Becky Fisher closes camp following Jesus Camp Reactions

Back in April I mentioned 3 "Summer Camp" documentaries that were coming out this year. Of those, the one that has received the most press in recent months has been the film Jesus Camp.

Jesus Camp is a documentary about the "Kids on Fire" Summer Camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota. At this camp children are sent to learn how to unleash their "prophetic gifts" and "take back America for Christ."

Magnolia Pictures Eamonn Bowles say that this film is not an agenda film, "it doesn't come with any prepackaged point of view."

Yet even though film makers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady do not make a social comment on what is portrayed in the film about charismatic fundamentalist children, Rev. Becky Fisher is closing down her Kids on Fire Camp.

Fisher says she must close the camp because she has a responsibility to "keep the children safe." Since the release of the film the camp in North Dakota has been vandalized, as well as the Assemblies of God church associated with the film as well.

Others portrayed in the film, namely Ted Haggard, pastor of the 14,000 member New Life Church in Colorado Springs, also was very angered at this film, and the way he and his church are presented.

Haggard urged people to boycott the film saying: "You can expect to learn as much about the Catholic Church from 'Nacho Libre' as you can learn about Evangelicalism from 'Jesus Camp.' This movie manipulates facts like a Michael Moore film and works the camera like 'The Blair Witch Project.' It's one more 'documentary' that seems to miss the point intentionally."

Related Tags: Jesus Camp, Documentary, Summer Camp, Kids on fire, Devils Lake, North Dakota, Christianity, Charismatic, Conservative, Assemblies of God, Magnolia Pictures, Eamonn Bowles, Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, Becky Fisher, Ted Haggard, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Film

Post-Viewing Thoughts Flags of Our Fathers Recognition

In September I asked the question "Who would be recognized in Flags of Our Fathers?"

Well, after seeing the movie, it's pretty clear that if anyone receives any star-loving it will be Adam Beach who plays the Pima Indian Ira Hayes. I am still prone to include him in the list of support actor Oscar front-runners.

There are other good performances, such as Barry Peppers role as Platoon Sgt. Mike Strank, but there roles are limited for significant recognition.

Come award season, I doubt that Ryan Phillippe's name will make any awards list. I'm not necessarily saying he was poorly cast, but Phillippe plays the role of John Bradley pretty flatly, at a fairly consistent character stuck in some very dramatic situations.

Jesse Bradford did a good job in his unique role as Rene Gagnon, but Bradford and the role just doesn't seem the type to lead to award recognition.

To those who have seen the film, or know the stories behind the famous Iwo Jima photograph, I find it ironic that as before when I posted pictures for the various actors playing the flag raisers in the film, that I was unable to find one for Benjamin Walker who plays Harlon Block. Alas, he is pictured right.

ultimately when it comes to "Who Will Be Recognized?" beyond Adam Beach, it will be recognition of Clint Eastwood, for his direction, maybe Paul Haggis for his writing, and the technical team maybe in areas like cinemotography, art direction, sounds, and make-up.

Related Tags: Benjamin Walker, Harlon Block, Barry Peppers, Mike Strank, Flags of Our Fathers, Ryan Phillippe, John Bradley, Adam Beach, Ira Hayes, Award Buzz, Academy Awards, Oscars, Clint Eastwood, Paul Haggis, Rene Gagnon, Jesse Bradford

A Sign that Has Changed My Life

Yesterday my brain started playing the Sliding Doors game. In Peter Horwitt's film, Gwyneth Paltrow's character lives out two different possible realities with the principle difference being that in one she made it on the metro train after being fired from her job, and in the other reality she does not.

As you can notice from my blog postings I've been a little extra busy lately, largely because of moving to a new city, with a new job, and doing new things. Yet I have to believe my life would have been totally different if certain decisions and interactions had not occured.

Namely, before enrolling in my first semester classes almost a decade ago I noticed a sign for a campus organization that met on Monday nights, I thought I might be interested in checking out the organization once school started, but I was about to sign up for monday night astronomy class and changed my schedule as I walked over to the library to insert my course choices.

My first week of school I debated about whether I would go to that first monday night meeting, and interestingly enough the people in the room that night changed my life forever, namely, by many of them becoming good friends, roommates, etc.

But one of those people in the room, a senior, forced my involvement in that group, became the connection point for my first job out of college, and is now my boss.

Hum? Glad someone posted a sign that I saw on the way to registering for classes, if not it all might be different right now.

Related Tags: potential realities, gwyneth paltrow, peter howitt, sliding doors, college

The Pursuit of Sappyness

I'm not usually one who's into happy holiday movies. I don't mind seeing them, but I rarely look forward to them.

Yet, for some reason the movie The Pursuit of Happyness staring Will Smith, and his son Jaden Smith is intriguing to me. (Coming out Dec 15, 2006)

Based upon the trailer, the film looks like a feel good drama about a father who wants to get custody of his son, and pursues a professional career in order to get his life together in order to get custody of his son and raise him the way he wants to.

Why, am I interested in this film...I don't even know why. Will Smith looks like he does a good job in the role and well, it looks familiar (almost like Raising Helen or something) but at the same time there's something about it that feels different, and that combination of similar/different is attractive...even if it does look a little bit sappy.

Related Tags: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness, Upcoming Movies, Custody, Holiday Films

Yunus Receives Nobel Peace Prize

Congrats to Mohammed Yunus for winning the nobel prize. Yunnus an economist founded Grameen Banks of Bangladesh.

Grameen banks have been very unique because they give small loans...I mean small (were talking 60 dollar loans here) to people who normally couldn't get loans, often women with children, who need just a little capital for initial set up fees for small businesses (say to buy chickens in order to sell eggs, or cloth to begin sewing dresses).

In the process Yunus and Grameen banks have done well and made quite a profit, but also have significantly helped fight poverty by giving the poor an opportunity to work hard and be productive in society, helping the economies of entire communities.

I think Yunus is an excellent choice for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Related Tags: nobel peace prize, Mohammed Yunus, Grameen Banks, Bangladesh, Economy, Economist, Poverty, Social Justice, Capital

October 20th Face-Off: Prestige vs. FooF

VS.

Both The Prestige and Flags of Our Fathers premiere in wide release Friday October 20th.

I can't help but wonder months from now which of this films will be viewed as a better film, highest money grosser, more critically acclaimed, more award winning, and most entertaining?

Previous post about Flags of Our Fathers: 29 Sep 2006 Who Will Get Recognized in Flags of our Fathers?; 18 Jan 2006 Flags of Our Fathers

Previous post about the Prestige: 27 Jun 2006 Brief Look at the Life of Nikola Tesla; 23 Jun 2006 Will the Prestige by Magical?; 26 May 2006 Hugh Jackman's Shot to Break Free to New Genres

Related Tags: flags of our fathers, the prestige, film

Good Quote

"Whoever you always answer your cellphone for -- that's who you're in a relationship with."
--Nate played by Adrian Grenier in The Devil Wear's Prada


Related Tags: The Devil Wears Prada, Quote, Adrian Grenier, Relationships, Cellphones

quick "The Devil Wears Prada" thoughts

This past weekend I was flying and the inflight movie was The Devil Wears Prada. (Readers who know me, will probably find the showing of this film on my flight somewhat ironic.)

I found the film to be quite enjoyable, it was like a romantic comedy, but instead of being about the romantic tribulations of a young man and a young woman, it was about the on-again off-again interest a woman (Anne Hathaway) has with her cut-throat and serious job.

Was this movie amazing, would I recomend it to thousands...nah. Yet, it's good...it's just a movie where, "it is what it is."

In this film, I was most impressed with the acting. I though everyone did a great job with their parts. While the roles are not complicated in an Academy Award deserving way, I was especially impressed with Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt, and Anne Hathaway.

Meryl Streep did a good job as we'd expect her too...although I'm hesitant to say that because I find it unfortunate that she will likely receive a best actress nomination for this film, and her role is neither lead nor earth shattering.

Related Tags: The Devil Wears Prada, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, Award Buzz, Academy Awards, Oscars, Film

Richard Griffiths Campaigned as Lead Again

In my October supporting actor predictions post, I included Richard Griffiths in the supporting catagory receiving a nomination. But after receiving glowing press, Fox Searchlight has put Richard Griffiths back in the lead catagory for the role which won Griffith's a Tony Award.

This is an interesting choice, because the field for best supporting actor has a lot of potential nominees, with really none positioned as locks, except maybe Jack Nicholson for his role in The Departed.

The best actor catagory certainly could have some room for Griffiths with the only lock being Forrest Whitiker from The Last King of Scotland. Who knows how this will play out for Griffiths? A nomination may be easier in the lead catagory, but I think a win will be much harder.

(image from LA Times' Gold Derby)

Related Tags: Academy Awards, Oscar, Award Buzz, Richard Griffiths, History Boys, The Departed, Jack Nicholson, Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Film

Barry Levinson's "wide variety" of films

Barry Levinson's film Man of the Year staring Robin Williams came out wide this weekend.

This has led me to think about Barry Levinson's hit and misses for me. The Academy Award winner (1 win, 6 noms) certainly has produced a large "variety" of work.

All Out Favorite: Rain Man
It's an unforgetable iconic film that will stand the test of time...it's funny, witty, different, and smart.

Touches me in a Personal Way: Avalon
This story about a Jewish family in the early 1900s creates images that help me picture what it must have been like for my great-grandparents, a Jewish family who came over to the US in the early 1900s.

Why'd I do that to myself: Sphere
There was an era where I'd read all of Michael Crichton's books and an era where I'd watch all the film adaptations (Disclousure, Jurassic Park, Lost World, Congo). Hum? I don't know why I did that to myself?

Why'd you do that to the world: Toys
Ugh...every time I see the VHS or DVD box anywhere, it makes me a little sick.

Creepy in Retrospect: Wag the Dog
It's wierd of things happen and politics and you think to yourself, "it's like that movie that came out in 1997")

A Good Funny Film: Bandits
It's really very entertaining for what it is. Cate Blanchett, Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton all crack me up.

Related Tags: Barry Levinson, Toys, Man of the Year, Robin Williams, Avalon, Rain Man, Wag the Dog, Bandits, Sphere, Movies, Film Director, Michael Crichton

Word Made Flesh

"The written word, as amazing as it is, never truly expresses what the speaker is trying to say. Which, I guess, is why God sent Jesus" --Paula in a comment in this post.

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation" --Paul in a letter to the church of Colosse, Colossians 1:15

Language, Jesus, God, Colossians, Paul

Grace in Sticky Situations

For some reason, I was thinking today about recent films that have the word Grace in them, and what these films say about grace.

Interestingly enough, but these films deal with drugs, but beyond that the basic premises are different.

Maria Full of Grace deals with a young Columbian girl (Catalina Sandino Moreno), pregnent with child, while Saving Grace deals with an older British woman (Brenda Blethyn) dealing with the death of her husband.

But both these women, in hard situations turn to drug trafficking (in very different ways) and Saving Grace is far more comical than Maria Full of Grace. Yet, in both situations Moreno and Blethyn both are potrayed as sympathetic heroes. You root them on, because you know their illegal acts are out of personal desportation and in turn you find symphathy on the characters. You view their struggles, downfalls, and poor decisions with grace. They are in a hopeless state.

When grace is defined with words like mercy, clemency, and pardon...grace becomes the perfect word for how as an audience you view these two women, who's illegal acts and unfortunate situations create a desire to forgive and pardon their acts, and even hope that good things will come from their illegal deeds.

Related Tags: grace, maria full of grace, saving grace, Catalina Sandino Moreno, brenda blethyn, columbia, great britian, drug trafficking, desperation, film

Grace According to Seinfeld

New scene - Elaine at her job interview at Doubleday with Mrs. Landis.
LANDIS: Of course, Jackie O. was a great lady. Those are going to be some tough shoes to fill. Everyone loved her. She had such...grace.

ELAINE (gushing): Yes! Grace!

LANDIS: Not many people have grace.

ELAINE: Well, you know, grace is a tough one. I like to think I have a little grace...not as much as Jackie -

LANDIS: You can't have "a little grace." You either have grace, or you...don't.

ELAINE: O.K., fine, I have...no grace.

LANDIS: And you can't acquire grace.

ELAINE: Well, I have no intention of "getting" grace.

LANDIS: Grace isn't something you can pick up at the market.

ELAINE (fed up): Alright, alright, look - I don't have grace, I don't want grace...I don't even say grace, O.K.?

LANDIS: Thank you for coming in.

ELAINE: Yeah, yeah, right.

LANDIS: We'll make our choice in a few days, and we'll let you know.

ELAINE (stands up): I have no chance, do I?

LANDIS: No.
(They shake hands.)

LANDIS'S INTERCOM: Justin Pitt to see you.

ELAINE: Justin Pitt?

LANDIS: He was a very close friend of Mrs. Onassis's.

ELAINE: "Mrs. Onassis's"? That's hard to pronounce.

LANDIS: Excuse me?

ELAINE: Nothing.

PITT: Mrs. Landis, there's something wrong with this copying machine, it's all coming out slanted. Now, I don't know if this is your department or not.

LANDIS: Justin Pitt, this is Elaine Benes.
(Elaine turns around. With sunglasses and a scarf on her head, she bears a close resemblance to Jackie O.)

PITT (clearly affected by Elaine's appearance): Charmed.

ELAINE: I was a great admirer of Mrs. Onass-sis-sis-sis...

New scene - Elaine and Mr. Pitt having lunch at the coffee shop.

PITT (looking at Elaine and smiling): The resemblance is uncanny. Even the brown eyes.

ELAINE: Well, a lot of people have brown eyes.

PITT: No, there's something else. An indefinable quality.

ELAINE: Grace?

PITT: grace, yes.

ELAINE: You think I have grace?

PITT: Some grace, yes.

ELAINE: Just some?

PITT: Well, you don't want too much grace or you won't be able to stand.

ELAINE (laughing): Oh, Mr. Pitt.

PITT: Elaine, I want you to come and work for me as my personal assistant. Now, I'll pay you the same as Pendant, but I would need you to start right away.

(thank you Mark for the inspiration for this post; Brian Dickson for transcribing Seinfeld episode 87 which aired on September 22, 1994; and Jenna Hatfield for encouraging me to think about the idea of grace some more)

Related Tags: Seinfeld, Elaine, Mr Pitt, Grace, Television, Transcript, Jackie Onassis

My lack of Grace

Yikes...do I not understand grace? This adoption blog criticizes my post about Keisha Castle-Hughes' pregnency.

The adoption author says: "Frankly, I'm having trouble trying to see where that blog author gets off trying to write about anything related to the word 'grace,' which is defined as mercy, clemency or a pardon as well as elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.

In luie of this comment, I decided to look for other post of mine that mention the term grace...the only substational post that mentions the term Grace is the post: 2005's Best Film Portrayl of Love and Grace. Other than that post, I have not talked much about grace, but reading this comment inspires me to investigate and discuss grace some in the weeks to come, stay tuned! Maybe I have a thing or two to learn about grace, since apparently, according to my criticizer, I have a poor understanding of the term.

Also, feel free to write your own post about grace, and let me know about them. I'd love to share those with the world as well as together we can really spend more time thinking about the many dynamics of GRACE.

Related Tags: grace, keisha castle hughes, pregency, criticism