Culture
Tragedies both personal and national collide in ‘News of the World’
The visually stunning epic starring Tom Hanks explores the ethnic, sectional and economic tensions of the Reconstruction era in the West, and the redemptive bond of its two main characters.
At the end of the world, ‘Greenland’ is where humanity endures
An apocalyptic comet is the film's villain, but the real agenda concerns the endurance of basic decency and family solidarity in the face of a global challenge. These days, that's an all-too-timely takeaway.
Dig into these Christmas recipes — if can afford them
Readers will learn an appreciation for liturgical traditions and recipes they can try at home, but some of these dishes won't be able to be prepared at home due to financial or geographical limitations.
Video games offering adventures for anyone’s Christmas list
A review of five current video games offers wholesome and sometimes challenging gift ideas for young gamers.
Unexpected, mesmerizing docufilm on pigs (really) succeeds
"Gunda," a documentary about farm life for a sow and her piglets, employs glorious black-and-white cinematography and hidden cameras to capture intimacy, intelligence and a range of "emotions," including joy, anger and sorrow.
‘All My Life’ leads a tearjerker down the aisle
The romantic drama tells a fictionalized account of a couple's wedding plans, skewed by a terminal cancer diagnosis, that's surprisingly upbeat for most of its runtime.
‘Godfather Coda’ offers a recut version you might not be able to refuse
Of the films in the "Godfather" franchise, the third has the most deeply intertwined Catholic imagery, albeit in a tangle of the factual and the imaginary. Still, it's an improvement over the 1990 original.
Book offers practical advice on women’s ministry in church
People complain about what's wrong with the church. "Joyful Momentum," with its worthwhile recommendations for building strong ministries, offers solutions for women to do something about it.
‘The Last Vermeer’ frames art with intrigue in post-war Europe
Though the film plays intelligently with moral twists and turns, the main character offers a reliable ethical compass as he gradually uncovers the levels of truth that the script craftily reveals.
‘Come Away’ is messy mash-up that sparks imagination
Take "Peter Pan," add a dash of "Alice in Wonderland," stir in the poetry of William Butler Yeats and you have the recipe for this intriguing if schizophrenic fairy tale.