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Netflix Horizon
Here’s a brief heads up about some movies that are about to be released in the next few weeks, on Blu-Ray or DVD. Hopefully we’ll see if we can do this on a regular basis.
TODAY: 127 Hours is being shipped today by Netflix — with a stunning performance by Mockingbird favorite (Freaks and Geeks) James Franco.
APRIL 5: The last season of Friday Night Lights. DZ and others say it is amazing. Put it at the top of your queue now.
ALSO ON APRIL 5: I was elated to hear that Taxi Driver, one of the great movies of the amazingly fertile…
Children At Play
Slate posted a good article yesterday about children, learning, and the effect of the Law in early learning environments: i.e. an Authority Figure telling you what is right and true and interesting rather than you discovering that on your own.
It’s a good piece and I really agree with everything it says. (Full disclosure: I spent much of my early and mid-20s working with children, and have been thinking about learning and school ever since I was 9 and discovered teachers were crazy.)
What I find most striking, though sadly familiar, is the timidity with which the Slate columnist approaches her piece. She…
The Joy of Lent
A sweet meditation from Psalm 32 on the huge release that comes from admitting what we are — and why Ash Wednesday is the happiest of days.
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,whose sin is covered.Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
While I kept silence, my body wasted awaythrough my groaning all day long.For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;my strength was dried up* as by the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,and I did not hide my iniquity;I said, ‘I will confess my…
Ideas or the Human Heart?
From a BBC news flash yesterday:
Pope Benedict has rejected the idea of collective Jewish guilt for Jesus Christ’s death, in a new book to be published next week.
Tackling an issue that has led to centuries of persecution, the Pope argues there is no basis in scripture for the Jewish people to be blamed.
It’s a good thing for the Pope to say this, of course. But the BBC article (read it here) is misleading in that it repeatedly gives the casual reader the impression that this idea is the result of groundbreaking exegetical research. That’s of course always going to be…
The Sally Fowler Rat Pack (at 7-years old)
NEW YORK CITY—This dance school image was part of a photo story about upper-class children taking dancing lessons and being taught social graces. The lesson pictured was conducted in the lobby of a ritzy Park Avenue building to the music of a live four-person band, part of the social set Lester Lanin Orchestra that used to play at many of the New York balls and social events (and perhaps still does), 1977.
Taken from Slate’s always amazing MAGNUM photo gallery.
Watch the Mockingbird favorite Metropolitan if you want to see those kids all grown up.
Sweden’s Ongoing War Against Sexism
The last time Mockingbird looked, Swedish clerics were deeply worried about girls there who wanted their fathers to “give them away” in the marriage ceremony. Swedish concern most recently has extended to men, brutally victimized by boxer shorts. Here’s our latest update (thanks again to JD).
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A Swedish advertisement featuring a muscular man clad only in a pair of boxer shorts has been condemned as offensive to men as it portrays them as “mere sex objects”. Sweden’s advertising ombudsman upheld a complaint against the advertisement, promoting a television operator called Boxer, in which a photo shop character called Robert stretches out on…
Love Me Like My Dog
The Associated Press reported this week that one of seven people surveyed said they would dump their husband, wife, or significant other, before they’d lose their pet.
One of the biggest reasons cited is that they get a lot of judgment and criticism from their spouse and get unqualified love from the latter.
Scotty Emerick – “Love Me Like My Dog”
The Stories Behind The Songs | Myspace Music Videos
But is this news? Scotty Emerick, in this hilarious ballad to a girlfriend, told us as much a few years ago. Give it a listen and you’ll be happy you did.
Mockingbird At The Movies
Here’s hoping your Inner Child has a wonderful time at the movies this year. God bless us, everyone!
“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
– Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17
“Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise.”
– Matthew 21:16
Coming Attractions
Here are seven movies being released on DVD in Jan/Feb (most of them on Jan 11 or 18). I haven’t seen them yet — but they all feel like home runs.
Get Low. “A deft blend of dark humor and poignancy” and a huge standout from a MB perspective. Read this great Christianity Today interview with Robert Duvall about it.
The Social Network. Making either #1 or #2 in many of critics’ Top Ten lists around the country. Our DZ and the NYT comment here.
The Town. Great action/thriller. Also making many critics’ top ten lists.
The Other Guys and Cyrus. Two…
The Twelve Thank You Notes of Christmas
An imaginary (and increasingly hostile) series of letters to someone’s True Love. Hoping it will inspire you in your thank you notes this season.
Luther on the Nativity
From Martin Luther’s Christmas Book:
Let us, then, meditate upon the Nativity just as we see it happening in our own babies. I would not have you contemplate the deity of Christ, the majesty of Christ, but rather his flesh. Look upon the Baby Jesus. Divinity may terrify man. Inexpressible majesty will crush him. That is why Christ took on our humanity, save for sin, that he should not terrify us but rather that with love and favor he should console and confirm.
Behold Christ lying in the lap of his young mother, still a virgin. What can be sweeter than the…
NPR’s Nina Totenberg Apologizes For Saying "Christmas"
“I want to say one thing about the budget that didn’t get passed, the omnibus bill. You know, we talk a lot about – we just passed this huge tax cut in part because business said, you know, we have to plan, we have to know what kind of tax cuts we have. Well, these agencies, including the Defense Department, don’t know how much money they’ve got and for what. And I was at – forgive the expression – a Christmas party at the Department of Justice and people actually were really worried about this,” NPR’s Totenberg said on PBS…
Best of 2010: Favorite Documentaries of SD
A week ago, DZ posted a sweet roundup of the documentaries he’s seen and loved this year. Here are a few more from me.
5. I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale. John Cazale was one of the great actors of the 70s — perhaps of all time. You may know him from playing Fredo in The Godfather (the title of this documentary is a famous line between Al Pacino and John Cazale.)
I Knew It Was You is a touching look at this gifted artist, who’s stunning performances in The Godfather, The Godfather II, The Conversation, The Deer Hunter, and…
No Laughing Allowed
OK, to be honest, I am a movie/TV nerd, and everything I know about football comes from watching Friday Night Lights. If you actually threw a football at me I’d be more likely to duck than catch it.
But I ran into this story over the weekend and would really love to hear what you folks at MB think about it. I walked away feeling so much for this guy, who is quarterback Derek Anderson for the Arizona Cardinals.
This is what happened, as far as I can tell. The Cardinals were getting hammered, it was the fourth quarter, they were down…
Ethan Richardson: Here's the full cast list! Look at all those Zahls... Editing, Sea...
Matt Schneider: DZ, I'll have to do some Wiman homework ... still need to catch up on ...
David Morton: The link to the recording is wrong. I started to try to listen to it ...
Page: I've always been fascinated by anonymous and stranger interactions lik...
Bryan J.: I love this image of trying to "out-sacrifice Jesus," or even trying ...