Culture
In ‘Arise,’ gamers move through times of old man’s life
"Arise: A Simple Story" dips deep into the well of emotion as a dying man reminisces about the highs and lows of his life. Game play involves challenges moving to the next time. The music alone is worth the price.
Idea of remorse takes a hit in stunning ‘The Irishman’
The disappearance of union boss Jimmy Hoffa, who vanished in 1975, has never been explained. But director Martin Scorsese takes a shot at solving the mystery in this epic historical drama.
Writer’s Southern roots inspire ‘radical faith’ element to her fiction
Novelist Valerie Sayers blends humor, mysticism and a keen eye for character in her work, while inviting readers to consider how belief impacts human action.
‘Little Women’ elegantly traces journeys, and hearts, of girls
The latest adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's beloved novel find the grown-up March sisters looking back on their childhood with joy, wisdom and a sense of history.
‘Just Mercy’: Movie with a timely message, told well
The film's broadminded approach opposing the death penalty against the backdrop of racism results in a humane and winning study of the subject with immense real-world significance.
‘Star Wars’ finale offers epic action with spiritual core
In "Rise of Skywalker" -- the ninth and last of the sci-fi film saga -- lessons about making moral choices, the need to reject temptation and the power of forgiveness and redemption are clear.
Catholicism influenced moviemaking from the early days of film
As the film industry grew in the early 20th century, Catholic Church leaders became concerned about some of the content that had become so readily available to their flock.
Church changes course to maintain moral guide on film in shifting culture
Faced with a changing social landscape, as early as the 1950s, the Catholic film office began to give broader consideration to the artistic value of films that depicted topics and used language that might have earned a condemned classification in the past.
Catholic press continues mission to reach contemporary film audiences
The once influential Catholic film office had been able to get Hollywood studios to change content in movies it deemed morally offensive for decades, but that power was extinguished as the 1970s rolled into the 1980s.
In game gone wild, ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ a thrill for families
This sequel to the 2017 film about a video game adventure that becomes all too real shows the teamwork of its characters and an unexpectedly somber message about approaching death.