Jesus' Remains Found in Israel
"Will a new film about a controversial archaeological find cause a ruckus in the real world, or just go away? Also this week: Critics respond to The Visit, Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, Kingdom Come, and the worst-reviewed film of the last decade: Fredd"
Jeffrey Overstreet | posted 4/01/2001 12:00AM
4 of 4
There are a lot of kids who relate to Tom Green's comic anger. And there are a lot of kids whose parents let them watch Green's show. While Freddy is clearly a profane and unconscionable work, we should get beyond just badmouthing the obviously juvenile antics of comics like Green and think about what the current surge of such crass movies indicates. The more involved we are with our kids, accepting them, affirming them, loving them for who they are, and talking with them about what they see and hear on television, the less they will feel that they live in a different world, one that we do not understand. Artists of conscience might also be challenged to create more that will stimulate the imaginations and the funny bones of young audiences without stooping so low.
Still Cooking
Kingdom Come
joined Spy Kids, Bridget Jones's Diary, and several other comedies in the box office top ten. And it continued to score points here and there with critics in the religious media. Movieguide's review raves: "Kingdom Come is a low budget movie, but the characters are so wonderful that, with all their flaws, it would be nice to be with them at that church service in Lulu. These people are not polished, but they are human and compelling. The direction has a light touch, so the audience won't feel that this movie is preaching at them." But The Dove Foundation's Holly McClure caught up with the film this week and was not as satisfied. She reports, "The story has its touching and bright moments." But an overdose of high-intensity family crises wore down her patience: "Overall it seemed like a lot of arguing, fighting and drama to deal with on top of a funeral. Tense family moments related to strained marriages, the death of a family patriarch, miscarriage, and issues about smoking and drinking and jealousy of one another. There were just too many extremes that kept the story from being taken seriously."
Next week:
The Claim adapts Thomas Hardy for the big screen. More responses to the sensation from Mexico, Amores Perros. And critics respond to the sex and violence of One Night at McCool's.
Jeffrey Overstreet is on the board of Promontory Artists Association, a non-profit organization based in Seattle, which provides community, resources, and encouragement for Christian artists. He edits an artists' magazine (The Crossing), publishes frequent film and music reviews on his Web site (Looking Closer), and is at work on a series of novels.
Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Related Elsewhere
See earlier Film Forum postings for these other movies in the box-office top ten: Bridget Jones's Diary, Spy Kids, Along Came a Spider, Blow, Joe Dirt, Enemy at the Gates, The Tailor of Panama, and Josie and the Pussycats.
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