Original films are finding audiences, people are excited to discover something new, and going to the theater feels like an event again. Seeing filmmakers like Kane Parsons, Cooper Tomlinson, and Curry Barker has been especially exciting. I couldn't be more thrilled. And I think I know why.

Seeing No Doubt at the sphere with my oldest who is about to enter his senior year of high school.

Katie Holmes was amazing as Hedda Gabler. If you’re in the San Diego area, don’t miss this performance and this play. You won’t regret it.

SEND HELP is a fantastic time at the theater. It is classic Raimi. You will squirm. You will be grossed out. You will jump out of your seat & laugh throughout it all. It’s his funniest movie since ARMY OF DARKNESS. If you want to know what a Raimi version of MISERY would look like, go see this film.

There is no justification for holding a person down while another person sprays pepper spray directly in their face.

This movie is out in theaters this weekend. Go see it!

“If you have a milkshake and I have a milkshake and I have a straw and my straw reaches across the room and starts to drink your milkshake. I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!” - Daniel Plainview, There Will Be Blood

I’m still working on my best of 2025 list. I have a few more films to watch before I feel comfortable finalizing it, but here are the ones that will definitely make it. 1. Train Dreams 2. The Ballad of Wallis Island 3. Wake Up Dead Man 4. Weapons 5. One Battle After Another 6. The Life of Chuck

If you’re a fan of the Rocky franchise, you won’t want to miss the new Steve Zahn & Ethan Hawke pic, She Dances. It’s a moving tribute to the Sly Stallone series as well as a moving story on its own. Steve Zahn stands out in a more dramatic role but don’t worry, there are still plenty of laughs 👍🏻

I’m at Round Top Film Festival with my son this weekend. The interview with Eric Roberts was one of the highlights so far. He was extremely entertaining, gracious, & down to earth. It’s always nice to meet someone who is not only good at their craft but a genuinely nice person as well. #rtff

Train Dreams is a beautiful & moving film about life, grief, & navigating a world that is rapidly changing. It’s one of my favorite films of the year & I can’t wait to watch it again. It’s more than a film. It’s a meditation, an experience. See it in a theater if you can. You won’t regret it 👍🏻👍🏻 #AFF

Gus Van Sant delivers once again with Dead Man’s Wire, a tight film with terrific performances. It would not surprise me to see this film get some Oscar buzz. It’s certainly deserving of praise, and was a great way to begin the Austin Film Festival. 👍🏻👍🏻

Not often are sequels better than the original but that’s the case with Black Phone 2. It pays homage to the horror films of the 1980’s and is more creative and offers more depth than the first. You will want to see the original if you haven’t. It’s a fine film, but know the second is even better 👍🏻👍🏻

I'll be at Harding University next month to discuss my work with ministerial alliances. It has been a great blessing in my life and I am looking forward to sharing what I've learned. christianchronicle.org/were-all-on-...

I love the renewed interest in physical media and that there are companies pumping out amazing versions of films with lots of features. The new artwork for A Simple Plan is just as great as the film itself. This movie is a classic and it deserves to be discovered by new and younger audiences.

Had a great time watching the newly restored print of Frailty followed by a Q&A with the writer and the producer. It had been years since I had seen this film and it holds up well. The acting is superb but Paxton probably doesn’t get enough credit for his direction. 👍🏻👍🏻

Superman, because of his invincibility, is one of the most difficult superheroes to make an interesting film about. People have tried & failed. Thankfully, James Gunn has figured it out. It’s not perfect, but it is entertaining & fun to watch. Get out to the theater, grab some popcorn & enjoy! 👍🏻

MEGAN 2.0 is total camp and I loved every minute of it. If you accept this film for what it is, it’s lots of fun. 👍🏻

The Pepperland Players put on a fantastic show last night in Austin to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Bob Dylan going electric. They played both Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited. Ben Jones and his band mates are amazing! I highly recommend seeing them if you can.

“What does growing up with limitless online porn do to our ability to love, to form lasting relationships? To our desire to start families? To our capacity to see people as people, instead of objects?”

THE LEGEND OF OCHI is a delightful homage to all the quirky, unusual, and mythical films of the 80’s. If you’re a fan of movies like THE NEVER ENDING STORY, GREMLINS, LABYRINTH, E.T., THE GOONIES, and others, you’ll love THE LEGEND OF OCHI. 👍🏻👍🏻

Get to a theater as soon as you can and see The Ballad of Wallis Island. You will be grateful you did. resurrectedliving.wordpress.com/2025/04/25/w...

Fantastic news!

Death of a Unicorn which opens today is loads of fun. It’s Jurassic Park for adults. It’s a blast to see a director take full advantage of CGI. If you want to revel in the absurdity and have a good time at the theater, this is the film for you. 👍🏻

Several films at #SXSW this year use horror and sci-fi to explore the themes of grief and loss. The filmmakers of The Surrender, The Descendent, and We Bury the Dead each drew on their own experiences of personal loss to go deeper and do more with their films than just scare or amaze.

Sweaty palms, bouts of anxiety, fighting the urge to look away, this is what it’s like to watch We Are Storror. Beyond the YouTube stunts, there is something deeper about Michael Bay’s latest film. The film asks us to consider what young men need in our isolated and digital age. #SXSW

Matthew McConaughey is back! The Rivals of Amziah King is peak McConaughey. It is a gripping story about community with lots of surprises and several musical numbers along the way. The #SXSW crowd loved this movie and you will too.

Eli Craig and Frendo at the premiere of Clown in a Cornfield at #SXSW

Horror is having a moment and there are not any indications of it ending anytime soon. Clown in a Cornfield is one of the funnest times you will have in a theater this year. The #SXSW crowd was raucous throughout the entire showing. The less you know, the better. Go in ready to have a great time!

H.E.R. delivers a solid film for her directorial debut. The Makings of Curtis Mayfield is inspiring and filled with incredible music. The best parts are watching people like Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and others react as they listen to masters of the original recordings. #SXSW

The star of Good Boy. #SXSW

Death of a Unicorn is as crazy as its premise suggests. It will have you laughing, grabbing the edge of your seat, and wincing from some over-the-top gory depictions. It’s an original film that is loads of fun. #SXSW

It’s only day two at #SXSW but there might not be a better film at this year’s festival than The Ballad of Wallis Island. It is hilarious, moving, and a delight to watch in a theater with others. It’s also filled with wonderful music performed by the actors. Don’t miss out! 👍🏻👍🏻

The Librarians is a powerful documentary about the current battle over censorship in America and how public and school libraries have become politicized. It was moving seeing it at #SXSW with librarians and educators in attendance.

Hallow Road is one of the best suspenseful thrillers in recent years. The viewer is unable to catch their breath as the film presents twist after twist. It was loads of fun watching it with a live audience at #SXSW You could feel the tension in the air.

First film of #SXSW It Ends is a wild and unexpected ride that dabbles in multiple different genres. It’s a great debut film.

The streaming for the Oscars on Hulu has been sketchy and now they decided to end their streaming before it was over. Hulu doesn’t need to stream any more live events.

More than 130 people in west Texas and New Mexico have been sickened by measles. The outbreak started in a county with a vaccination rate around 80%.

This is a fascinating look at polarization and what conspiracy theories do to families. www.thisamericanlife.org/854/ten-thin...

I’m thrilled that the @criterion.bsky.social closet will be at @sxsw.com this year! You just made my day.

The problem with political partisanship is that once you align yourself with one side, you will never know the truth. Every action, statement, story, etc. is spun and presented through a lens to make one side heroes and the other side villains. Up can be presented as down if it fits the agenda.

“It is not common practice for automakers — in China or elsewhere — to sue their customers. But Tesla has pioneered an aggressive legal strategy and leveraged the patronage of powerful leaders in China’s ruling Communist Party to silence critics, reap financial rewards and limit its accountability”

It’s my first year going to SXSW. I’m mainly focusing on the film & TV parts of the festival. What do I need to know? Any tips or advice are greatly appreciated.

Unforgiveness is not a quality one should be boasting about.

HEART EYES is loads of fun. It’s one of the best horror movies released in years, but it’s not just a horror movie. It’s also a comedy and a love story. If you’re looking to have a great time at the theater and don’t mind some gore, this film is for you. 👍🏻👍🏻

Watched Chaplin’s THE GREAT DICTATOR this week and it’s a brilliant film that holds up well and is still relevant today. If you can, watch the Criterion edition and check out the extras. Chaplin financed the film himself and showed great courage in making it. He faced opposition but made it anyway.

2,000 years after it was first asked, the question, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) is one of the simplest ways to assess the degree to which we take the teachings of Jesus seriously.

If you’re a film buff, the Sundance Film Festival has an online option where you can get access to films from the festival. You can buy an online pass or watch individual films for $35. festival.sundance.org

Garth Hudson, the multi-instrumentalist and last surviving member of the Band, has passed away at the age of 87. www.pastemagazine.com/music/the-ba...

Pepperdine is providing water to help California put out wildfires www.christianitytoday.com/2025/01/los-...