Tag: Best of 2016

Best of 2016: Arrival

Deja vu all over again?  Or are we merely stepping out of our linear experience of time for a more holistic view?

Although I reviewed this film in short, non-spoiler form on Episode 6, its acclaim and themes deserve a full podcast.  So I am joined by the Master, Bo Bonner, for a thorough, spoiler-filled review of Arrival to continue our Best of 2016 Series.

Starring Amy Adams (in a near-perfect performance) and directed by Denis Villeneuve, Arrival garnered much praise from the critical and Christian circles.  We examine the themes of the film as well as asking the important questions:  Is the plot coherent?  Is it pro-life?  And why do I not like Jeremy Renner?

Enjoy!

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA.  Photo by Mozilla [CC BY 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Best of 2016: La La Land

The dreaded musical.

The bane of man’s existence.  The fly in the ointment of the cinematic universe.  I HATE MUSICALS.  Without exception.

Until, of course, La La Land.  Damien Chazelle’s 2016 neo-musical (is that a thing?) starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling has garnered a record-tying 14 Oscar nominations and become a hip thing to hate almost simultaneously. Is it over-, under-, or properly-rated?

To help me evaluate the film, given my dearth of musical knowledge, I am joined by the Catholic Movie Gal.  We discuss why this movie, despite its being a musical, is one of my favorite films of 2016.

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA.  Photo by Jelson26 (Own work) [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Silence

For our fabulous fifteenth podcast, the Brewmaster General and I tackle the controversial 2016 film Silence.  Directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the Shusaku Endo novel of the same name, the film tackles big issues: faith, love, evil, acculturation, martyrdom, and apostasy.

Silence is a beautiful, gruesome, depressing, hopeful, infuriating, enlightening, and all-around difficult film;  one which is neither the anti-Catholic (or apostasy encouraging) screed nor faith-affirming propaganda some reviews would have you believe.  For the well-formed conscience, it presents many worthy ideas for consideration, meditation, and discussion; but does it satisfactorily resolve them?

Forewarned is forearmed – this movie spoils the movie and the book in a major way, but I think this is a movie/book that is actually better to have spoiled before watching/reading.

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA.  Painting of the Nagasaki Martyrs by the Cuzco School [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

 

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Best of 2016 Series – Hail, Caesar!

My Best of 2016 Series continues with Hail, Caesar!  Yet another Coen brothers’ film, the Timman and I discuss in-depth this interesting (and Catholic?) movie, starring Josh Brolin as one of the most admirable Catholic characters since the Golden Age of Hollywood.

How can something so ridiculous as the movies mean so much?  Is the movie celebrating religion, mocking it, or both?  Is the studio the Church?  How do we reconcile the use of profanity in this movie and art in general?  Where does the film rank in the Coens’ filmography?  Did my wife like it?

Enjoy!

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA. Photo by Rclick-wiki (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Best of 2016 Podcast – Hell or High Water

Howdy, ya’ll.

This week we continue our Best of 2016 series with Hell or High Water, the 2016 western starring Jeff Bridges and Chris Pine.  It is definitely in my personal Top 5 for 2016.  Set in West Texas, I bring on my good friends Dr. Bud Marr and Professor Bo Bonnor of the UnCommon Good on Iowa Catholic Radio to discuss this engrossing picture.

Who was in the right in this movie?  Is there space in Catholicism for Robin Hood?  What makes a Western, a Western?  Did my wife like it?

Hope you enjoy!

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA. Photo by Siebbi (Wikimedia Commons file copied from Ipernity (archive)) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons).

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Best of 2016 Series: Love and Friendship

Happy Twelfth Night!

Our first episode of 2017 is the first in a sporadic series:  my favorite movies of 2016.  Instead of just reading a top ten list, throughout the year I will dedicate certain podcasts to examining in-depth my favorite (and, therefore, the very best) movies of 2016.

This week, theTimMan and I focus on Love and Friendship.  Written and directed by Whit Stillman based on an unfinished Jane Austen work, it is a funny, intelligent, and enlightening film about – spoiler alert – love and friendship.

Male listeners/readers: do not despair! This is the rare romantic comedy/historical period piece that you might actually enjoy watching with your significant other!  Listen to find out why.  Discussion is spoiler free until about the last five minutes.  Give it a shot as a well-rounded guy – you’ll be better for it!

 

As always, intro and outro music is Wastecnology by Jahzzar Betterwithmusic, CC BY-SA. Photo in Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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