Flicks & Faith Archive

POST PUBLISHED INJanuary, 2011

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Getting Lost at Sundance

January 28th, 201112:57 PM ET

By Marc Newman

Two days in to week two at Sundance and I am detecting a theme, at least in the films that I selected to see at this, the nations premiere independent film festival: we are lost. I am sure that there are plenty of feel-good films here in Park City, but for some reason, I have not seen them. Over the span of 48 hours I have watched as filmmakers sh...
Faith, Doubt, and Demonic Possession in The Rite

January 27th, 201105:48 PM ET

By Marc Newman

"I wonder you should ask me whether it is essential to keep the patient in ignorance of your own existence. That question, at least for the present phase of the struggle, has been answered for us by the High Command. Our policy, for the moment, is to conceal ourselves." Screwtape, in The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis Somebody down belo...
Cinema in Focus - BLACK SWAN - 3 Stars

January 23rd, 201108:57 PM ET

By Denny Wayman

Novels are known for their ability to portray the inner thoughts and struggles of their characters better than cinema. But in Darren Oronofsky's film of the "Black Swan" we have a masterpiece of psychological story-telling. Taking us inside the world of professional ballet, he also takes us inside the mind of the driven ballerina, Nina Sayers (Nata...
Cinema in Focus - CASINO JACK - 3 Stars

January 11th, 201107:40 PM ET

By Denny Wayman

It was British Lord Acton who in 1887 wrote, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." No where is there a better modern day example of this than in the life of Jack Abramoff, the super-lobbyist that went to jail in 2006 for a host of corruption charges stemming from his influence peddling in Washington D.C. "Casino Jack" te...
Cinema in Focus - THE FIGHTER - 3 Stars

January 10th, 201102:11 AM ET

By Denny Wayman

Do we love someone for who they are? Or, do we love someone for what they can do for us? Most people will probably admit that it is a combination of both, but when a relationship becomes strained you will have to decide which value is the most important to maintain. "The Fighter" tells a semi-true story of Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg), a small time...