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Christian film critics vote on the best of 2003

"It was a rough year at the movies for the Catholic Church," observes Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films). Citing examples such as The Crime of Fr. Amaro, Amen, The Order, The Statement, The Magdalene Sisters, and even Luther, he explains that church-bashing was big on the big screen in 2003.

This is the leading issue in Greydanus's review of 2003's film offerings. He also highlights the year's best family films, and then spells out his own list of favorites.

At The Matthews House Project, Michael Leary gives us his perspective on the year, and his favorites as well. Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation tops the list. "Coppola's film … leaves us with a breathtaking vision of the awkwardness with which we all stumble towards security. This is by no means a moral tale. But the decisions her characters eventually make are surprisingly enchanting."

Christian film critics who publish at The Phantom Tollbooth, Hollywood Jesus, The Film Forum, Decent Films, Cinema in Focus, The Rebel Base, Movie Parables, Canadian Christianity, The Matthews House Project, my own site Looking Closer, and elsewhere contributed votes, resulting in nominations for the third annual Promontory Film Critics Circle awards.

This association of Christian press film critics selected Finding Nemo, In This World, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Lost in Translation, and The Son as their nominees for Best Narrative Film of 2003. Several actors ranked highly on their chart as well, including Olivier Gourmet (The Son), Robert Duvall (Open Range), Ben Kingsley (House of Sand and Fog), Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean), Sean Penn (Mystic River), Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation), Jennifer Connelly (House of Sand and Fog), Charlize Theron (Monster), Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider), and Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen),

In their most distinctive award category—Most Significant Exploration of Spiritual Issues—they honored Luther, Stevie, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working in Time, and The Son (Le Fils).

Winners will be posted February 2nd. To see the full list of nominations, click here.

Next week: The Butterfly Effect, The Company, and more reviews of Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!

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January (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48