Questions for the writer of "The Nativity Story"?
I'll be interviewing Mike Rich, screenwriter of Finding Forrester, The Rookie, Radio, and The Nativity Story, this afternoon.
The guy's being interviewed by all kinds of religious press publications. I'm sure he's heard some questions a hundred time.
So I'm sitting here listing questions that he might not have heward. I'm curious... what would YOU ask him? What do you want to know about The Nativity Story and how it was made?Read more
"The Nativity Story": Gritty realism? Or sentimental, romantic iconography?
Christianity Today's David Neff, in the new issue:
"This film ... runs from the horror [of Herod's bloodshed] and quickly reverts into Silent Night"-happy ending mode. The shift from the realism of Mary and Joseph's life in Nazareth to the romantic iconography of the Nativity scene seems to be a surrender to the romantic structrure of the plot. The gritty reality of village life in first-century Palestine is abandoned in favor of Christmas-card sentimentality, with wise men, shepherds, animals, and the holy family posing as if they were ceramic figurines on your mantelpiece. ... The Nativity Story is not boldly realistic like The Passion of the Christ."
Snow Day at Overstreet Headquarters
Anne wisely decided not to sit back and relax on several inches of snow.
But I chose otherwise.
Glen Workshop Alert!
Click on the ad* to see the large-sized version.
Here comes the 2007 Glen Workshop!
*This is the first time a photograph of mine has ever been used in an ad. And it was just a spur-of-the-moment snapshot out the window of Over the Rhine's car.... Thanks to Mary Kenagy for surprising me with the honor!)
"Promises": A Movie That's More Powerful Now Than It Was When First Released
If you haven't seen Promises, find it and rent it.Read more
Quick Looks: "Casino Royale," "The Double Life of Veronique," "Catch a Fire"
It's that time of year again, when there are so many interesting films playing that I just can't keep up with them all.
And considering the pile of extra writing projects I'm dealing with right now, I'm farther behind than usual.
I did, however, manage to see three impressive films this week. While I won't have time to write full reviews anytime soon, here are some quick recommendations...Read more
Film Critic Pet Peeves: "Stranger Than Fiction" Edition
From a Christian film review of Stranger Than Fiction:
It is a shame that a film based around such a clever idea couldn’t have been slightly altered to make an otherwise interesting story more palatable for families. Hollywood continues to add in offensive elements that serve no real purpose to the plot in spite of proof that films that are family friendly will appeal to wider audiences. And that is truly stranger than fiction.
Three thoughts in response to this conclusion:
1.
"It is a shame that a film based around such a clever idea couldn’t have been slightly altered to make an otherwise interesting story more palatable for families."
Why?
Why is it a shame that a film about grownups behaving the way grownups do couldn't be altered to make it more palatable for families?
The filmmakers could have told a story for children, but no, they were telling a story that they hoped would appeal to grownups. They wanted to move and inspire adults who might have lost touch with what is important in their lives. So, they let their adult characters behave like many adults do. I consider it a strength of the film that it told a whimsical story to grownups, who should be able to deal with the way the film portrays some adult misbehavior.
Is it a shame that Shakespeare didn't dumb down Hamlet or King Lear so second-graders could enjoy it? Stranger than Fiction isn't Shakespeare, but it is a comedy for discerning adults. And that's not a bad thing.
There is an attitude amongst many Christians that good movies are all family-friendly. Would they prefer bookstores and libraries that contain only children's books?
Is it a shame that The Bible wasn't revised to be more palatable for families? Should we shake our heads in disappointment that they decided to leave Ezekiel's 23rd chapter in there, or Song of Solomon, or the rather graphic descriptions of Ehud's endeavors with a knife?
2.
"Hollywood continues to add in offensive elements that serve no real purpose to the plot..."
On what does this critic base her claim that someone "added in" some "offensive elements"?
What I saw in the film was a bunch of grownups with some of the rough edges that grownups often demonstrate. They cuss occasionally. They make some rash decisions. A guy sleeps with his girlfriend. People do this all the time. And the autenticity of the adults' behavior only added to the film's sense of relevance for grownup viewers. It looked like a story that relates to the messed up world grownups live in.
(It turns out the critic was offended by glimpses of a few male backsides in a scene that "included" them because, well, it was pretty funny.)
Movies are stories told by people who live in this messed-up world. They reflect some messed-up ideas and messed-up behavior. "The world speaks of the holy in the only language it knows, and that is a worldly language," says Frederick Buechner.
These "elements" are parts of life that people see when they look around them. They may or may not agree with Christians as to whether or not these things are grave errors or sinful. But who are we to require that storytellers cut out anything that might offend us? The Bible itself reflects all kinds of misbehavior, even in its God-fearing heroes.
Should we wish that The Bible's storytellers hadn't "added in" all of that talke about murder, foul talk, sexual misbehavior, thievery, blasphemy, etc. etc. etc.?
Why did the writer of Ezekiel 23 have to "add in" all of that talk about whores, testicles, and semen?
3.
"Hollywood continues to add in offensive elements ... in spite of proof that films that are family friendly will appeal to wider audiences."
Should all filmmakers strive to make family-friendly films just because family-friendly films will appeal to wider audiences? Should an artist's chief goal be to reach the largest audience that he can? Should box office success be the primary aim of anybody?
Since when do Christians preach that entertainers should make choices based on what will earn the most money?
There's proof that pornography is a lucrative business as well. Should entertainers let that influence their decisions?
Film Critic Pet Peeves: "The Fountain" Edition
Just ranting about another film criticism pet peeve...
Don't you hate it when a critic makes a statement that says, "If you don't agree with me, well, you're just not enlightened like I am"...?Read more
Publishers Weekly on "Through a Screen Darkly"
It's not often I steal a line from Darth Vader, but here goes: "This will be a day long remembered."Read more