Film and TV Reviews

Putin’s Perpetual Political Theater and “The Wizard of the Kremlin”

A new novel (and movie) about Vladimir Putin’s chief spin-doctor explain how the true battle between Ukraine and Russia is not one of warring armies, but of competing narratives

Anora’s Body and Soul

“Anora” (2024), nominated for six Oscars, is a deeply spiritual film—not in spite of its depictions of sex, drugs, and violence, but because of them.

“Nightmare Before Christmas” is Absolutely a Christmas Movie

Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” is ultimately about the unavoidable enchantment that comes with the story of God choosing to dwell among men

The Joker Redemption: A Critical Reappraisal

Though “Joker: Folie à Deux” was negatively received, audiences would do well to reconsider the deeply spiritual elements of the film

“Conclave,” While Ham-Fisted, Inspires Some Thoughtful Reflections on Catholicism

Though Conclave is lazy and pandering, the book version does include an interesting examination of the intrinsic tensions within the Roman Catholic Church as embodying both temporal politics and spiritual guidance

Reagan the Wizard

The Wizard is inexplicable, which was his power. And the whole world was a beneficiary.

Machiavelli, Col. Jessup and the Leaders We Need

Col. Jessup and Machiavelli agree: sometimes, you need to stop moralizing and do what needs to be done for the sake of national self-preservation

Watching “Leave the World Behind” & Unfairly Maligning Our Military

On Memorial Day, let’s celebrate our military as an institution Americans can still trust

What “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” Gets Right and Wrong About Killing

The major difference between Guy Ritchie’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare(MUW) and the historical operation that the film depicts is the…