What’s So Funny? (Or: Christianity and Comedy are Not Exclusive)
On Movies & Media,Overstreet's Books,Through a Screen Darkly,Blog
March 9, 2014
A criminal steals a baby. Are you laughing? A rabbi uses Jesus's name in vain? Is that funny?
3 Comments26 Minutes
The Incredibles (and Other 10-Year-Old Films); Jesus Films; Matt Zoller Seitz; Scott Cairns
On Movies & Media,Blog,Looking Elsewhere
March 3, 2014
This week, special thanks go out to Brad Bird, Matt Zoller Seitz, and more. Find out why.
0 Comments6 Minutes
Not Gonna Bow: Notes on the Oscars
March 2, 2014
It appears that a lot of people have completely misunderstood what cinema is for, concluding that it's all some big cockamamie competition.
7 Comments5 Minutes
Is Groundhog Day the Most Meaningful Comedy Ever? Or The Truman Show?
February 28, 2014
9 Comments1 Minutes
The Great Beauty (2013)
On Movies & Media,Blog,Film Reviews
February 22, 2014
I've just seen "The Great Beauty" and I'm still a little bit drunk on its imagery. It's a feast for those with big appetites for beauty on the big screen. But alas, the meal is soured by a bitter syrup.
4 Comments9 Minutes
Before You See That Noah Movie, Read This…
February 22, 2014
Here's an article about the upcoming "Noah" movie that's sure to rub some Christian readers the wrong way. But Darren Aronofsky likes it. So does Russell Crowe. And so do I.
7 Comments4 Minutes
Listen Closer: St. Vincent, Beck, Neneh Cherry, Lost in the Trees… and U2
February 17, 2014
Got headphones?
0 Comments8 Minutes
Hard to Be a God — The Science Fiction Film of the Decade?
February 17, 2014
This film first won my attention when one of my favorite film critics rated it a perfect "10." I began to dig for information. What is this movie? Why such a bold title?
6 Comments12 Minutes
The LEGO Movie (2014)
On Movies & Media,Blog,Film Reviews
February 8, 2014
The LEGO Movie is, at once, a movie with more laughs-per-minute than any recent comedy I can remember; the greatest LEGO invention of all time; and a thrilling summons to unleash our own creativity — not only with our LEGOs, but with our lives.
8 Comments17 Minutes
Wait… how did I end up in The New Yorker?
On Movies & Media,Interviews,Blog
February 7, 2014
0 Comments7 Minutes
Six Movies to Revisit Before You See The LEGO Movie
February 4, 2014
I encourage you to revisit this short list of movies before you go watch the LEGOs this weekend. Why? Let me explain...
6 Comments4 Minutes
Through a Screen Darkly… Again?
Overstreet's Books,Through a Screen Darkly,Blog
January 27, 2014
My book Through a Screen Darkly was published in 2007. Martha Bayles' book, grabbing the same title, was published in January 2014. I'm going to take that as a compliment.
0 Comments13 Minutes
In Case You Missed It: Personal Highlights of 2013
On Movies & Media,On Songs & Albums,On Books & Writing,Overstreet's Books,Blog
January 16, 2014
I am so grateful for evenings, weekends, and coffee breaks. Those are the chances I have to share what I do best. I hope that some of it was useful to you in 2013. Here are some of the highlights of my past year...
2 Comments18 Minutes
Her (2013): a guest review
On Movies & Media,Blog,Film Reviews
January 8, 2014
Guest reviewer Lauren Wilford on Spike Jonze's new film: "Depending on your perspective, Her has either an amazing elevator pitch or an awful one: 'A guy falls in love with his iPhone.'"
6 Comments15 Minutes
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): a commentary
On Movies & Media,Blog,Film Reviews
January 6, 2014
"What? You liked The Wolf of Wall Street? How could you possibly recommend such a profane movie that revels in so much evil?" Written as a response to messages like that one, this post was originally titled "Respect The Wolf of Wall Street (The Movie, Not the Man)"
13 Comments22 Minutes
Listen Closer: Peter Gabriel, Joe Henry
January 2, 2014
A new year of musical invention begins with an all-star lineup of artists celebrating the music of Peter Gabriel. Also: Joe Henry, live at KEXP.
0 Comments2 Minutes
Overstreet’s Favorite Recordings: 2013 — Part Two (#10-#1)
December 31, 2013
What music meant the most to you in 2013? Here are my personal favorite albums of the year— a top ten list for a year that was overflowing with great music.
3 Comments31 Minutes
Overstreet’s Favorite Recordings: 2013 — Part One (#25-#11)
December 28, 2013
I've narrowed this year's list of my favorite records down to 25 titles that I would have happily included in a Top 5 list at the end of a typical year. I invite you to listen to standout tracks, counting down from #25 to #11.
0 Comments16 Minutes
Her (2013): a fictional review
On Movies & Media,Blog,Film Reviews
December 25, 2013
This review of Spike Jonze's film "Her" is Part Four of the new fiction series I call "All Thumbs Video."
2 Comments30 Minutes
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
On Movies & Media,Blog,Film Reviews
December 21, 2013
His name is Salieri, and in Milos Forman’s beloved film "Amadeus," he is played by F. Murray Abraham. Why am I talking about "Amadeus" when this is supposed to be a review of "Inside Llewyn Davis"? Stay with me. It’s important.
2 Comments13 Minutes
Looking Closer’s Last-Minute Christmas Gift Recommendations
On Movies & Media,On Songs & Albums,Blog
December 19, 2013
Many of you are scrambling to pick up gifts for friends and family, and I feel compelled to bring some possibilities to your attention... gifts that would enrich the lives of those who care about excellence, beauty, truth, and the arts.
0 Comments16 Minutes
Big Screen 2014: Been There… and Back Again… and Again…
December 18, 2013
There's a new "Gilligan's Island" movie in the works. What's more, those two sequels you've been dying to see are finally happening: a follow-up to "Rounders" and the mandatory "Shakespeare in Love 2." What will we do while we wait for these grand contributions to cinema? No worries. Here's what Hollywood has in store for us...
3 Comments6 Minutes
The Abomination of “Desolation”: Two Hobbit-Related Lists
December 11, 2013
"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is here. But I didn't attend the press screening. Why? I'll explain. But first, here are five important bits from a review by my favorite movie reviewer...
7 Comments7 Minutes
Indiana Jones and the Pirate Muppets of Dagobah
December 6, 2013
Today, Disney took control of the Indiana Jones franchise. So I challenged my friends to see who could come up with the best title for Indiana Jones V. Here are a few of their suggestions...
1 Comment2 Minutes
Disney’s Frozen Get Chilly Reception (From Some of My Favorite Critics)
November 29, 2013
"There’s nothing I’d like more than to tell you [that Frozen] is a musical fairy-tale triumph: a throwback to the days of Beauty and the Beast, like many critics are saying." That's how the great Steven Greydanus begins his review of Frozen. Can you sense the pending "But..."? Here it comes.
8 Comments5 Minutes
How to Be Rebellious and Have a Better Black Friday
November 29, 2013
You could go out into traffic, join the long lines at Best Buy and Target and Wal-mart and [name your favorite box store here]. Or...
0 Comments2 Minutes
Looking Elsewhere: November 11, 2013
On Movies & Media,Blog,Looking Elsewhere
November 11, 2013
This week, Looking Closer sends a Hi 5 to the Face out to Fast Company, NPR, Todd Fadel, Ridley Scott, Christianity Today, Sam Phillips, Matt Zoller Seitz, James Rocchi, Mike D'Angelo, John Sayles, and more!
0 Comments9 Minutes
A Dog Named Inigo, A Cat Named Scully… and Other Pets Named After Movie Characters
November 8, 2013
A few days ago, I asked people to speak up about the pets that they've named after characters from movies. Then it started raining cats and dogs.
2 Comments4 Minutes
12 Years a Slave (2013)
On Movies & Media,Blog,Film Reviews
November 2, 2013
It's a film I would encourage every American over the age of 16 (in general) to see. It's important. It's necessary. But it is also, in my opinion, limited and even undermined by certain aspects of McQueen's artistry.
5 Comments22 Minutes
Looking Closer with Jeffrey Overstreet
(now the ears of my ears awake andnow the eyes of my eyes are opened)
– e. e. cummings, “i thank You God for most this amazing”