Friday, March 16, 2012

Sister Helena talks about upcoming movies

Just want to share with you an amazing new film that opens April 13, BLUE LIKE JAZZ. It's about a young Christian man who--for various reasons--is disgusted with his Christian faith, and opts for a wild, radically secular party school college far from home where he hides his faith and tries to assimilate.

This movie is rated PG-13 but was almost rated R by the MPAA because of its "realness" with regard to campus life. I would say mature teens 15 and up. (But of course, many parents are not monitoring--or don't really have control over, or are in denial about--what their teens are really watching, so definitely recommend it to these types!) Definitely for college students. (Lots of language and mature themes. Director Steve Taylor won't let his own 15-year-old daughter see it yet, just so you know.)

Although it's made by Christians and examines issues of faith, it's extremely edgy and holds its own with any campus/coming-of-age film. The Christians portrayed are not perfect and they know it. But the main character comes to realize that Jesus is perfect, and that he shouldn't be ashamed of Him just to fit in.

Of course OCTOBER BABY opens March 23--another amazing film for a much more general audience (although deals with weighty topic of abortion). This film tells the stories of people effected by abortion that we have never heard before (e.g., a baby who survived an abortion and an abortion nurse). It's compassionate and bold at the same time.

Both these films need us to go OPENING WEEKEND! THAT'S ALL THAT HOLLYWOOD CARES ABOUT, COUNTS, AND WHAT DECIDES THE FATE OF THE FILM!

2 comments:

Christie said...

Interesting...want to see both movies...I'm expecting good things from Don M. & Steve T.

Ken Smith said...

I didn't know that Steve wouldn't let his daughter see it - that's pretty funny. But yes, it's a good flick, and worth seeing. Let's hope it inspires better things from Christian filmmakers. (It's a shame that although Christians have made and continue to make their mark in nearly every other art form, we're still dramatically underrepresented in cinema, especially quality cinema, which is the only kind that really counts . . .