Christianity Today Movies Blog

OMG!

A new documentary ponders the nature of God

by Brandon Fibbs

The new documentary Oh My God, due out next month, interviews men and women from all walks of life, from atheists to devout believers of a myriad of faiths, in an attempt to get to the bottom of the age old question, "What is God?" Director Peter Rodgers, frustrated over how God is increasingly politicized in our culture, spent more than two years making the film in a journey that crisscrossed 23 different countries.

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Posted by Brandon Fibbs at 8:37 AM | Comments (2)

Blue Like Effing Jazz?

The filmmakers behind 'Blue Like Jazz' ask: How much cussing is too much?

by Mark Moring

Steve Taylor, director of the someday-upcoming Blue Like Jazz movie (based on the Donald Miller book of the same title), wonders just how many bad words to include in the film. Since the story is set on what the book calls "the most godless campus in America," Taylor and his co-writers--including Miller--believed that truthful storytelling would include at least a bit of bad language, leaving some to wonder just how "blue" the script might be.

Writes Taylor on the BLJ website: "While the CussCount for Blue Like Jazz is lower than Al Pacino's shootout scene in Scarface, it is considerably higher than all the Pixar movies combined.

"For most of you reading this – No Big Deal. . . . [You] expect, in a movie like ours, to hear a certain number of ****s, ****s, ***es, and possibly even the judicious use of ******* when spoken solely as an adjective."

Taylor went on to write that his posting was an "olive branch" to fans who want the language "scrubbed," adding, "We're open to your suggestions. Really. Please post a reply with your favorite non-curse word or phrase, use it in a sentence, and we'll try out the best ones as alternate takes."

Posted by Mark Moring at 6:13 PM | Comments (4)

'Blue Like Jazz' moving forward

Movie based on Donald Miller's book to film soon in Portland, Nashville

by Mark Moring

Looks like the Blue Like Jazz film project, delayed several times, finally has a green light.

Donald Miller, author of the book on which the movie is based, blogged recently that director Steve Taylor (The Second Chance) is moving forward on shooting Blue Like Jazz the movie. He’s set to shoot in Mid May through June. We will be shooting in Portland and Nashville through the end of June. I couldn’t be more excited."

Miller and Taylor had hoped to get the movie rolling last year, but had to put the project on hold due to a lack of funding.

They've apparently got enough money to move forward now, though they're still seeking "associate producers" (at $99.95 a pop) to help defray costs.

The official movie website has an amusing "from the director" video with Taylor and Miller that includes a few laugh-out-loud moments. (The site also includes a hilarious blog post from Taylor about how he's trying to learn Facebook etiquette.)

Back to Miller's blog entry: "I’m skyping today with the actor who will likely play me. Unfortunately I can’t tell you who it is until we sign contracts, but we are both stoked on the choice." Miller and Taylor joke on the "from the director" video that Brad Pitt was the No. 1 choice.

Or was it a joke? If Pitt can age backwards in a movie, certainly he's got the acting chops to play a curious case like Mr. Miller. ;-)

Posted by Mark Moring at 2:12 PM | Comments (1)

Another Church Movie

'The One Lamb,' opening in 100 theaters, was produced by a small NC church

by Mark Moring

Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, has made quite a name for itself by making low-budget movies that went on to become major box office hits -- Facing the Giants and Fireproof.

Other churches are following suit, making films of their own, including University City United Methodist Church of Charlotte, NC. The One Lamb, in production for three years, opens in 100 theaters and in 34 states on March 30. (Yes, that's a Monday, and not the typical Friday theatrical release. Perhaps they didn't want to compete with big budget blockbusters that open on the weekend.)

For what it's worth, the press release promises a film that depicts "an inspirational story of hope and redemption . . . [capturing] the elements of life transforming films such as Chariots of Fire and the recent Fireproof, telling the poignant story of the rise and fall of a promising campaign manager/lawyer . . . who is battling cancer and competes in the New York City Marathon as part of a personal spiritual rebirth. Although [he] is facing an enormous battle against the cancer rapidly destroying his life, his biggest struggle is the fight against the mistakes of his past. He is befriended by a cranky, retired pastor who helps find redemption for his past failures and hope for his future."

To see if it's playing near you, click here.

Posted by Mark Moring at 5:22 PM | Comments (0)

OMG!

Blue Like Effing Jazz?

'Blue Like Jazz' moving forward

Another Church Movie