Culture
Problematic ‘The Two Popes’ gets its history wrong
Fine acting and high production values do not compensate adequately for a fast and loose version of recent -- or ancient -- church history in this tale of Popes Benedict and Francis.
Abrasive ‘Uncut Gems’ grates nerves relentlessly
How is this movie as morally bankrupt as it is aesthetically unpleasant? It starts with its main character getting a colonoscopy -- and goes downhill from there.
Yuletide horror flick ‘Black Christmas’ mired in oily sludge
There's black goo oozing from a statue, with no clue as to what it symbolizes, in this frat-boys-vs.-sorority-sisters thriller.
Court crusader aims to find what’s in those ‘Dark Waters’
The fact-based drama about one resident of a DuPont company town suing its main employer for the chemical poisons in the water supply shows a rural landscape where the wealthy exploit the poor with impunity.
Film examines whether papal message could have saved Europe’s Jews
One great unanswerable question regarding the Catholic Church and the Holocaust is whether Jewish lives would have been saved had Pope Pius XI or his successor, Pope Pius XII, issued a statement urging the protection of Jews in Axis-held Europe.
9 new children’s books discuss growth in Catholic faith
A selection of books by diverse authors including musician/songwriter Matt Maher can help fill your gift list for children this Christmas, even if they won't fit into a stocking.
‘Love and Mercy: Faustina’ explores history of a popular devotion
The award-winning docudrama recounts how a Polish nun's visions of Christ spurred a worldwide movement that extols God's infinite, lifesaving compassion.
Christmas movie tells story of orphans helped by angels
Because of its limited debut last year, many missed the star-studded cast of "Buttons: A Christmas Tale," now on DVD. Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury add a "warm and caring presence" to the uplifting film.
At year’s end ‘Knives Out’ among year’s best films
We're unlikely to see the year produce a more richly entertaining film than this splendid comic whodunit, with its clever twists and turns, abundant humor and sly social commentary.
’21 Bridges’ ends up leading nowhere
The violent crime drama, which stars Chadwick Boseman as a vengeful detective, never fully explores its proposed themes of justice and mercy as the body count rises and profanities fly.