Blue Like Jazz: The Movie April 13, 2012

FIND A THEATER. SEE THIS MOVIE!


[I just got a call from Donald Miller thanking me for my support of "Blue Like Jazz." Yeah, that's kind of pretty cool. Here's a brief review of the movie.]

I expected to enjoy “Blue Like Jazz.” Yet, I must admit, after all the promotion and high hopes, I had some fear [just a teeny tiny bit] the movie might not be something I would be able to “brag” about.
After seeing the film, all fears have been laid to rest. I thought it was a great movie. My wife and I both really enjoyed it [and not just because our names are in the closing credits].
Good writing. Good production values. Good performances all the way around.
AND a great message! One I can actually get behind.
If you’ve read “Blue Like Jazz,” and listened to some old Steve Taylor records, you’ll have some idea of the creative power behind the movie. It addresses the hypocrisy of religion, while remaining very pro-faith. It’s real, raw, and avoids the clichés and pitfalls that seem inherent with most movies dealing with faith.
I will be seeing this movie again and again. We traveled a couple of hours just to see it. It was more than worth it.
Do yourself a favor: See “Blue Like Jazz.” It’s not just a movie. The background of its making, and the execution make it a piece of cinematic history.



Updated Trailer:



READ MORE. Click Here.

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Books. I Like Books. February 16, 2012

[Every so often, I re-post this list for my new readers. So...]


These are just some of the books that have helped me SO much on my journey.
They have challenged me in ways I could have never imagined!
I believe they can truly help change the way we live.
(CLICK ON ANY BOOK image for a few quotes, or a brief review.)


Velvet Elvis   He Loves Me   The Shack 


If Grace Is True        Blue Like Jazz         

Thou Shalt Not Love


Lies (And The Lying Liars Who Tell Them)        Grace (Eventually)


A New Kind Of Christianity     A Heretic’s Guide To Eternity   


The Naked Gospel       The Myth Of A Christian Nation


Jesus Wants To Save Christians


Rejecting Religion. Embracing Grace
(Hey, I’m mentioned in this book!)


The Misunderstood God      Evolving In Monkey Town   


Love Wins      Fall To Grace      A Time To Embrace   


There are so many more; Like Bert Gary’s “Jesus Unplugged,” and Jim Palmer’s “Divine Nobodies.”
There’s “Insurrection,” and “The Orthodox Heretic,” both by Peter Rollins, and “Crazy For God,” by Frank Schaeffer


Most of these, and more, are available at the “Life Walk” Bookstore.” [Click here.]
And, I’m always finding new insights in new books.


For other recommended books, click on the “Books” link to the right, under “Categories,” and scroll through the entries.

Happy reading. Have a good life.

Conviction July 27, 2011

Amazing. Inspiring. Awesome. Unbelievable. TRUE!
My wife and I just watched “Conviction.” Wow. What a movie.
I suppose it would still have been an excellent movie as a work of fiction, but by being a true story, it’s made all the more remarkable.
Strong love, faith, perseverance, and incredible sacrifice are all on display here.

“Conviction” stars Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis and Peter Gallagher.
It’s the story of Betty Anne Waters, who spends around two decades going to law school and becoming a lawyer for the sole purpose of proving her brother innocent of the murder for which he was convicted. Talk about conviction!
It’s also the story of a “justice system” that doesn’t like admitting to mistakes, as well as a story of the advent of DNA evidence and Barry Scheck’s “Innocence Project”.

Yes, there is a lot of profanity in this movie. But what is truly profane is the corruption of those who willfully twisted the facts, and procured perjury in order to get a conviction.

They don’t whitewash the fact that the man found guilty was often a short-tempered obnoxious jerk. Rockwell gives a performance that shows us a man it’s hard to be compassionate toward. But he is still a man falsely accused.
Had he been in a state where the death penalty was in effect, he would have been dead before his sister had time to exonerate him.

Hundreds of convictions have been overturned due to DNA evidence. We’ll never know how many hundreds or thousands of innocent people have been “proven” guilty but the lawyers, found guilty by the jurors, sentenced guilty by the judges, and put to death as guilty by the executioners.
There are many who think this “collateral damage” is acceptable in order to keep the death penalty in place for those they believe “deserve” it.
I am NOT among them. I’m pretty sure most of them would think differently were it their son or daughter wrongly sentenced. The possibility of even ONE person wrongly convicted and put to death is reason enough to abolish capital punishment.

All the performances in “Conviction” are top-notch. My favorite was probably the few, but excellent minutes occupied by Juliet Lewis.
I don’t recall hearing of this movie at the theaters, but I’m very glad I found it. It was time well spent.
Buy, rent, or borrow this movie.

– df

Buy the movie.  Click HERE.


Here’s a CBS news article about the real story: Read HERE.

For The Bible Tells Me So July 27, 2011

Provocative. Eye-opening. Moving. Award-winning.

You can buy this documentary at my LifeWalk Store. It is also available at Netflix, as both a hard-copy rental, or an instant-view download.  If none of those options work for you, I have a copy I loan out. I’ll mail it to you, and your only obligation is to mail it back within one month. If interested, email me at kc1253@hotmail.com .

Whatever method works best, please don’t miss this important documentary.






Also check out the very moving video “Through My Eyes.”

The A Team June 12, 2010

Q: “Why are we in a falling tank?!?!”
A: “Because the plane blew up!”

We saw the new “The A-Team” movie today. I usually check out some reviews before going to any movie. This movie, at the site I was on, was given a C+. The reviews were mixed, with one reviewer calling the film “an incomprehensible mess.” Neither I or my wife found anything about the movie “incomprehensible” or a “mess.” In fact, we both really enjoyed the movie.

Liam Neeson was perfectly cast as Hannibal. Bradley Cooper was a lot of fun as “Face.” Rampage was very good as B.A. Actually, I liked him a lot better than Mr. T. I’ve nothing against “T” as a person, but I found his take on the character rather annoying. Rampage, I thought, was more audience friendly. Sharlto Copley rounded out the leads as the rather insane Murdock. Jessica Biel, and the always impressive Gerald McRaney also starred. John Hamm made an appearance at the end in what was an obvious set-up for a return in “A-Team II.”

The movie was produced by the Scott Brothers, who’s credits include such films as Alien, Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II, True Romance, Crimson Tide, Enemy of the State, and on and on, as well as TV shows like “The Good Wife,” and “Numb3rs.”  Also at the helm, is TV series producer Stephen J. Cannell, who pretty much owned 80′s television.

As I said, my wife and both enjoyed this movie. Instead of the C+, I’d give it a B+. We expected to enjoy it, but we both liked it more than we expected. All in all, we found the movie to be a great blend of action, story, special effects, and the all-important sense of humor that is essential for this type of film to succeed.
Oh, and stay through the credits for a couple of fun cameos.

– df

Iron Man 2 May 8, 2010

My wife and I just saw “Iron Man 2″

This is one of those sequels that I actually liked even more than the original.
The effects were, of course, great.  But effects alone do not a good movie make.  Where this installment succeeded, like the first, is in the writing and the acting.  It has the human element.  It has heart.  It has emotion.  And, ever important, it has humor.  It has characters we can have fun with, and care about.

Downey, as expected, totally delivered.  He really is perfect for this role.  Paltrow, Johannson, and Jackson were all fine.
There was question as to whether Don Cheadle could fill the roll that Terrence Howard had in the first film.  Frankly, I didn’t miss Howard at all, and thought Cheadle was better.  Clark Gregg, always funny in “Christine,” didn’t have a lot of scenes, but he may have more in “Iron Man 3.”

Sam Rockwell gave a standout performance as Justin Hammer.  His arrogant, self-centered, spoiled brat of a man was a joy to watch.  I’ve enjoyed his nuanced performances ever since “Galaxy Quest.”

One of the biggest reasons I found this movie better than the first was the Mickey Rourke villain, “Ivan Vanko.”  In the previews, I thought his character would be one of the reasons I would like “2″ a little less than the first.  Quite the opposite was true.  And Mickey fleshed out the role beautifully.  Don’t get me wrong.  I Like Jeff Bridges.  Maybe more than Rourke.  But the writing, and even the effects for this bad guy seemed more interesting, and even more believable.  (OK.  “Believable” is not a good word to bring to a discussion of a movie like this.  Nevertheless…)

Two ACDC tunes, along with one from Queen, helped the soundtrack really rock.  Hey, good music is always a plus.
And finally, let me say that just like the first movie, you’ll want to stay through the credits.