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> Our critics' comments: "The horror of 'all have sinned,' the crisis of excusing/forgiving, the challenge to my soft gospel, cheap grace. Uncompromising, enraging. A film I wish I'd made." "A devastating look at a certain take on grace and judgment that I'm not sure I agree with, but which is certainly common among Christians." "The absence of visible walls is not just some stylistic quirk; it underscores the way everyone in this town is somehow complicit in the evils that take place behind closed doors." "Disturbing, even sickening. However, it echoes the stories of Flannery O'Connor and even the Old Testament in its portraying of scathing judgment. . . . Grace, the central character, is a Christ figure who innocently suffers at the hands of wicked, lustful men. But when she ceases to behave in a Christ-like way, you'll realize the scandal of God's grace—a pardon from what we deserve."
Our review

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An exhilarating animated romp that gets everything right—action, pacing, conflict, cool superheroes, family values, and even the good guys winning in the end. This super family—Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Violet, Dash and baby Jack Jack—could be the cinematic role model of the year.

> Our critics' comments: "It's an injustice to simply call this an animated feature or cartoon. Yes the animation is cutting edge. But it's a film that works on so many levels; it's layered and nuanced." "It's not just empty entertainment—it tackles serious issues about our culture's celebration of mediocrity, and the importance of acknowledging talent and excellence where it can be found." "Pixar understands that a good children's story is as compelling for grownups as it is for kids."
Our review

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Way more than just a "boxing movie," this is a powerful, soul-stirring character study featuring three stunning performances, all Oscar nominees for acting—for Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. The disturbing ending notwithstanding, Baby is a searing look into humanity, however flawed.

> Our critics' comments: "All three actors are Oscar-worthy, as is the innovative cinematography and its use of shadow and light." "Swank was utterly exceptional, the chemistry between the three leads richly detailed, the dialogue delicious, but the great and energizing thing about this one is the narrative structure." "Has the guts to be something beside the standard-issue 'follow your dream' triumphalist fable." "Those who pay attention to the screenplay's metaphors will find that the central character, who fails to trust God, suffers serious consequences for taking matters into his own hands." "I don't think this film is advocating anything. We need to learn the difference between mere propaganda and art that raises provocative questions."
Our review

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In this Russian film, the father of two teenage boys returns home suddenly after being absent for 12 years. The father takes the boys on an unforgettable fishing vacation on an island in the middle of a remote lake, where the dad tests the mettle of his sons.

> Our critics' comments: "C. H. Dodd defines a parable as 'a metaphor or simile, drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearers by its vividness or strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt to its precise application, to tease the mind into active thought.' That's what The Return does." "We are provoked to consider our own responses to authority, especially to the Authority, who clearly loves us, but often leads us into painful circumstances without offering explanations." "Jesus' parables often took shady characters and forced us to consider them as role models/God models, mostly to shake us up a bit and to see things fresh—and to sometimes realize what God's actually not like, and what we maybe are. The Return is great because it confounds our expectations, works like that bit of grit in the oyster, just like Jesus' parables."
Jeffrey Overstreet's review

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