Flicks & Faith Archive

POST PUBLISHED INApril, 2010

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Cinema in Focus - THE BACK-UP PLAN - 2 Stars

April 29th, 201010:02 AM ET

By Denny Wayman

Robert Burns' observation that "the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray and leave us not but grief and pain for promised joy" is humorously presented in Alan Poul's film "The Back-up Plan." Written by Kate Angelo, who writes for such television shows as "Will & Grace" and "The Bernie Mac Show," the humor is obvious while the c...
Cinema in Focus - FLYWHEEL - 3 Stars

April 28th, 201007:45 PM ET

By Denny Wayman

Denny Wayman and Hal Conkling It is a cliché to present a used car salesman as being greedy. However, to suggest that such behavior can destroy a person unless he turns away from his self-centered greed is a visual parable. Written and directed by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, "Flywheel" is a small budget film which is surprisingly effecti...
Cinema in Focus - DATE NIGHT - 2 Stars

April 22nd, 201002:50 PM ET

By Denny Wayman

Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin It is a healthy practice for married couples to keep their romantic relationship vibrant by continuing to go out together on "date nights." But for many, these evenings become as obligatory as the other chores their shared lives require. This reality is the theme of Shawn Levy's "Date Night." Written by Josh Kla...
Kick-A** and The Perfect Game: How Kids Are Portrayed in Film Says A Lot About Our Culture

April 16th, 201002:00 PM ET

By Marc Newman

The 1957 Little League World Series team from Monterrey, Mexico is facing another David and Goliath story this weekend. This time it doesn't happen on a baseball diamond, but at the box office. The Perfect Game is based on the true story of a poor Mexican Little League team's improbable road to baseball immortality. How will these boys f...
cinema in focus - LETTERS TO GOD 3 Stars

April 12th, 201002:07 PM ET

By Denny Wayman

Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin Approaching life through the eyes of a child is to see the world with faith-filled hope. It is no wonder that when a child's life is threatened by disease, we marvel at his or her ability to see the world clearer than we do as adults. Children absorb what they know about life by watching others, and, in particular...
Cinema in Focus - WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO? 2 Stars

April 12th, 201002:04 PM ET

By Denny Wayman

Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin Marriages have qualities that are both similar and unique. They are similar in that the frustrations and temptations are common to all couples, and they are unique in that every couple finds their own way to express their love. So when Tyler Perry wrote and directed this film on marriage, we all identify with the q...
New on DVD -- Letters to God – Christians Should Vote with their Wallets

April 06th, 201004:37 PM ET

By Marc Newman

This Tuesday an amazing thing is going to happen. The kind of movie that evangelicals loudly claim to want is coming to a video outlet near you. Letters to God -- a film directed by one of the producers of Fireproof -- is a family drama about Tyler, a young boy who literally writes, and mails, letters to God. In the letters, Tyler speaks to ...
Cinema in Focus - TERRIBLY HAPPY - Frygtelig lykkelig - 1 Star

April 05th, 201004:22 PM ET

By Denny Wayman

Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin There is no better depiction of hell than Henrik Ruben Genz Danish film "Terribly Happy - Frygtelig lykkelig." Beginning with a sardonic parable of a village in South Jutland which was plagued with problems until they buried a freakish creature in their bog, the film depicts life in which evil is buried and life is...
Cinema in Focus - HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - 3 Stars

April 01st, 201010:59 AM ET

By Denny Wayman

Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin Dragons have long been a symbol for the fear of the unknown. Using the phrase "Here be dragons" map makers of the 16th century would denote the edge of their knowledge and warn that from there unknown dangers may be found. Taking this symbolic language literally, directors Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders join forc...