Culture
Well meaning ‘Voiceless’ ends as shrill tale of violence
Set in Philadelphia, the film's overheated tone and characters' questionable tactics in the struggle against abortion undercut what is meant to serve as a cinematic rallying cry for the protection of the innocent.
Movie review: The Accountant
In effect, the action-drama "The Accountant" (Warner Bros.) argues that those with autism have a license to kill as well as to abet a litany of other criminal activities.
Comic-commentator retraces de Tocqueville’s route to view America
On his tour through America in a blue Ford, Catholic John Fugelsang saw the economy's destructive power, but also a resilience from those who have been beaten back.
Movie review: Queen of Katwe
The glorious "Queen of Katwe" (Disney) applies the traditional formula of an uplifting sports drama to the real-life story of a Ugandan chess prodigy.
Author sees 500th anniversary of Lutheranism as a Catholic one, too
Prolific Lutheran writer Martin Marty centers his reflections on Luther's 95 theses on Christ's call to repentance, arguing that repentance formed the heart of Luther's spiritual crisis.
A bravo performance but immoral end for ‘The Girl on the Train’
Emily Blunt in the title role of an unemployed alcoholic passenger, who also serves as narrator, is intense. But the film goes over the ethical edge in its wrap-up, a nasty bit of mayhem the audience is invited to applaud.
‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ is a peculiar headscratcher
Director Tim Burton is on his home turf with the gothic fantasy that is mildly entertaining but also hobbled by an overly complicated premise and the implications of time travel.
Mooncop: Last Man on the Moon
Set the TV series "Seinfeld" on Earth's satellite, subtract the jokes and you've got "Mooncop" (Drawn and Quarterly), a strange and mildly poignant graphic novel.
‘Deepwater Horizon’ isn’t easy to watch, but it’s worth it
The film is not a thin, 1970s-era disaster flick but a grim, factual and well-crafted spectacle for grown-ups showing one of the worst man-made disasters in history. And in the end, there's still "a morning after."
Two treatments of politics merit one thumbs-up, one thumbs-down
In a look at two books, our reviewer likes one presentation of Catholic social teaching and its clear and compelling language, but sees many flaws in a volume tracing politics in the Bible.