Mere musings on culture, life, and theology by Samuel James
Samuel James on March 2, 2018 I agree with almost everything Carl Trueman has to say in this piece, which makes me all the more eager to briefly interject and explain why I think he's wrong to make the movie industry his whipping boy. Trueman's contempt for Hollywood celebrity culture is understandable and justifiable. But like many Christian commentators who turn…
Read More
Samuel James on September 14, 2017 At one time in my life I had very serious aspirations to sit for hours at a time in a movie theater, watch films, write about them, and make money (or at least, break even!). I no longer have those desires. I still love movies, and am rarely happier than in a cinema. And I…
Read More
Samuel James on May 6, 2017 I have a quick word on this take on movies and culture from Freddie deBoer. I agree with 99% of what he says, and have tried at various times to make the point he makes. But I do have one issue with his thinking, and that is his notion that a film without sex is…
Read More
Samuel James on March 3, 2017 Look at this headline from a movie review in The Metro: The evangelical entertainment 'The Shack' is almost a real movie I'm not entirely sure why, but what struck me most about this headline was not the clever zinger, but the term "evangelical entertainment." When I read that, I thought: "It is?" I suppose I've…
Read More
Samuel James on February 1, 2017 My wife and I saw La La Land last night. I found it dazzlingly entertaining, and even more than a bit moving. Emma Stone fully deserves her Oscar nomination (Ryan Gosling was fine, but his performance has been overrated). I think it's one of my favorite films from last year. I was genuinely surprised by the…
Read More
Samuel James on December 16, 2016 Some first impressions from tonight's screening of Rogue One: This is the Star Wars film that critics of George Lucas' prequels wanted instead. I told my brother-in law-in the car heading home that Rogue One is a love letter to fans of the original series. The comparisons to The Force Awakens are inevitable. But these…
Read More