I posted this video to AmP Facebook and Twitter last night and it drew a strong positive response: “Hugging the cactus” — now that’s a powerful image. I think you can figure out the backstory. Frank Weathers discusses it. Evidently the event organizers had no idea that Robert Downey Jr. had this planned. They chose Mel Gibson to introduce Downey because they were “co... More

Mel Gibson has had a rough several years. After an anti-semitic rant he unleashed during a DUI arrest in 2006 he seemed to spiral out of control, divorcing his wife of 26 years and taking up with a Russian woman half his age (fathering a child with her), only to separate from her after she claims he abused and threatened to kill her. Mel is clearly still wrestling with his personal demons. Meanwhi... More

I’m just getting back from a bi-coastal vacation that included the San Francisco Bay Area (and Kolbe Academy), Massachusetts (and the Stockbridge Divine Mercy Shrine) and Connecticut, where we had the pleasure of visiting the set of the new Navis Pictures film. Jim Morlino & co. (Photo by Lynn Wehner) Jim Morlino (you may have seen him on EWTN recently) is the mastermind behind Navis Pic... More

Saw the new film Bridesmaids. If you’ve been in a wedding party, especially if you’re a woman, you will identify with some hilarious aspects of the film. But, while the actors are all great comedians and we’re long overdue for seeing women take the lead in comedies, this movie is deeply conflicted…not unlike the situation of contemporary women. Read more here. ...READ MORE... More

So I’ve fallen behind a bit in my posts and I’m getting up to speed with some shameless self promotion of a recent column I wrote about the movie Of Gods And Men. Yes, it’s French and subtitled. But don’t let that stop you. It’s also not about jihadi violence as one might surmise from the story line. It’s not out on DVD yet, but hopefully you’ve got a has... More

Keira Knightley’s new movie Last Night is a morality tale about two kinds of infidelity (warning: spoilers ahead). I haven’t seen the film, but in a recent interview, Knightley mused about the moral dimensions of the story … and, not to pick on her or anything, she got it wrong. In the plot, happily married couple Joanna (Knightley) and Michael (Sam Worthington) are going strong, until they ... More

So it turns out that one of the voting members of the Academy is a former actress who left her career to pursue her vocation as a cloistered Benedictine nun. Great story. Read more here. ... More

How fun is this?! From local DC blog DCist: Time to get jealous, people: Georgie Henley and Skandar Keynes, who I’m informed are actors in “The Chronicles of Narnia” series of films, not only got to hang out with the National Zoo’s lion cubs — but they also got to name one of them. One of the 10-week old cubs will now be dubbed Aslan, after the eponymous lion in C.S.... More

I just got back from taking one of my younger brothers to see Spider-Man 3. Spider-Man is probably my favorite superhero comic (though I’m by no means an expert). I was highly anticipating this particular installment because it has our favorite webslinger facing his arch-enemy, Venom. First, my general thoughts. Sam Raimi does a good job balancing not only Spidey’s drama, but the i... More

John Murphy over at GodSpy has penned an excellent review for Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men. I saw this movie over Christmas break and agree point-by-point with what John Murphy has to say about it. I would also join him in encouraging people to see it (even while it is still in cinemas, if possible). Go read his review. ...READ MORE... More