The more specific you can be the more helpful it will be for the rest of us. We are especially interested in material others might not be aware of that you have found moving or interesting. What specifically brought this to mind is an off handed reference in my most recent sermon to my wife and I particularly liking English and Scottish mysteries. I was then asked about by several parishioners which mysteries and how did we get them–KSH?
An indy film called Blue Like Jazz, starring no one terribly well known yet. It’s about a young Southern Baptist Texan who goes to a very lefty college in Oregon, and along the way learns to overcome his moralism and learn true Christian charity, all the while having his faith challenged to its roots, but not losing it. It’s got a bit of language, but it’s a really good story.
2016 Obama’s America. Excellent documentary, no explicit political axe to grind, simply traces the history of this still mysterious person to try and understand who he is, why he thinks the way he does, and why he acts the way he does. From this perspective, D’Sousa tries to predict what America would look like in 2016 after a second Obama term as President.
Honestly, I haven’t seen too much that is new and good since the 2nd season of Downton Abbey.
Goodbye Mr. Chips. Saw it when I was 14 and watched it with my wife and a 14 year old young fellow from the neighborhood this past Sunday.
The Inspector George Gently Series, originally from the BBC and available in DVD now. Also, Foyle’s War (PBS), superbly led by Michael Kitchen.
Salmon Fishing on the Yemen. I read the book by Paul Torday a number of years ago. Casting was brilliant, movie true to the book. Great fun.
Sounds stupid, but Battleship was a lot of fun.
How about “The American Bible Challenge” on GSN (game show network)? “Sherlock”, “Endeavour”, and pretty much anything else on Masterpiece Mystery is a must watch for me. Also, “Yukon Men” on the Discovery Channel is a gripping show that reminds me about how comfortable our lives are, in general, and how we are not so far removed from subsistence living.
I tried “Hatfields and McCoys” on the History Channel, but found it too violent and gritty. This then begs the question of why I like “Copper” on BBC America, and cannot wait for the new season of “Sons of Anarchy” to begin on the Fox Network.
Finally, for flights of sheer fantasy, BBC American has just started the new season of “Dr. Who.”
OK, I pretty much never watch movies and fairly carefully regulate the movies my kids watch (don’t know how long that’s going to be successful, but I try). However, their dad lets them watch whatever movies they want when they’re on a plane. (He’s sleeping anyway.) They all flew back from Israel last week (I stayed home for money, job, and animal care-taking reasons) and watched “A Thousand Words” with Eddie Murphy on the way home. Then they wanted me to watch it with them at home.
OK, it’s got language (a LOT of language) and the “winning” philosophy appears (at least at the beginning) to be something being taught by an Indian guru-type, but the theme (or at least the way its played out at the end) is incredibly Christian.
Basically, the plot is this. Eddie Murphy is this incredibly slick, fast-talking literary agent. He’s a nice guy, but he doesn’t mean a word he says about anything (he prides himself that he can sell any book to any company, without having actually read the book). He hears about an Indian guru with a big following in the U.S. who rumor has it has just written a book. He hustles out to the ashram and gets the guy to sign a contract that he will be his exclusive agent. (The scene of Eddie Murphy trying to blend in in the ashram is hysterical.) While there, he scratches himself against a very beautiful and special tree. The scratch leaves him bleeding, and the camera cuts to show us the tree is slightly bleeding as well.
Back at home, things do not go well. First of all, he discovers that the “book” is actually a five page pamphlet. Next, he discovers that the tree has moved to his backyard. Whatever happens to the tree, happens to him (hence, he cannot cut it down, etc.). Furthermore, every word he speaks causes the tree to drop a leaf. He’s completely freaked out and calls the guru to find out what’s happening. The guru says that he has no idea, but that somehow he and the tree have some kind of mysterical relationship. Whatever happens to the tree, will happen to Eddie Murphy. And as long as Murphy keeps talking, leaves will keep falling. In the end, there will be no more leaves, the tree will die, and so, thinks, will Eddie.
The next hour of the movie is watching Eddie Murphy trying not to talk which is sometimes pretty funny but mostly stupid. However, we’re all waiting for the ending. We know Eddie Murphy can’t die. So what is the secret? Be a nicer person? Listen more? Find his inner and true self? Say “I love you” sincerely and mean it? The answer is none of these and is way more Christian than I expected a movie like this to go. My kids and I actually spent considerably time discussing it afterwards, so that was a good thing. Enough maybe to justify scenes like where Eddie screams at someone that they’re a “d*^&-head” and two leaves fall off the tree and Eddie turns and screams at the tree “d*^&-head is one word!”
Bernie is the best movie I’ve seen lately.
Sherlock is far-and-away the best thing I’ve seen of late.
I really enjoyed the movie Winter’s Bone.
Two great foreign films on Netflix…
“Downfall” which is without a doubt the best, and historically most accurate dramatization of the last days of Hitler and Nazi Germany. It is chilling and incredibly tragic. The original is in German but the English language version is excellent. Caution: Language and graphic violence
“John Rabe” the story of a German industrialist who orchestrates the establishment of a safe zone in China’s Nanking during the infamous massacre of 1937. The was man almost certainly primarily responsible for saving upwards of 200,000 lives. He is a huge hero in China and virtually unknown in the rest of the world. His life went downhill after this and he died destitute in postwar Germany. Again; language and violence.
Both films are very powerful on an emotional level.
Just saw the movie Page Eight on PBS and enjoyed it. I really like British spy movies but, for some reason, haven’t been keen on the 007 franchise. In the same genre, if you haven’t watched the MI-5 series (called Spooks in the UK), DO! Netflix has every single episode and season. It ended not long ago. I miss it terribly.
I also like George Gently, Touching Evil and Wire in the Blood. The last movie I saw was the Dark Knight Rises.
“The Last Song” with Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth. Watched it on my iPhone at the gym over two sessions. I really don’t care what the critics say, I loved the story line and the love between a daughter and her dying father. Lots of good themes of recognizing one’s mistakes, recognizing the need for reconciliation, and recognizing the need for forgiveness.
The Secret of Kells which is beautiful and unique.
I know it’s old, but I think “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” is just a wonderful movie. The music in it is magical as well.
On Netflix, just refound Branagh’s, “Much Ado About Nothing”. Still pure joy some eighteen years later. Also on Netflix, Michael Wood’s historical documentaries (originally on PBS), especially India.
The most interesting, disturbing example of moral ambiguity on film that I’ve seen recently was “Disgrace” with John Malkovich. Like “Winter’s Bone” but probably even more complex commentary on corruption, racism, sell-out, redemption, and/or personal choices. Watch it with some smart friends and you’ll probably spend 3 more hours discussing it. Disclaimer: Like Winter’s Bone, not for the faint of heart, but if anyone can watch Winter’s Bone or “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”, then it would be do-able, IMHO.
Based on a novel of the same name(sorry, not a novel I have read yet) that won the Man Booker Prize some years back.
Well, let me see: How about “The Good Wife,” or “Blue Bloods?” Or “CSI New York?”