Faith and Film Index

Happy Feet
a review by Tom Condon, OP

In the great nation of Emperor Penguins, deep in Antarctica, you’re nobody unless you can sing--which is unfortunate for Mumble, who is the worst singer in the world. He is born dancing to his own tune--tap dancing READ MORE

The Nativity Story
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

The two-year period of Mary and Joseph's life, which culminates in their leaving Nazareth and journeying 100 miles to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. READ MORE

Stranger Than Fiction
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

Will Farrell plays against type liveng a perfectly routine life as an IRS agent. He gets up at the same time, brushes his teeth with the same number of strokes, counts his steps to the bus stop, and seems content with his dull life. Then... READ MORE

The Prestige

A Review by Tom Condon, OP

In early 20th-century London, a magician (Christian Bale) develops a rivalry with another conjuror (Hugh Jackman) after devising a seemingly impossible new trick. READ MORE

The Queen
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

A revealing, witty portrait of the British royal family in crisis immediately following the death of Princess Diana. The setting for this fictional account of real events is no less than the private chambers of the Royal Family and the British government in the wake of the sudden death of Princess Diana in August of 1997. READ MORE

Conversations with God

A Review by Tom Condon, OP
A man who falls into homelessness and despaire finds a way out by conversing with God. Based on the best selling book series by Neale Donald Walsch. READ MORE

The Departed
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

Despite the geographical shift, The Departed deals with familiar themes in Martine Scorsese’s mob movies: belonging, loyalty, and betrayal. In this increasingly violent world, without a firm moral compass, no one escapes unhurt. READ MORE

World Trade Center
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

This docudrama tells the story of Port Authority policemen John McLoughlin (Nic Cage) and Will Jimeno (Michael Pena), who were trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, after they went in to help people escape. READ MORE

Journey from the Fall
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

Set during the thirteenth anniversay of the Vietnam War. Tells the epic story of a family who is painfully torn apart by the war, forced to emigrate across a dangerous sea, reunited and struggling to survive. READ MORE

Quinceanera
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

In the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, 14-year-old Magdalena learns that she is pregnant. Magdalena's great-granduncle and gay cousin take her in after she is kicked out of her religious family home, and together they all try to shake off the prejudices that beset them.
READ MORE

Half Nelson
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

From the first scene, the audience knows that this likeable, charismatic teacher is dealing with a major problem: He is addicted to crack cocaine. READ MORE

Hollywoodland
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

A private detective (Adrien Brody) investigates the mysterious death of Superman star George Reeves (Ben Affleck) and uncovers unexpected connections to his own life. The affair Reeves had with the wife (Diane Lane) of a studio executive (Bob Hoskins) might hold the key to the truth. READ MORE

Our film critic, Tom Condon, OP (St. Martin) is spending the summer in southern California studying film and has happened upon several little gems. Here are some unusual films that are worth looking around for in your area. Hope you enjoy them.

Summer Independent Films

Little Miss Sunshine: Together, the motley six-member family treks from Albuquerque to the Little Miss Sunshine pageant in Redondo Beach, California, to fulfill the deepest wish of 7-year-old Olive, an ordinary little girl with big dreams. READ MORE

Sweet Land: A woman who buries her husband on their Minnesota farm in 1968 relives her life as an immigrant who arrived from Norway in 1920 as a postal bride. READ MORE

The Big Bad Swim: Set in scenic South Lyme, Connecticut, "The Big Bad Swim" follows twelve novice swimmers ranging from ages 17-75 who've taken time out of their complicated lives to take a swim class. READ MORE

Flannel Pajamas: Stuart Sawyer and Nicole Reilly meet through mutual friends on a blind date and experience a magical evening in a local diner on a rainy evening in April, 2000. It may never get better than this-- but... READ MORE

A Prairie Home Companion
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

A look at what goes on backstage during the last broadcast of America's most celebrated radio show, where singing cowboys Dusty and Lefty, a country music siren (Streep), and a host of others hold court. READ MORE

An Inconvenient Truth
A Review by Tom Condon, OP

Former Vice-President Al Gore presents a compelling documentary film on the dangers of global warming. Read how critic Tom Condon looks at the film from a preacher's point of view.
READ MORE

Unted 93
A review by Tom Condon, OP

This docudrama tells the story of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, the fourth plane hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001. Told in real time, the film re-creates the doomed trip, from takeoff to the hijacking to the realization by those on-board that their plane was part of a coordinated attack against the United States. READ MORE

The Da Vinci Code
A review by Tom Condon, OP

I don’t think the Church has much to fear from the movie. It just doesn’t make much of an impression. The shock value of Brown’s theory that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married
and had a child has long since worn off. READ MORE

Thank You for Smoking
A review by Tom Condon, OP

“Nick Naylor does hide the truth…he filters it”. Thus Dominicans find a particular caution in this film to seek the truth amidst a corporate world obsessed with spin. READ MORE

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
A review by Tom Condon, OP

At a time when Immigration is a hotly debated issue, this film isvery timely, as it deals with the difficulty of life on the Texas/Mexico border, especially for undocumented persons. READ MORE

Brokeback Mountain
A review by Tom Condon, OP
Two sheep-tending cowboys in 1960s Wyoming find themselves unexpectedly falling in love and suffering the heartbreaking consequences, keeping their relationship a secret for 20 years.
READ MORE

Munich
A review by Anne Lythgoe, OP
Does acting like terrorists justify efforts to defeat terrorism? This is the central question left hanging in the air in Steven Spielberg's Munich. READ MORE

Capote 2006 Oscar for Best Picture!
A review by Tom Condon, OP
Capote begins with a scene of an isolated farm house in rural Kansas. It’s 1959. A girl discovers a horrible crime: an entire family brutally murdered in their isolated farm house.
READ MORE

Walk the Line
A review by Tom Condon, OP
A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis. READ MORE

Good Night and Good Luck
A review by Tom Condon, OP
The true story of early television's attempt to expose abuse of political power in the McCarthy era. Smoke-filled black and white photography, great cast. Worth seeing. READ MORE

Prime
A review by Tom Condon, OP
Meryl plays a middle aged, Jewish, Upper West Side therapist. In the course of the movie, she discovers that Rami (Uma Thurman), her divorced, 37 year old patient, has begun a romantic relationship with David (Bryan Greenberg), her 23 year old son. READ MORE

A History of Violence
A review by Tom Condon, OP
Peaceful lives are interrupted when Tom thwarts an attempted robbery and becomes a local hero. That's when all thge trouble starts. READ MORE

Broken Flowers
A review by Tom Condon, OP

Dumped by his latest girlfriend, a man receives a anonymous pink letter informing him that he has a son who may be looking for him. READ MORE

The Constant Gardener
A review by Tom Condon, OP
When a British diplomat's wife -- a socially-conscious lawyer -- turns up dead in Kenya, he sets out to find the truth surrounding her murder. READ MORE

March of the Penguins
A Review by Tom Condon, OP
From birth to death, from dating to mating, from comedy to tragedy, and from love to fighting for survival in Antartica. READ MORE

Star Wars III:
Revenge of the Sith
A Review by Tom Condon, OP
The central conflict is Anakin’s turn to the dark side and his development into super-villain Darth Vader. Anakin is haunted by memories of his mother’s tragic fate READ MORE

Crash 2006 Oscar for Best Picture!
A Review by Tom Condon, OP
"What makes Crash so noteworthy for an American film, is that it dares to be about something. Crash dares to deal with racism, both explicit and implicit." READ MORE

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
A Review by Tom Condon, OP
These were no dummies. They were indeed the smartest guys in the room. In a culture which stereotypes criminals as suspicious looking foreigners, or people from disadvantaged environments, the shock of Enron is that they can also look like your class president. READ MORE

Millions
A Review by Tom Condon, OP
After the death of their mother, 9-year-old Anthony is ever practical, while his 7-year-old brother Damian uses imagination, fantasy, and faith to make sense of his confusing world. When a suitcase full of money falls out of the sky at Damian's feet, it sets the boys on the adventure of a lifetime and leads them to realize that true wealth has nothing to do with money.READ MORE

The Sea Inside
A review by Tom Condon, OP
The Sea Inside is the real life story of Spaniard Ramon Sampedro who fought a 30-year campaign in favor of his right to die with dignity. Two women try to change his life - Julia (Belen Rueda) is a lawyer who supports his cause, and Rosa (Lola Dueqas) is a neighbor who wants to convince him that life is worth living. READ MORE

Hotel Rwanda
A review by Tom Condon, OP
Hotel Rwanda has been frequently compared to Schindler’s List. Paul, like Oscar Schindler, does whatever he can to protect the refugees at the hotel. Paul provides the Hutu military leaders with money and liquor. At first, Paul entertains them, and, as time goes on, begs for them to be saved. Even though hundreds of thousands die, Paul manages the hundreds at the hotel by his initiative, fast thinking, courage, and sheer determination. It’s a remarkable feat in every respect.
READ MORE

MILLION DOLLAR BABY
A review by Tom Condon, OP
Clint Eastwood, now in his 70's, is better than ever. For decades, he’s been dealing with issues of sin, violence, and redemption. But in the last few years, he’s developed a strong personal style and a way with actors and a story that I would never have imagined from his earlier films.READ MORE

SIDEWAYS
A review by Tom Condon, OP
Sideways is a wonderful comedy/drama that has been winning all kinds of awards, and has just been nominated for five Oscars, including best picture. Without a big budget, or big stars, it’s this year’s “little film” that has everyone talking. READ MORE