is becoming more ominous with each new incident. Some see this as a clash of economic systems or of the haves versus the have-nots. Others see it as the great battle between self-centered Satan-seduced humankind and the forces of good – or God – that is the cosmic counterbalance in the history of the world. Regardless of your perspective, we are living in such a time today.  >>More

The Case for Faith

4 Stars – Uplifting

The visual presentation of Lee Strobel’s book “The Case For Faith” is compelling. As a follow-up volume from his first book, The Case For Christ, the award-winning journalist applies his investigative skills once again to the questions of Christian beliefs by taking on the doubts that inevitably plague the thoughtful believer.

Using the loss of faith of Charles Templeton as a model for the way doubt can capture the mind, Strobel questions this personal friend and contemporary of Billy Graham. Noting that he was one of the greatest evangelists during the 1940’s, Templeton explains ...  >>More

Burn After Reading

1 Star – Degrading

The quirky artistic style of Ethan and Joel Coen is not for everyone. But our objection to “Burn After Reading” is not based on the unusual style of their filmmaking but on the emptiness and profanity of their moral messages. Pulling together their favorite actors into an ensemble once more, the brothers have written a script that requires nearly every character to use the f-word repeatedly while lying, stealing, committing adultery, murder and treason – with the governmental investigators covering it all up.  >>More

Transsiberian

1 Star – Degrading

The harshly frigid setting for Brad Anderson’s “Transsiberian” fits its moral message. Presenting a story which is brutally violent, there is no one in the film who gives any relief from the unrelenting barrage of cold characters who murder, betray, lie and steal. From the opening scenes of a frozen corpse, caught at the exact moment a knife impaled the back of his skull, to the graphic torture of a young person by that same knife in an attempt to get information, to every character whose moral fire is extinguished by this chilling tale, the film offers nothing that uplifts anyone’s life.  >>More

Man on Wire

2 Stars – Shallow

The life of our World Trade Center towers and Philippe Petit are remarkably intertwined. At the age of 17, Petit as a young Parisian street performer saw a picture of the two towers which were going to be built in New York City and explains that he knew then that it was his goal in life to walk a wire between them. He does so on August 7, 1974 When he is successful his life’s purpose seems to collapse around him. This walk of consuming passion is presented on film by James Marsh in the documentary named: “Man on Wire.”  >>More

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

2 Stars – Shallow

Watching Dave Filoni’s cartoon episode of the Star Wars saga is like watching Shakespeare performed by preschoolers: the intention is good but the result is terribly lacking. What made the Star Wars films a pervasive success was the consistent quality of the story-telling. With live actors and what can only be described as “thrilling” special effects, the story of the struggle between good and evil, darkness and light, was told on a galactic scale. What Filoni and the Star Wars creator George Lucas do in this episode, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is try to take some of the most effective scenes of the previous films and repeat them. There is little that is new in either special effects or story-line as the characters and special effects are both cartoonish.  >>More

Henry Poole is Here

4 Stars – Uplifting

A world in which miracles are not possible is a world without hope. That truth was expressed by Dante in the 1300’s when he suggested that the inscription to the entrance of hell would proclaim that a person will “abandon all hope” by entering there. That the loss of hope often puts a person into a hell-on-earth is compellingly presented by Mark Pellington (Arlington Road) in his intriguing film “Henry Poole Is Here.”  >>More

American Teen

3 Stars – Thought–Provoking

Most of us realize, as we look back on our teen years, that to even survive high school is a major achievement in life. Thrown together during the transition years when everyone’s developing minds are attempting to catch up with developed bodies, the American high school experience is excruciating for many. From cliques to proms, from acne to locker rooms, from tests to play-off games to college admissions letters, embarrassment and pressure is around virtually every corner. That this is still the reality for teenagers in our nation is revealed in this fascinating documentary by Nanette Burstein simply titled “American Teen.”  >>More

Brideshead Revisited

3 Stars – Thought–Provoking

The memories of the missteps of our young adult years haunt many of us. Not yet able to act with the wisdom which comes from experience, the decisions we made are often the best we knew how to do in the moment, but we revisit them with a sense of guilt seeking God’s grace. This reality is what compelled Arthur Evelyn Waugh to write his best known novel “Brideshead Revisited” which has now been made into a film by director Julian Jarrold (“Becoming Jane”).  >>More

Swing Vote

3 Stars – Challenging

When parents struggle with an addiction, it is their children who suffer by losing their childhood. Often having to fill the role of the parent as they “make life work” for their impaired father or mother, this “parentified child” can appear to have capabilities far beyond their years. Looking for a functioning adult to admire and help them make sense out of life, such a child can attach themselves to a teacher and accept that teacher’s passion as their own. This is what happens to Molly Johnson (Madeline Carroll) in Joshua Michael Stern’s second film as director, “Swing Vote.”  >>More

X-Files: I Want to Believe

3 Stars – Challenging

The cinematic reunion of Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) takes The X-Files in an unexpected direction.  As a television science fiction series, the expectation that this cinematic episode will continue the series? exploration into alien abduction and government cover-up is pleasantly turned in the direction of exploring religious faith and belief issues.  This shift dramatically changes the meaning of the subtitle of the film ("I want to believe") from wanting to believe there are alien abductions to wanting to believe that God does interact with and care for people.  Unlike the latest Indiana Jones film (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) which takes the usual Indy storyline about religious beliefs and artifacts and shifts it into a tale about alien creatures, the "X-Files: I Want To Believe" film shifts the storyline in the opposite direction from the usual fare of alien interactions and draws our attention to God?s interaction with humanity.  >>More

Mongol

3 Stars – Thought–Provoking

For many Westerners, the history of Genghis Khan is summed up in faint images of a cruel nomadic invader who lived centuries ago and built an empire over a geographic landscape of which they have little knowledge.  As for many leaders of his time, there weren't scribes or photographers documenting his every move.  Instead, most of what we know about Genghis Khan comes from others who made reference to him in their own works.  >>More

The Dark Knight

3 Stars – Challenging

The comic book story version of Batman is not easily found in this latest presentation of the good versus evil story of Gotham City's most famous crime fighter.  A much darker version of earlier stories, "The Dark Knight" is told with little humor and with its central hero having neither a love interest nor a protégé (Robin) at his side.  His loneliness leads him to be a more solemn and reclusive character than we have known before. This latest of the Batman films asks the question: "Can even the best of us be corrupted?"  In "The Dark Knight," we have a glimpse at the answer.  >>More

Hancock

2 Stars – Shallow Entertainment

In the mythical world of super-beings, the human condition is exaggerated in ways that help us better see ourselves.  From the story of Hercules, who used his enhanced strength to “make the world safe for human beings,” to that of Prometheus, a Greek Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity (for which he was severely punished), mythical beings struggle with their existence just as we do.  The difference is that they do so on a grand scale.  Though our failures may cause us or our family pain, when mythical beings fail, everyone suffers.  This is seen clearly in the mythical saga of John Hancock (Will Smith) directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights).  >>More

Journey to the Center of the Earth

3 Stars – Wholesome

In 1864, when Jules Verne imagined a cavernous world miles below the earth’s surface, he caught everyone’s imagination.  Though the science is not as supportive as in some of his other novels (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days), the images of a lost world with dinosaurs and plants which are extinct on the surface has spawned a whole collection of imitations.  But this most recent version, directed by Eric Brevig (Pearl Harbor, Signs) and screenplay written by Michael Weiss, follows closely to the original plot and strikes a creative chord as it joins the old story with new interests.  One of these changes is of the gender of the guide in the story from a man to a woman, which not only fits the change in our view of women in the last one hundred years, but also adds a little romantic tension.  >>More

Kung Fu Panda

3 Stars – Wholesome

The introduction of the Chinese philosophy of Kung Fu is presented to children in Mark Osborne’s and John Stevenson’s animated film “Kung Fu Panda.”  Legend claims that Kung Fu was being taught as early as the Yellow Emperor, around 2,600BC, and is not only the mastering of martial arts, but the mastering of any skill by hard work and determination.  Thus it is possible for even a Panda to discover his own unique abilities and become a great “Dragon Warrior,” just as it is possible for any child viewing the film to be able to work hard and use their own unique skills and interests to find their own greatness and fulfill their destiny.  >>More

Wanted

1 Star – Degrading

The violence presented in Timur Bekmambetov’s film “Wanted” is overwhelming.  Using the latest in special effects and melding it to the oldest of cardinal sins -  murder, greed, lust and deceit - the audience is given a taste of what hell may possibly be like.

The demonic figure in this realm is Sloan (Morgan Freeman).  Using his distinguished presence to garner their trust, Sloan is the leader of a group of assassins whose ancestors have been at this work for one thousand years.  Their cause is based on a belief that they have discovered a secret code whereby Fate reveals to them the names of humans who need to be killed for the good of humanity.  Using a binary...  >>More

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

3 Stars – Wholesome

The “American Girl” phenomenon has now reached the big screen.  Started in 1983 by the educator, Pleasant T. Rowland, who wanted to create dolls which depicted the various eras of American history, the company was purchased by Mattel in 1998 and Rowland retired in 2000. Before her retirement Rowland created a series of books which told the adventures of the girls within historic moments of American life.  Expanding their dolls into the “Just Like You “ series and marketing them through the “American Girl Boutiques and Bistros” the company then moved into movies in 2003.  The first three films were not released to theaters, but with this fourth adventure set within the depression of 1939 - “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl,” the company has started a new venture.  Unlike many films that create dolls and figurines to sell after the film is made, “American Girl” reverses the process with customers already owning the dolls and having read the books and now seeing the film.  >>More

WALL-E

2 Stars – Shallow

The creative genius of Disney’s Pixar studio has been taken captive in their latest cartoon “WALL-E.” Taking human consumption and waste to the extreme and imagining a time in which garbage has taken over our planet to the extent that people have to leave, the film presents a humanity that is unrecognizable. Though able to create amazing robotic machines and gargantuan spaceships, humans are presented as ignorant, obese beings who have no more sense than to despoil our planet and let robots clean up our mess while we lounge on a cruise ship in space. But this isn’t a cruise ship on which humans dance, swim and recreate, but rather one on which humans no longer walk or engage one another in relationship but instead live on moving, reclining beds with their appetites satisfied by robotic servants while their minds are titillated by holographic television. If this is an attempt to exaggerate a tendency people have to be lazy and wasteful, it does so with incredible dislike for human beings.  >>More

GET SMART

2 Stars – Shallow/Entertaining

Steve Carrell gets it. With just the right blend of egotism and geekiness, along with little self-awareness, lots of luck, and a pervasive panache, Carrell brings Maxwell Smart to life. For those of us who grew up watching Don Adams in the original Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning TV series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, Agent 86 was the epitome of Agent Everyman. Too smart for his own abilities and too egotistical to admit it, Max was an agent we all suspected we would be like if we were part of a secret spy agency like Control.  >>More

THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI
CHILDREN OF THE SILK ROAD

3 Stars – Powerful

The greatness of a person is not measured by their wealth but by their willingness to give their lives in service to others.  This is notably demonstrated in the life of a young Englishman named George A. Hogg.  His sacrifice was relatively unknown until James MacManus, working as a reporter in Beijing, happened upon the story of Hogg’s life and wrote an article on him.  When his article caught the attention of some Hollywood producers, MacManus was invited to write a screenplay.  Although the final story is only based on the life of Hogg, his sacrifice is powerfully presented in Roger Spottiswoode’s film “The Children of Huang Shi.”  >>More

THE INCREDIBLE HULK

3 Stars – Engaging

During the early 1900’s, Freud’s studies of the primal emotions (fear, anger, happiness, love) opened a window for us to better understand our passions. The observation that these emotions often function at a level below our conscious awareness yet still greatly influence our behaviors captured the imaginations of many creative minds. Two creative artists were Stan Lee and Jack Kirby who imagined what would happen if a person were to be taken over by their anger such that it dominated his or her conscious mind. Would such a person lose touch with the other primal emotions and become a vicious monster, or would he or she be able to feel love and happiness as well? To explore this question, Lee and Kirby first published their Marvel Comic of “The Incredible Hulk” in May of 1962. After a 70’s TV series with the same name, it has been brought to the screen four decades later by director Louis Leterrier and screenwriter Zak Penn.  >>More

RISING SON:  THE LEGEND OF
SKATEBOARDER CHRISTIAN HOSOI

3 Stars – Redemptive

The journey of Christian Hosoi is an all-too familiar one.  Described as the “most naturally gifted skateboarder in the world,” Christian experienced notoriety and wealth at a very young age.  Lacking the maturity of a father who could protect him from the intoxication of and temptations of such fame and opportunity, Christian soon found himself addicted and imprisoned.  It is there that the power of the addiction met the “higher power” of God’s redemption.  “Rising Son” is the documentary of his legendary life directed and produced by Cecsario Monaño.  >>More

THE FALL

1 Star – Disturbing

The fantasy tale written and directed by Tarsem Singh titled “The Fall” is creative, ingenious and disturbing.  It has similarities to Rob Reiner’s “Princess Bride” in that it weaves the real-life relationship of a story-teller and child as they share a fictional adventure, but instead of being a light-hearted tale with identifiable characters, Singh tells a dark tale with troubling implications of the story-teller’s intentions toward his young listener.  “The Fall” also has some similarities with such fictional tall tales as Tim Burton’s “Big Fish” and Tim McCanlies’ “Secondhand Lions,” but the adventure is more a nightmare than a fantasy, with a pervasive depressive mood.  >>More

THE LIST

4 Stars – Insightful

The fear of secret societies which have banded together for evil reasons has both a psychological and spiritual dimension.  The psychological is expressed in conspiracy theories where, for example, a candidate might fear that a “right-wing” or a “left-wing” conspiracy might defeat them.  This fear may have some basis in actual events or it may be a paranoid reaction reaching the level of a mental disorder.  The spiritual dimension is expressed in, for example, a believer’s fear of a coven of witches who have banded together to curse them.  Again, this fear may have some basis in the reality of actual covens or it may be an imagined spiritual attack.  In the final analysis, whether it is actual or imagined, the power of the secrecy and the fear of the conspiracy can have a detrimental effect on any who believe it.  This is explored in Gary Wheeler’s film “The List.”  >>More

IRON MAN

3 Stars – Challenging

In 1961, when General Dwight Eisenhower was giving his farewell address as President, he warned us of the “military-industrial complex.” His fear was that the profit which American companies could make by producing arms for the world’s conflicts would change our nation economically, politically and spiritually. Over 40 years later, this fear is creatively and appropriately presented in a fictional film by Jon Favreau titled “Iron Man.”  >>More

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL

3 Stars – Thought–Provoking

The latest installment of Steven Spielberg’s and George Lucas’ “Indiana Jones” film series is both nostalgic and divergent. “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is nostalgic because it is filled with vintage Indy action combining educational intellect with impossible fight scenes. It is nostalgic in its references to Indy’s fear of snakes, the mapping of the airplanes’ route and packed government warehouses where valuable and powerful artifacts are neglected. For those who have seen the previous films, we recognize the hat, shadow and theme music as Indy makes his appearance, and we enjoy seeing cherubim’s wings on the Ark of the Covenant as it is revealed inside a damaged crate. But this fourth film created by the combined genius of Spielberg and Lucas and still casting 65-year-old Harrison Ford as “Indy” is divergent because  >>More

CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN

3 Stars – Wholesome

The second installment of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, “Prince Caspian,” is engaging cinema. Though the story is not as allegorical or insightful as the first film, the special effects and cinematic techniques are improving. Adapting and directing these first two films, Andrew Adamson (who also directed Shrek) is on schedule  in 2010 to make the third film, “Voyage of the Dawn Treader.”  >>More

SPEED RACER

3 Stars – Wholesome

Just as they did with the Matrix films, the Wachowski brothers wrote and directed “Speed Racer.” Based on the television cartoon series by Totsuo Yoshido, they take the action and special effects to a whole new level while keeping the basic storyline in place. However, the frenetic pace and complex visual imaging of this film are not like the Matrix films. In a fantasy futuristic world where the colors are as vibrant as the racing machines, the laws of physics are suspended but the laws of morality are strongly in place. A tale of good against evil, with family and loyalty highly praised, “Speed Racer” is a film with a simple message within the cacophony of sights and sounds that combines live actors in a computer-generated world.  >>More

THE VISITOR

3 Stars – Challenging

The obvious agenda in Thomas McCarthy’s film “The Visitor” is critiquing the United States government’s immigration policy and practice.  As both director and writer, McCarthy weaves a depressing tale that grieves over a constellation of sorrows, from the inhumanity with which illegal aliens are treated to the emptiness the death of a spouse can create.   In an attempt to find redemption and hope, little is offered except for the rhythmic beat of the drum and the fleeting moments of human connection.  >>More

YOUNG @ HEART

4 Stars – Inspiring

From the opening note to the final moments of a chorus member’s life, this documentary by Stephen Walker is masterfully presented.  Using the repetitive symbol of vehicles on all types of Massachusetts roads, Walker allows us to travel with the “Young @ Heart” chorus not only through the seven weeks of preparation for their next concert, but through the winding turns of some of the member’s final miles as well.  >>More

The Counterfeiter - Die Fälscher

3 Stars – Disturbing

The moral issues of real life are far more disturbing than those of a fictional tale.  Thus, when a film portrays an actual event in human history, we know that the actors are not being forced to face fabricated circumstances but rather re-enacting events that have actually occurred.  This adds an additional level of identification with the story as we wonder how we would have dealt with such circumstances, especially when the events involve the systemic evil of genocidal racism perpetrated by the Nazi party during World War II.  Winner of the Academy Award for best foreign film, “Die Fälscher” or “The Counterfeiter” is a German film directed by Stefan Ruzowitsky.  >>More

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

3 Stars – Thought-provoking

Only time will tell whether the type of “docuganda” this film represents is going to be helpful or harmful to the pursuit of truth.  Joining the ranks of films like Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11,”   Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” or Ewing and Grady’s “Jesus Camp,” Ben Stein’s “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” will be appreciated primarily by those who already hold the beliefs espoused by the film.  If you believe that science and religion should have no wall between them and if you find your faith being supported by scientific inquiry as it discovers how God’s creation operates, then you will agree with Stein’s premise.  But even if you agree with that premise, you may be uncomfortable with the lengths he goes to in making his point.  >>More

Leatherheads

3 Stars - Challenging

The manner in which George Clooney directs and stars in “Leatherheads” is endearing as well as entertaining.  Casting himself as Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly, the partial owner of the fledgling professional football team called the Duluth Bulldogs, Dodge is struggling to keep the team and the league alive in 1925.  Defeated, Dodge has the idea of recruiting a college football star and World War I hero, Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski from the sitcom “The Office”).  When he succeeds, his life and the league are changed forever.  >>More

21

3 Stars - Troubling

The temptation to use our abilities for selfish or illegal gain is always before us as human beings. We are most often able to withstand this temptation when we are mentored by honest and honorable people.  But when a person of influence, such as a professor or coach, encourages us to use our intellectual or athletic gifts for selfish or even illegal purposes, then it is difficult to stand against such pressure.  This is the lesson presented by Robert Luketic’s film “21.”  >>More

And Now For The Winners ...

4 Stars - 2007

Recognizing the power that films have to influence and reflect the human condition, on the eve of the Academy Awards we present our own 2007 CINEMA IN FOCUS 4-STAR AWARDS  >>More