Responding to the Complaints about “Noah”

Posted on February 25, 2014 at 4:09 pm

As I noted earlier, Variety reported the results of a bogus survey as though it represented legitimate concerns from the faith community about the upcoming film, “Noah,” starring Russell Crowe and directed by Darren Aronofsky.  It is always disappointing when a small portion of the Christian community perpetuates the worst stereotypes too-often assigned to all believers, coming across as shrill, prejudiced, and thin-skinned, far more interested in finding reasons to be offended than in demonstrating compassion, humility, and grace.  We saw that this week in The American Family Association’s calling on its members to protest a “profanity-laced” television commercial with only one bad word: “hell.”  And then there is this silliness, yet another bad example of people who devote more energy to telling other people whether they qualify as Christians than paying attention to their own behavior.  A good refresher for those who claim to be victims of bigotry is this essay from a United Church of Christ (UCC) minister and fire station chaplin.  Basically, if you can worship in the place and manner of your choice and your only objection is that you cannot control the behavior of other people, you are not the subject of discrimination.

This hypersensitivity is just one reason it is so difficult for Hollywood to produce films that honestly portray people of faith or stories based on the Bible.  The New York Times’ Michael Cieply, a movie producer-turned reporter, wrote a piece called “Can God Make it in Hollywood?”

Once, studios routinely made movies with overtly religious themes for the mainstream audience. Classics like “The Ten Commandments,” “Quo Vadis” and “A Man for All Seasons” — each of which was nominated for a best picture Oscar — were box-office winners with a wide range of viewers. But after years of neglect or occasional hostility, the question now is whether Hollywood can still find common ground with religious audiences.

That is borne out by stories like the one in Variety, based on a survey with a biased question put to people who had not seen the movie.  So it is very reassuring to see this excellent piece by Steven D. Greydanus in the Catholic Register, titled Everybody Chill Out about the “Noah” Movie.

There’s a lot of room in the biblical story for interpretation and imagination, and anyone who’s been thinking about this story as long as Aronofsky has is likely to have some interesting insights into it.

It is well worth reading in full.  As noted before, unlike some of the people who are complaining about “Noah,” I will wait to report on the movie after I have seen it.

 

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Should Faith Audiences Like the New “Noah” Movie?

Posted on February 19, 2014 at 3:59 pm

Russell Crowe plays Noah in a new movie from director Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler,” “Requiem for a Dream”) and co-starring “Harry Potter’s” Emma Watson and Oscar-winner Jennifer Connelly.

Variety reports that a group called “Faith Driven Consumers” conducted a poll finding that 98 percent of their tiny, self-selected group were not “satisfied” with the movie.  However, none of those polled (or those conducting the polling) had actually seen the movie, which is still in post-production.  Furthermore, the members of the Faith Driven Consumer group may not be representative of the faith community or even those who do not so identify but will be interested in the movie because it is a big, effects-driven historical epic with an exciting story and two Oscar-winning stars.  Most important, the poll is severely flawed because of the way the question was posed: “As a Faith Driven Consumer, are you satisfied with a Biblically themed movie – designed to appeal to you – which replaces the Bible’s core message with one created by Hollywood?”  Even assuming that they are correct about the Bible’s core message, since they have not seen the movie it is close to bearing false witness for them to frame the question this way.  And it is highly disrespectful for the commenters on this bogus story to ignore the fact that it is not just Christians, much less some subset of Christians, who have an interest in the story of Noah, who is an important figure in Jewish and Muslim texts as well.

It is likely that the movie will be very respectful of the faith-based audience and present the story of the man who followed God’s direction in a way that will be meaningful to believers and inspiring for those who are open to it. But I will not judge it until I see it, and I will report back then.

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Spiritual films Understanding Media and Pop Culture

A New Television Series Explores Contemporary Issues in the Ten Commandments

Posted on January 15, 2014 at 8:00 am

WGN America and he Weinstein Company are joining together to produce “Ten Commandments,” a 10-part scripted series that with directors including Gus Van Sant, Lee Daniels, Jim Sheridan, Wes Craven and Michael Cera each taking on a different commandment and giving it a modern day interpretation.  This sounds like an American version of Krzysztof Kieslowski’s The Decalogue.  Looking forward to it!

 

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Spiritual films Television

Jews Telling Jokes and Stories: Doc Club

Posted on December 6, 2013 at 3:55 pm

Jews Telling Jokes & Stories” on Doc Club in December

The Jewish legacy of storytelling and humor enlivens December Doc Club’s  diverse selection of films on IFC’s SundanceNOWa virtual destination for streaming independent films online. From classic Jewish comedy to a look into Jewish worlds rarely seen by the public, no topic in the history of Jews and Judaism is off limits in this comprehensive selection of films.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVgxRD4s9BU

Films included in “Jews Telling Jokes & Stories” are:

  • A TICKLE IN THE HEART follows the kings of klezmer music on a tour as joyous as their music.
  • DEFAMATION takes a witty and irreverent approach to examining anti-Semitism.
  • ARGUING THE WORLD traces four New York intellectuals who came of age in the 1930s and took different paths of thought.
  • FOUR SEASONS LODGE looks at an aging group of Holocaust survivors driven by an unquenchable passion for living.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lzDl5BAhKQ

 

  • A LIFE APART takes us inside the closed world of Hasidism.
  • JEWS AND BASEBALL interviews players and fans in a film that’s about more than just sports.

 

 

  • Finally, the two-part WOODY ALLEN documentary delves into the life and career of the iconic comedian and filmmaker.

 

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Contest: Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas

Posted on December 1, 2013 at 3:59 pm

merry larry Veggie Tales: Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas is the latest holiday treat from Bob and Larry and the gang, and it is one of their best.  “Merry Larry” is an enthusiastic employee of the Spring Valley Mall who serves as “Head Elf” during the Christmas season. Each day he hears countless children’s requests for what they’d like under their Christmas trees. But one little girl’s request catches his attention.  Christina just wants to help her friend, Mrs. Crespie, who lost her house in a fire, get a new house for Christmas. Merry Larry sets off on a caper to create the biggest light show EVER to bring attention to Mrs. Crespie’s situation. Meanwhile, the mall manager, Philip Fleagle (Bob the Tomato) finds he has NO lights and no head elf for the mall’s spectacular Christmas display, right on the day the owner of the mall is supposed to visit! Will Philip realize what the “true light of Christmas” is really all about and help Merry Larry rally the community to get Mrs. Crespie in a home by Christmas?

I have a copy to give away!  Send me an email with Larry in the subject line and tell me your favorite silly song.  Don’t forget your address!  (US addresses only)  I’ll pick a winner at random on December 6.  Good luck!

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Contests and Giveaways Holidays Spiritual films
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