Culture
‘Hidden Figures,’ ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ among Christopher Award winners
Winners in movies, television and books were announced March 28 by the Christophers, who started the awards in 1949 to honor to honor writers, producers, directors, authors and illustrators whose work "affirms the highest values of the human spirit."
Soulless ‘Ghost in the Shell’ drops pearls of wisdom like lumps of lead
The film starring Scarlett Johanssen is a murky, boring adaptation of sci-fi-themed manga comics that offers little beyond glitzy futuristic cityscapes amidst the threat of encroaching technology.
Despite a flimsy premise, ‘The Boss Baby’ demands a few laughs
Alec Baldwin voices a suit-wearing, tough-talking infant in "The Boss Baby" (Fox), a funny but flimsy animation of Marla Frazee's 2010 picture book that also features Lisa Kudrow and Jimmy Kimmel.
‘Call the Midwife,’ 8-9 p.m. EDT, Sunday, April 2, PBS
"Call the Midwife" chronicles the lives of nuns from the fictitious Anglican order of St. Raymond of Nonnatus who, together with their un-vowed colleagues, assist expectant mothers in the Poplar area of London's East End during the 1950s and '60s.
Sci-fi thriller takes a dark, moody look at ‘Life’
A new human-versus-alien adventure features Jake Gyllenhaal and an ensemble cast as astronauts who confront a vicious extraterrestrial. The film offers action, suspense and thoughtful reflection, but little hope.
Misunderstanding of Catholic scholarship mars book on Bible’s influence
Kenneth Briggs' Methodist background deeply influences his story of mainline Protestant and evangelical readers of the Bible. He argues, contrary to reality, that the Catholic Church discourages its members from reading the Bible and allows only the clergy to interpret it.
Glories abound for ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ with one exception
The live-action adaptation of Disney's 1991 animated film arrives amid controversy over the updating of one of its characters into an openly gay man. That objection aside, the film is imaginative and visually arresting.
A story of love, race and world politics in ‘A United Kingdom’
Viewers will need patience to process the multiple plot lines of the historical film portraying the story of an African royal who faced down racial prejudice to marry Ruth Williams, a white office worker he met in post-World War II London.
In new audio drama, St. Patrick ‘comes alive brilliantly,’ says actor
"The Trials of Saint Patrick" is an eight-part audio dramatization produced by Augustine Institute Radio Theatre about his holiness and dedication to the people of Ireland.
Examination of Mencken’s writings on religion has lessons for today
D.G. Hart is faced with writing both an interesting biography of Mencken and one that examines Mencken's comments on religion so that they help the reader better understand today's religious issues.