2019: The year in reviews
An exquisite art-house film about a beatified martyr. The triumphant arrival of a belated documentary of a celebrated gospel concert. A fact-based drama about an alliance of devout and unbelieving survivors of clerical sex abuse calling for justice. These are just a few of an unusually large crop of notable films that tackled religious and spiritual themes in 2019.
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Let’s face it, they could play John Williams’ ominous “Imperial March” over scenes of Uncle Deadly from the Muppets lobbing Green Goblin pumpkin-bombs at Scrat the saber-squirrel (I mean, they literally could, legally, and you could watch it on Disney+ forever and ever), and many of us would still feel emotions stir.
A Hidden Life (2019)
An ecstatic, anguished three-hour cinematic hymn, Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life sings the life and death of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter in asymmetrical binary form, in contrasting theologies — theology and anti-theology — of the body.
The Two Popes (2019)
For a Catholic critic — or at least for this Catholic critic — a movie like The Two Popes presents a number of temptations.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood holds a special place — it would not be too strong to say a sacred place — in the hearts of many. Yet that neighborhood is an infinite distance from where we live now.
Frozen II (2019)
Anna and Elsa’s relationship is a major improvement on the first film, but in almost every other way this sequel is lost in the woods.
Faith and Ferocity: Interview With Harriet Producer Debra Martin Chase
Harriet’s appeal is multifaceted, appealing to three demographics underserved by mainstream Hollywood fare: women, people of color and people of faith. Producer Debra Martin Chase knows something about these three demographics.
Harriet (2019)
The strongest scene in Kasi Lemmons’ Harriet might be a moment when its indomitable protagonist appears at her weakest.
Light from Light (2019)
I’m tempted to call Light from Light the first ghost story I’ve ever seen that I completely believe.
Of Grief and Ghosts: Interview With Light from Light Writer-Director Paul Harrill
Silence, reflection, the search for meaning, the interior life: These are among the hallmarks of Paul Harrill’s work.
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