Denny Wayman
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Cinema In Focus is a social and spiritual movie commentary. Hal Conklin is former mayor of Santa Barbara and Denny Wayman leads the Santa Barbara Free Methodist Church.

  • Cinema in Focus - EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE - 3 Stars

    January 23rd, 201208:51 PM ET
    By Denny Wayman
    Grief is never an easy process. When the grieving person also has the challenges of Asperger's or other relational disorders, the process is even more difficult. Unable to fully connect with others, such a person often turns in their grief to their own idiosyncratic methods to deal with their pain. This is where young Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) fin...

  • Cinema in Focus - THE IRON LADY - 3 Stars

    January 21st, 201211:52 AM ET
    By Denny Wayman
    It is easy to understand why Phyllida Lloyd chose Meryl Streep to portray Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." Not only is she a gifted and nuanced actress who sympathetically portrays Thatcher in her cloistered life as an octogenarian with dementia, but Streep also believably portrays the confidence and stubbornness of Thatcher at the height of h...

  • Cinema in Focus - JOYFUL NOISE - 4 Stars

    January 17th, 201202:40 PM ET
    By Denny Wayman
    It is a delight to get caught up in the inspirational experience of every aspect of Gospel music. Modern as well as traditional Gospel music is an obvious symbol of the history and tradition of the Black Christian Church in America. In writer / director Todd Graf's "Joyful Noise," it is also obvious that the experience of attending the traditional ...

  • Cinema in Focus - WE BOUGHT A ZOO - 4 Stars

    January 11th, 201202:06 AM ET
    By Denny Wayman
    Based on the true story of a British man whose family purchased a dilapidated zoo and refurbished it into an acclaimed zoological park, "We Bought A Zoo" is more about the humans than the animals. Directed by Cameron Crowe and joined in writing the adapted screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna (27 Dresses, The Devil Wears Prada), the original story is ...

  • Cinema in Focus - A DANGEROUS METHOD - 2 Stars

    January 10th, 201202:46 PM ET
    By Denny Wayman
    For those who find the work of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung fascinating, David Cronenberg's version of their lives will be a frustration, but with some interesting observations. Based on the non-fiction book of John Kerr titled "A Most Dangerous Method: the story of Jung, Freud, and Sabina Spielrein" and adapted for the stage and screen by Christoph...

  • Cinema in Focus - MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - Ghost Protocol - 2 Stars

    January 05th, 201212:50 AM ET
    By Denny Wayman
    The stunts are breathtaking in Brad Bird's "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol." Even though we know that the star of the film series, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), would not be allowed to die, the entire audience holds our collective breath as he climbs on the outside of the Burj Khalifa at 130 stories with only a high tech glove. This view of him ...

  • Cinema in Focus - THE ARTIST - 3 Stars

    January 02nd, 201203:24 PM ET
    By Denny Wayman
    Over eight decades have passed since sound movies became an overnight sensation and silent movies became history. It is a remarkable achievement, therefore, to release a "silent movie" in 2011 and have audiences find it so fascinating. Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist" takes us back to the 1920's in this captivating look at ...

  • Cinema in Focus - WAR HORSE - 4 Stars

    January 01st, 201211:41 PM ET
    By Denny Wayman
    Horses are complex creatures. Similar in many ways to humans, they are competitive and loyal, stubborn and responsive, fearful and courageous, and seek love wherever it might be found. This resemblance has caused our relationship to horses to be one of companionship and compassion as we easily empathize with their reactions. Recognizing that the gr...

  • Cinema in Focus - Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows - 3 Stars

    December 20th, 201109:36 PM ET
    By Denny Wayman
    The fictional struggle between the famed detective Sherlock Holmes and his arch nemesis, Professor James Moriarty, was created in December of 1893 by Scottish author Arthur Conan Doyle. Depicting both as geniuses who exemplify the best and worst of human beings, Holmes is a man of physical and moral courage while Moriarty is a narcissistic egomania...

  • Cinema in Focus - NEW YEAR'S EVE - 3 Stars

    December 15th, 201105:46 PM ET
    By Denny Wayman
    Everyone needs love, forgiveness and a second chance. That simple truth is the theme of Garry Marshall's holiday film "New Year's Eve." Similar to other Marshall films with a positive message such as The Other Sister, Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries, we recommend his work. Written by Katherine Fugate who joined forces with Marshall in their ...
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About this blog
Reviews, discussions, articles, and opinions on films and faith.